Agreement on withdrawal of weapons
MINSK – Representatives of Russia, Ukraine and Europe reached a long-awaited agreement on the withdrawal of tanks and other weapons from the frontline in eastern Ukraine. “This is a document that opens a path to peace, a path to an end of violence and attacks,” Russian negotiator Azamat Kulmukhametov said late September 29. The deal supplements a broad agreement signed in February aimed at ending the conflict between the Western-aligned Ukrainian government and Russia-backed rebels in the east. Martin Sajdik, the representative of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe at the peace talks, said the agreement will start in two days and take 39 days to carry out. It covers “the withdrawal of tanks, mortars and artillery of less than 100 millimeter caliber to a distance of 15 kilometers,” he said. He said the Ukrainian envoy Leonid Kuchma has signed the deal, while separatist representative Denis Pushilin said the leaders of the self-styled Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, who were not present at talks, would sign the agreement by October 1. The OSCE will monitor the withdrawal of the weapons, Mr. Sajdik said. Weapons of over 100-millimeter caliber have already been withdrawn from the frontline in accordance with the ceasefire deal brokered in Minsk in February. The leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany, who negotiated the Minsk deal, were to meet in Paris on September 30 to try to push forward a political settlement for eastern Ukraine, where the fighting has killed more than 7,900 people since it began in April 2014. (RFE/RL, with reporting by the Associated Press and Reuters)
Biden and Poroshenko meet
NEW YORK – U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden met on September 29 with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. A readout of the meeting provided by the vice-president’s office noted: “The two leaders discussed the implementation of the Minsk agreements and the need for Russia to press the separatists it backs to cancel sham elections in the separatist-controlled parts of the Donbas, which, if held, would be in direct contravention of the Minsk implementation plan. The vice-president welcomed the recently concluded agreement on further demilitarization along the line of contact, but expressed concern over the failure by the separatists to grant full access to OSCE monitors and Russia’s continued deployment of troops and weapons inside Ukraine. The two leaders also discussed the need to strengthen regional energy security, as well as domestic political developments in advance of local Ukrainian elections in October.” (Office of the Vice-President)
Poroshenko: conflict costs $5M a day
UNITED NATIONS – President Petro Poroshenko has said the conflict in the eastern part of Ukraine costs about $5 million a day – money that the country could be putting into development. Speaking to a United Nations summit in New York on September 27, Mr. Poroshenko said the fighting between government forces and Russian-backed separatists has made Ukraine lose “about one fifth of its economic potential.” He said the insurgency in Ukraine’s east “has led to the emergence of a new form of poverty, sudden or unexpected poverty” for thousands of people. Noting that peace and freedom are necessary to achieve the U.N. development goals, Mr. Poroshenko said Russia’s actions prevent Ukraine from progressing. During the speech, all but one member of the Russian delegation walked out in protest, according to the TASS news agency. In an interview with The Associated Press late on September 27, Mr. Poroshenko said he wants the talks between Presidents Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin to lead to better implementation of the Minsk accord. He said he expects Ukraine, the United States, and the European Union to coordinate “a firm incentive” for Mr. Putin to comply with the peace agreement. “This applies to the impossibility of holding sham elections in the occupied territory, thorough implementation of all terms of the deal, access for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to all control checkpoints, withdrawal of all Russian soldiers from the occupied territories, and closing the border,” Mr. Poroshenko said. (RFE/RL, with reporting by the Associated Press, Deutsche Presse-Agentur and TASS)
Rep. Smith calls for Savchenko’s release
WASHINGTON – Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation, also known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission, on September 22 called for the immediate release of former Ukrainian fighter pilot Nadiya Savchenko from a Russian jail.
”Nadiya is yet another victim of the Russian government’s contempt for human dignity,” Rep. Smith said. “We must recognize that this isn’t just about her, but it manifests the Russian government’s aggression towards Ukraine – which wishes to remain free, independent, and democratic.”
That day the Russian government began Ms. Savchenko’s trial, and in response the House of Representatives passed House Resolution 50, expressing its support for her cause. The resolution included Rep. Smith’s amendment, which substantially strengthened the resolution by calling for the imposition of personal sanctions against individuals responsible for the kidnapping, arrest and imprisonment of Ms. Savchenko and other Ukrainian citizens illegally incarcerated in Russia. “With its illegal annexation of Crimea and the war in eastern Ukraine, Russia has made a mockery of its international commitments, including all 10 core OSCE principles enshrined in the 1975 Helsinki Final Act,” Rep. Smith continued. “Nadiya’s illegal detention, along with that of other Ukrainian citizens held hostage by Moscow, represents yet another in a long list of violations of international agreements and the norms of civilized behavior.” (U.S. Helsinki Commission)
Poroshenko awards Sentsov, Kolchenko
KYIV – Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has awarded medals to film director Oleh Sentsov and activist Oleksandr Kolchenko, two Ukrainians who were controversially imprisoned in Russia last month. Mr. Poroshenko’s office said on September 25 that Mr. Sentsov, 39, and Mr. Kolchenko, 25, had been given Ukraine’s medal of the first degree for courage. A Russian court sentenced Mr. Sentsov to 20 years and Mr. Kolchenko to 10 years in prison on August 25 after finding them guilty of creating a terrorist group and plotting attacks in the Crimean Peninsula. Mr. Sentsov, a Crimean native who opposed Russia’s March 2014 annexation of the peninsula, was arrested in May last year on suspicion of planning the fire-bombings of pro-Russian organizations in Crimea. Messrs. Sentsov and Kolchenko pleaded not guilty and said their trial was politically motivated. (RFE/RL, based on reporting by UNIAN and Interfax)
U.S. announces $7.5 M more in aid
KYIV – On September 30, the United States announced an additional $7.5 million in life-saving humanitarian assistance for those affected by the conflict in Ukraine, bringing total U.S. humanitarian assistance to Ukraine since the start of the crisis to nearly $69 million. The funding will be used to support efforts by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to meet critical protection and assistance needs, including by supporting family reunification efforts and providing food, hygiene items, medical supplies, emergency shelter material and essential household items such as blankets. The United States also reiterated its call for full and unfettered access to ensure humanitarian relief can reach civilians in need. (U.S. Embassy Kyiv)
Nemtsov, Savchenko up for Sakharov Prize
BRUSSELS – Russia’s slain opposition politician Boris Nemtsov and imprisoned Ukrainian military pilot and Parliament member Nadiya Savchenko are among the nominees for the 2015 Sakharov Prize, it was reported in mid-September. The 50,000-euro prize, established by the European Parliament in 1988, is awarded every year to individuals or groups of people who have dedicated their lives to the defense of human rights and freedom of thought. Mr. Nemtsov, a former Russian deputy prime minister of Russia, was murdered in February 2015. He was a vocal critic of President Vladimir Putin. Ms. Savchenko was captured in 2014 by Russian-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine and handed over to Russia, where she is being tried on charges of participating in the murder of Russian journalists. The nominees also include three whistleblowers – Edward Snowden, Antoine Deltour, and Stephanie Gibaud – Saudi blogger Raif Badawi, Somalian activist Edna Adan Ismail and Mesa da la Unidad Democracia, which provides legal services for political prisoners and opposition groups in Venezuela. The winner will be decided in October. (RFE/RL)
OSCE on Gongadze murder inquiry
VIENNA – On the 15th anniversary of the disappearance of prominent Ukrainian journalist Heorhii Gongadze, the OSCE representative on freedom of the media of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Dunja Mijatović, reiterated her call on the authorities to fully investigate the crime. Gongadze went missing on September 16, 2001, and was later found dead outside Kyiv. “Gongadze paid the ultimate price for his courageous work,” Ms. Mijatović said. “Fifteen years on, his murder continues to have a dampening effect on the free expression and free media in Ukraine. The masterminds behind this vicious crime must be brought to justice.” Ms. Mijatović also expressed concern about the lack of progress in the investigations of at least nine killings and numerous attacks against members of the media since the start of the conflict in and around the country. “I call on the authorities to intensify investigations into the attacks on journalists to bring those responsible to justice,” Ms. Mijatović wrote in a letter to Minister of Foreign Affairs Pavlo Klimkin of Ukraine. “Addressing the issue of impunity is an essential step to improve the safety of journalists and to promote a culture of respect for, and understanding of, the important role journalists play in a democratic society.” (OSCE)
U.N. OKs debt-restructuring measure
UNITED NATIONS – The United Nations has voted overwhelmingly for a new global framework for sovereign-debt restructuring aimed at avoiding cases like Argentina’s grinding legal battle with “vulture” creditors. The World Bank and International Monetary Fund have warned that Argentina’s struggle with predatory hedge funds that have won U.S. court judgments demanding full repayment of the country’s debt highlights a problem that could affect other countries struggling with heavy debts. One such country is Ukraine, which has had difficulty getting major creditors to accept a debt write-down. The nonbinding resolution approved on September 10 by 136 U.N. members, but opposed by the United States, Germany, Japan, and Britain, stresses a nation’s right to restructure its debt “as a last resort.” It says member countries should adopt principles that would protect sovereign governments from minority creditors that refuse to go along with the majority in mutually agreed debt restructurings. It urges courts to “respect the decisions adopted by the majority of the creditors” and says a country “should not be frustrated or impeded by any abusive measures” by minority creditors seeking redress in the courts. (RFE/RL, based on reporting by Agence France-Presse, the Associated Press and Reuters)
IMF urges lenders to join debt deal
WASHINGTON – The International Monetary Fund has urged all of Ukraine’s creditors to support a debt restructuring deal. In an open letter released on September 22, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said, “High participation by all concerned Eurobond holders in the upcoming debt exchange is paramount, since Ukraine lacks the resources under the program to service its debts on the original terms.” The statement came as an IMF mission arrived in Kyiv to assess Ukraine’s commitment to reforms that would warrant the release of another portion of its $17.5 billion loan. A creditor group that owns half of Ukraine’s sovereign bonds agreed last month to accept new terms that include a 20 percent principal write-down and a four-year maturity extension. A group of smaller private lenders have reportedly refused to join the agreement, while Moscow is also demanding the December repayment of a $3 billion bond. (RFE/RL, based on reporting by Agence France-Presse and Reuters)
World Bank provides $500 M loan
WASHINGTON – The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors on September 15 approved a $500 million loan to Ukraine, to support “a number of high-priority reform measures in the banking sector in response to the financial crisis in Ukraine. …In particular, reform measures supported by this loan – the second in a series of two – will strengthen the capacity of the Deposit Guarantee Fund to ensure that it can adequately perform its critical bank resolution and insured deposit payout functions in the case of bank failures. The loan will also help stabilize the banking sector through conducting diagnostics of the country’s largest banks and implementing recapitalization and restructuring plans for those banks that are found to be undercapitalized. Finally, this operation will support legal and institutional reforms necessary to improve the resilience and efficiency of the banking system in the medium to longer term, particularly, focusing on limiting related-party lending in the banking system,” the World Bank stated. (Ukrainian Canadian Congress)
Ukraine prepared for Russia’s embargo
KYIV – Speaking at a meeting of the government, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk stated, “We expect that by the end of this year European partners will ratify the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement and a full-fledged free trade area with the European Union will enter into force on 1 January 2016.” He added: “The Russian Federation or any other country does not and will not have the right to our sovereign decision on European integration. Despite all warnings and intimidations from the northern neighbor in respect of the possible introduction [of] an embargo and further economic pressure on Ukraine, I clearly declare that the agreement will enter into force. Ukraine is part of the European area, including economic one… We are prepared for the introduction of an embargo by the Russian Federation and we will give a decent response in case Russia doesn’t cancel its decision to introduce the embargo.” (Ukrainian Canadian Congress)
Russia to ban Ukrainian air traffic
MOSCOW – Russia is closing its airspace to Ukrainian airlines starting on October 25 in reprisal for a ban that Ukraine imposed last week on Russian carriers. The Russian transport agency said on September 28 that it is imposing the ban on instructions from Russian Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev. The measure is in response to a decision by Ukrainian authorities on September 25 to ban Aeroflot, Transaero, and other Russian air companies from flying into Ukraine, also starting on October 25. Kyiv, whose ban is aimed at punishing Russia for its annexation of Crimea and its support for Ukrainian separatists in the east, is also barring Russian transit flights if the aircraft carries military personnel or dual-use goods. Moscow branded Kyiv’s move at the time as an “act of madness.” Also in September, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko expanded a list of sanctions against Russian companies and individuals, targeting 400 officials and 90 companies. (RFE/RL, based on reporting by the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and TASS)
Ukraine sanctions cargo operator
KYIV – Ukraine’s state-run railway company has suspended cooperation with a cargo branch of Russian Railways as part of a wave of sanctions against Russia over its support for separatists in the country’s east. Ukrzaliznytsya said on September 29 that it “is not handling cargo and [rail] cars operated by Russia’s freight railway operator Freight One or its daughter company.” On September 25, Ukraine banned Russian airlines, including Aeroflot, from flying to Ukraine from October 25, prompting Russia to impose similar restrictions on Ukrainian airlines flying in Russian airspace. Earlier in September, Kyiv expanded a list of sanctions against Russian companies and individuals, targeting 400 officials and 90 firms. (RFE/RL, based on reporting by Reuters and Interfax)
U.S. official visits border guards
KYIV – Kenneth Myers, director of the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), visited the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service (SBGS) in Kyiv on September 23 to oversee the transfer of 8 hydraulic telescopic excavators worth $1.9 million and to inspect other equipment that DTRA has transferred to the border guards. The excavators will be used to build defensive security earthworks on Ukraine’s borders. Since April 2014, DTRA has provided nearly $40 million worth of operations equipment and training to help the Border Guard Service respond quickly to emerging border threats and to secure Ukraine’s borders, including in areas where little or no border security or infrastructure previously existed. This has been critical in the face of Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and its ongoing destabilizing activities in eastern Ukraine. The equipment DTRA has given to the SBGS has also allowed it to respond to WMD (weapons of mass destruction0 threats in eastern Ukraine, as well as incidents of trafficking of chemical and explosive materials at the Crimean Administrative Boundary. (U.S. Embassy Kyiv)