President Poroshenko held his first press conference in 2016, during which he said that Ukraine had managed to withstand the Russian aggression, the most difficult times for Ukraine are already over, and this year the economic growth would start. According to him, the country’s policy remains the same: the rapprochement with the West and the implementation of association with the EU. He is convinced that in 2016, Donbas will be liberated, and the Crimean issue will remain on the agenda, but the strategy of its liberation will change. There are no plans of signing another Minsk agreement, the terms of implementing the previously signed agreements will be determined. Elections in Donbas should be held under the Ukrainian legislation. President admitted that he had met with Putin’s representative Gryzlov, and said that all his meetings are open. According to Poroshenko, electricity could be supplied to Crimea only on a Ukrainian company legally operating in the peninsula. The army will be reformed to NATO standards. He is not plannign to dismiss Prosecutor General Shokin, and considers the Head of the National Bank Gontareva to be the best banker in the world. The fate of the Government should be determined by the parliamentary coalition. He said he was not going to sell his businesses, and had transferred his Roshen company to a "blind trust."
Naftogaz has contracted from EU companies 1.7 billion m3 of gas at $188 to $211 per 1,000 m3 using the EBRD loan funds.
Official hryvnia rate continues to fall: 23.95 ₴/$ (+0.31 UAH), 26.09 ₴/€ (+0.52 UAH), 3.13 ₴/10 ₽ (+0.04 UAH). Selling rate of cash dollar in exchange offices exceeded 26 ₴/$.
IMF assessment mission calls on Russia and Ukraine to reach an agreement on restructuring "Yanukovych’s debt," but the Fund’s position on lending to Ukraine remains unchanged. Poroshenko announced the intention to discuss the granting of the next tranche with the Fund's representatives at the World Economic Summit in Davos.
In response to the Russian ban on the transit of goods to Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Ukraine agreed on competitive tariffs for cargo transportation by trans-Caspian rail route. The contract also involves the implementation of comprehensive measures to increase goods turnover and facilite trains traffic.
Foreign Minister Klimkin stated that Ukraine had asked the OSCE mission to extend its monitoring in Donbas. Meanwhile, President Poroshenko said at a press conference that he is against the transfer of the Russian-Ukrainian border under the OSCE control.
The "open skies" agreement with the United States came into force on January 14.
Two Ukrainian citizens from the crew of the vessel seized in January 2015 by an illegal armed group were released in Libya.
Russian Energy Ministry said the construction of the second stage of the Turkish Stream pipeline could be resumed.
Russian Foreign Ministry has expressed willingness to accept the tribunal to investigate the downing of flight MH-17 if it is established under the auspices of the UN.
Russia is ready to ease sanctions against Turkish companies building facilities for the FIFA World Cup 2018.
Iran filled with concrete the core of the nuclear research reactor that produced plutonium for bombs to fulfill the requirements for lifting of the sanctions.
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