01/18/2016 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - Saakashvili held an Anti-Corruption Forum in Kharkiv

Saakashvili held an Anti-Corruption Forum in Kharkiv

01.18.2016 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine

Topics from Media and Social Networks

• Saakashvili held an Anti-Corruption Forum in Kharkiv.
• Delegation of advisers to the heads of France and Germany visited Ukraine to discuss the recovery of the occupied territories.
• The hryvnia exchange rate keeps falling.
  

Key Events in Ukraine

• The Cabinet cancelled the decision taken in November 2015 to provide assistance in the amount of UAH 49 million to the inhabitants of Donbass territory, where the anti-terrorist operation takes place.
• The hryvnia exchange rate continues to fall rapidly, in a week it fell by more than 5%: 24,63 ₴/$ (+0.25 UAH), 26/83 ₴/€ (+0.22 UAH), 3.13 ₴/10 ₽ (-0.05 UAH). Selling rate of the cash dollar in exchange offices reached 27 ₴/$.

Ukraine at War

• As a result of the fighting in the Donbass three soldiers were wounded, two of whom tripped a landmine. The militants are constantly firing at the Ukrainian army positions near the Donetsk airport, Maryinka and Horlivka. The mortar shellings are recorded in the south direction, in the area of ​​Granitne, Shyrokine, Starognativka and near Mariupol. According to intelligence, a continuous regrouping of the occupational army and movement of heavy equipment to the front line, even in the daytime, are taking place. Ukraine informed the UN Security Council about the escalation of hostilities in the Donbass. The OSCE reported that militants banned for the observers the access to check their positions in Kominternove, and also about the mission’s drone shot over the occupied territory of Luhansk region.
• The representative of Ukraine in the contact group at the talks in Minsk Gerashchenko denied the statement of Russian representative Gryzlov about the alleged ongoing civil war in Ukraine and called the events in the Donbass an invasion of Russia into Ukraine.
• Intelligence reports on dismantling and removal to Russia from the occupied Luhansk of the plants, including "Luganskteplovoz" and factory, producing mine-rescue equipment.

Ukraine and the World

• At the meeting of Prime Minister Yatsenyuk with diplomatic advisors of the French President and the German Chancellor the issues of peaceful settlement of the occupied territories, restoration of territorial integrity of Ukraine and prospects of Ukraine's European integration were discussed .
• The Delegation of Russia finally refused to participate in the PACE winter session and called the restrictions imposed by the organization for aggression against Ukraine, unacceptable and discriminatory.
• On January 23 the UN assessment mission will travel to the Donbass to study the needs of the areas, affected by the hostilities.
• UniCredit Bank is not planning to sell any other assets, other than Ukrainian Ukrsotsbank, which was sold to the Russian Alfa Group.
• The Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation stated that it is waiting from the Ukrainian government an invitation to negotiations on the settlement of the debt in the amount of $ 3 billion taken by the government of former President Yanukovych.
• NATO chief Stoltenberg announced the increase in NATO forces presence in Poland, a correspoonding decision connected with the growing threat from Russia should be taken at the session in July.
• According to European Commissioner for Foreign Policy Mogherini, focusing of the EU on the reforms in Ukraine does not mean reduction of sanctions against the Russian Federation. She believes that the Ukrainian authorities are  showing good results in the implementation of reforms, but European officials want to ensure the sustainability of the process.

The Trends

• Holding of the anti-corruption forum in Kharkov by Head of the Odessa Regional Administration Saakashvili , when the region he heads is under the snowdrifts, may be indicative of the acceleration of the creation of another pro-presidential political force under his leadership and of President Poroshenko’s preparations for early parliamentary elections.
• General Staff says that the materials on questioning of head of the General Staff Muzhenko and General Nazarov,  published by journalist Butusov, are fabricated.