01/09/2016 Ukraine: Daily Highlights -The EU Council will make a decision on introduction of a visa-free regime for Ukraine in March or in June

The EU Council will make a decision on introduction of a visa-free regime for Ukraine in March or in June

01.09.2016 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine

Topics from Media and Social Networks

• The EU Council will make a decision on introduction of a visa-free regime for Ukraine in March or in June.
• One of the  militant commanders was killed in Donetsk.

Key Events in Ukraine

• Deputy Foreign Minister Zerkal stated that the EU Council will consider the abolition of visas for Ukrainians at the summit in March or in June. The decision will depend on the pace of implementation of the commitments undertaken by Ukraine.
• According to former ambassador to the United States and Israel Shcherbak, as a result of the difficult economic situation after the fall of energy prices a process of demise could begin in Russia, which would lead to the mass exodus of Russians to Ukraine.

Ukraine at War

• The militants do not stop the shellings of the Ukrainian Army positions in the Donetsk region. Clashes were observed during the whole day in the surroundings of Donetsk, Mariupol and Horlivka. In Zaitseve, a police captain, who was trying to rescue civilians, came under fire, and was killed , another  woman was wounded. Media reported that in Donetsk one of the commanders of the militants, who participated  in hostilities, starting from Slavyansk, was killed.

Ukraine and the World

• European Commission President Juncker fears that at a consultative referendum, which is to be held in April, the Dutch will vote against the Association with Ukraine, because they link the issue with the all-European problems. Such decision is advantageous primarily for Russia and will lead to a "continental crisis." Preliminary survey showed that the majority of Dutch are against the Association Agreement with Ukraine.
• As a result of an air raid of the Russian aviation on the Syrian city, controlled by the military forces, oppositional to President Assad, 60 people were killed . The Syrian government expressed willingness to negotiate with the opposition in Geneva to resolve the crisis in the country.
• The EU allocates for Ukraine a grant in amount of € 30 million for modernization of the automobile check points on border with Romania, Hungary and Poland.
• The anti-Islamic demonstrations continue in Germany. In Cologne, the police used water cannons to disperse the participants of the riots, organized by the supporters of the PEGIDA and the "Cologne against the Right" movements , in which three police officers were injured. Chancellor Merkel stressed the need to change the legislation in order to simplify the rules of the migrants deportation .