01/08/2016 Ukraine: Daily Highlights - Former President Kravchuk proposed to give a special status to Donbass and Crimea

Former President Kravchuk proposed to give a special status to Donbass and Crimea

01.08.2016 Daily Highlights by the Digests & Analytics Ukraine

Topics from Media and Social Networks

• Former President Kravchuk proposed to give a special status to Donbass and Crimea.
• In Germany, the ban on the publication of the Hitler's book, "Mein Kampf", was lifted.

Key Events in Ukraine

• According to former President Kravchuk, Ukraine might agree to grant a special status to Donbass for the purpose of cessation of the hostilities, and also grant a broad state autonomy within Ukraine to Crimea. He said that Minsk agreements do not solve the issue of restoring sovereignty.
• Foreign Ministry reported that after obtaining by Ukraine of a visa-free regime with EU, Ukrainians can continue using the old passports with visas pasted.

Ukraine at War

• During the day, the militants were firing at populated areas and positions of the Ukrainian army in the surrounding of Donetsk and Horlivka. According to official reports, one soldier was wounded. The OSCE Mission reported that their observers were searched by the militants during the inspection in Horlivka. Intelligence reports about the recruitment of mercenaries to Syria by the "republics" military commissariats .

Ukraine and the World

• Polish President Duda cancelled the decision of his predecessor on the appointment of a new ambassador to Ukraine.
• Turkish President Erdogan criticized Russia's actions in Syria. He stressed that the Russian troops are there at the invitation of the illegitimate government.
• As a result of the terrorist attack on the hotel in Egyptian resort of Hurghada three tourists were killed, several people were wounded.
• Chief of Cologne Police, where the riots involving migrant attacks on women took place shortly before, resigned . Media reported on the creation in Germany of self-defense groups . REGIDA right-wing party plans to hold in Germany and the UK numerous rallies demanding the expulsion of illegal migrants. According to Czech Prime Minister Sobotka, migrants who commit crimes should be immediately deported from the EU. Slovak Prime Minister Fico demanded to convene an emergency summit of the European Union in connection with the riots in Cologne.