Tillerson OKd as secretary of state
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate has confirmed the former CEO of oil giant ExxonMobil, Rex Tillerson, as secretary of state. The chamber voted 56-43 on February 1 to confirm Mr. Tillerson. Four Democrats joined all 52 Republicans in approving him. As CEO, Mr. Tillerson oversaw major drilling and exploration around the world, including in Russia. That worried some Senate Democrats, who charged he would be overly conciliatory to Russia and seek to undo economic sanctions imposed over Moscow’s 2014 annexation of the Ukrainian region of Crimea and its active support for separatist militants in eastern Ukraine. ExxonMobil was working with the Russian state-owned oil giant Rosneft on a massive, multibillion-dollar Arctic drilling project when the administration of then-President Barack Obama placed sanctions on Russia in 2014. ExxonMobil later said the move was expected to end up costing it as much as $1 billion. At his confirmation hearings before a Senate committee last month, Mr. Tillerson portrayed Russia as a dangerous and destabilizing global actor that disregards U.S. interests. But he also said Moscow was not unpredictable and that Washington should improve its understanding of the Kremlin’s thinking. Mr. Tillerson’s backers say his experience running a huge multinational company that employs nearly 84,000 employees makes him eminently qualified to run the sprawling diplomatic bureaucracy of the State Department. Mr. Trump has hailed Mr. Tillerson’s background in the private sector, saying it makes him a capable negotiator. Mr. Tillerson will take the helm of the State Department just as hundreds of State Department employees have signaled open criticism of the Trump administration, in particular a recent executive order temporarily banning refugees and migrants from seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. (RFE/RL, with reporting by AP, AFP and Reuters)
Stoltenberg on dialogue with Russia
BRUSSELS – NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says the alliance and the new U.S. administration agree on the need for dialogue with Russia “from a position of strength.” Mr. Stoltenberg said on January 31 that in phone conversations with U.S. President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary James Mattis, “they all conveyed the same message: that the United States remains committed to NATO and the transAtlantic bond.” He added, “The message of the new administration is that they also want dialogue with Russia but from a position of strength.” Relations between NATO and Russia have sunk to lows not seen since the Cold War amid tension over Moscow’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014, its backing of insurgents in eastern Ukraine, its involvement in the Syrian conflict, and other issues. Mr. Trump, who took office on January 20, has called for improved relations with Russia and has rattled Europe with criticism of NATO and praise for Britain’s plans to leave the European Union. He has called NATO “obsolete” but also said the alliance is still “very important” to him. (RFE/RL, based on reporting by AFP and TASS)
Poroshenko cuts short Germany trip
KYIV – Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko cut short a working visit to Germany to oversee an emergency situation that has developed around the eastern Ukrainian town of Avdiyivka. Officials said on January 30 that there was heavy shelling from Russia-supported militants in Avdiyivka, near the city of Donetsk overnight. At least 12 people were reported killed, including three Ukrainian soldiers in the latest violence, despite the fact of an “indefinite” ceasefire was agreed last month. A spokesman for Mr. Poroshenko told Interfax that the situation around Avdiyivka has become “an emergency situation verging on a humanitarian disaster.” Earlier, Mr. Poroshenko met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, telling her that the West should extend and strengthen sanctions against Russia if there is no progress in implementing the Minsk agreements on resolving the conflict. He also discussed the conflict in eastern Ukraine with German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel. (RFE/RL, based on reporting by BBC, RIA Novosti and Interfax)
Kyiv: Russia fired on transport plane
KYIV – Ukrainian military authorities say that an unarmed military transport plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire from a Russian naval vessel over a disputed area of the Black Sea. Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said no one was injured in the February 1 incident and the plane returned safely to base despite being hit several times. A spokesman for the Russian Black Sea Fleet – based at the port of Sevastopol on Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014 – said the Ukrainian aircraft acted “provocatively” by flying at “extremely low altitude.” The Russian spokesman denied that the aircraft was fired upon, saying such claims by Ukraine were “a lie.” The spokesman said the plane made close passes to Russian oil platforms and security guards sent it a warning signal. The Ukrainian military said the shots were fired from a Russian navy anti-submarine corvette patrolling the area. The incident occurred before noon local time over a part of the Black Sea that both Russia and Ukraine claim. (RFE/RL, based on reporting by Dumskaya.net, DefenceBlog.com, Interfax and TASS)
Contact Group urges immediate ceasefire
MINSK – The Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), which is attempting to regulate the conflict in eastern Ukraine, has urged both sides to adhere scrupulously to the agreed ceasefire and to withdraw heavy weaponry away from the contact line as previously agreed. The TCG – which includes Ukraine, Russia and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) – met in Minsk on February 1 amid a significant uptick in fighting between the Ukrainian military and Russia-backed separatists in recent days around the government-controlled town of Avdiyivka. The TCG statement also called for “safe and secure access” for OSCE monitors and the “facilitation of humanitarian efforts” aimed at restoring water and electricity supplies. Also on February 1, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called the renewed fighting “the most serious spike in violence in a long time,” adding that the humanitarian situation for civilians in Avdiyivka was “dire, with 20,000 people facing freezing temperatures without heat, electricity, and water.” Mr. Stoltenberg also called on Russia “to use its considerable influence over the separatists to bring the violence to an end.” The Ukrainian military said on February 1 that nine servicemen and one civilian were also injured in the previous 24 hours. Ukrainian officials had reported the deaths of seven soldiers in the past few days, the highest casualty toll in weeks. An emergency official, Vladislav Husinskyy, said that 175 people, including 88 children, had been evacuated to nearby towns by bus on the morning of February 1. Shelling left many residents of the town north of the separatist stronghold of Donetsk without electricity, water supplies and heating in temperatures well below freezing. The United Nations Security Council on January 31 expressed “grave concern” over the “dangerous deterioration” in eastern Ukraine and called for a halt to the violence. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry described it on January 31 as “a clear indication of Russia’s continued blatant disregard of its commitments under the Minsk agreements.” Speaking on February 1, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected accusations that Russia and the separatists were responsible for the flare-up of hostilities, and called on Kyiv to stop what he said were “provocative actions.” Mr. Peskov also said that the escalation was evidence of what he called the need for “a swift resumption of dialogue and cooperation between Russia and the United States.” (RFE/RL, with reporting by Christopher Miller, AP, UNIAN, TASS and Interfax)
EU on cooperation with U.S. on Ukraine
BRUSSELS – Eight European Union member states are calling for more cooperation between the United States and the EU in pushing for reforms in Ukraine, according to a document seen by RFE/RL. The plan comes amid widespread concerns in Europe that new U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration will step up cooperation with Russia, reducing U.S. support for Ukraine and leaving the EU with less influence. The paper, which is to be discussed by EU foreign ministers on February 6, was authored by Britain, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden. “Ukraine has the potential to become a positive showcase for the region,” but it will take “long-term political commitment and resolve as well as international support,” the document says. It stresses that “the EU and the United States have a shared interest in supporting Ukrainian reforms, and adds: “We believe more could be done to share analysis and coordinate reform efforts with the United States.” Specifically, it says the EU and United States should explore cooperation in reforming the Ukrainian customs authority to “increase compliance, efficiency and predictability to the benefit of trade and private sector development.” Western governments and analysts say that swifter, more thorough reforms would reduce the influence of Russia, which seized the Crimean peninsula in March 2014 and backs separatists in a war that has killed more than 9,750 people since April 2014. (RFE/RL, with reporting by Rikard Jozwiak)
Trump, Putin agree to work together
WASHINGTON – The White House said the first official phone call between President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin “was a significant start to improving the relationship between the United States and Russia that is in need of repair.” The hour-long call on January 28 was their first official contact since Mr. Trump’s inauguration on January 20. In statements released by the Kremlin and the White House, there was only passing mention of the situation in Ukraine, where Russia’s annexation of the Crimea Peninsula prompted sweeping U.S. and European sanctions. In the days leading up to the call, there was speculation that Mr. Trump would move to lift those measures. There was also no reference to the question of Russia’s alleged interference in the U.S. presidential election. U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia interfered using computer hacking and propaganda, seeking to bolster Mr. Trump’s campaign. “Both President Trump and President Putin are hopeful that after today’s call the two sides can move quickly to tackle terrorism and other important issues of mutual concern,” the White House said in a short statement released after the call. The Kremlin, meanwhile, had a similarly upbeat assessment of the conversation, saying it showed there is “a mood for restoring and improving” cooperation between the United States and Russia. It said that “both sides showed their readiness for active, joint work to stabilize and develop Russian-American cooperation.” The Kremlin said Messrs. Putin and Trump both favored the idea of coordinating Russian and U.S. actions in Syria aimed at defeating Islamic State (IS) militants and what the Kremlin called “other terrorist groups.” Mr. Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Interfax that Trump and Putin did not discuss the issue of easing U.S. sanctions that have been imposed against Russia over its illegal annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea region and Moscow’s support for pro-Russia separatists in eastern Ukraine. The Kremlin statement said Messrs. Putin and Trump did discuss the situation in Ukraine. It said the two leaders agreed to establish “partner-like cooperation” on international issues, including “the crisis in Ukraine,” the situation in the Middle East, strategic stability, and the fight against terrorism. (RFE/RL, with reporting by Reuters, AP, Interfax and TASS)
McCain vows to cement sanctions
WASHINGTON – Sen. John McCain says he will pursue legislation that would cement sanctions against Russia into law if President Donald Trump decides to lift them. Sen. McCain (R-Ariz.) made the pledge in a January 27 statement, a day before a planned phone call between Mr. Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Earlier on January 27, senior Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway said in a television interview that lifting U.S. sanctions that were imposed against Russia over its actions in Ukraine and elsewhere was “under consideration.” Sen. McCain stated: “For the sake of America’s national security and that of our allies, I hope President Trump will put an end to this speculation and reject such a reckless course,” Sen. McCain said. “If he does not, I will work with my colleagues to codify sanctions against Russia into law.” Sen. McCain, a vocal critic of Putin, called the Russian president a “murderer and a thug who seeks to undermine American national security interests.” (RFE/RL)
Russia charges Crimean Tatar official
MOSCOW – Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has filed extremism charges against a leading Crimean Tatar official in the annexed Ukrainian region of Crimea. Officials announced on January 30 that Ilma Umerov, deputy chairman of the Crimean Tatar Mejlis, the community’s top executive organ, has been charged with “actions aimed at violating the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation.” Mr. Umerov is in Kyiv-controlled Ukraine. In March 2016, he made televised statements calling for Russia to return Crimea, which it annexed from Ukraine in 2014. Crimean Tatars have complained of human rights violations since the annexation. The Mejlis has been outlawed by the Russian authorities. On January 27, a Russian court in the Crimean city of Simferopol accepted charges of “disseminating extremist information” against rights lawyer Emil Kurbedinov, who has served as defense attorney in numerous cases involving Crimean Tatars. (RFE/RL, with reporting by Interfax and TASS)
Journalist ordered out of Belarus
MINSK – Authorities in Belarus have detained Ukrainian journalist Vitaliy Sizov and ordered him to leave the country due to the fact that he was barred from entering Russia. Mr. Sizov arrived in Minsk on February 1 to cover talks between the so-called Contact Group on regulating the conflict in eastern Ukraine. He told RFE/RL that Belarusian police forcibly removed him from his hotel and ordered him to leave the country within 24 hours. “They told me Russia had barred me from entering its territory until 2021,” Mr. Sizov said. “Because Russia and Belarus are members of a union state I cannot be on the Belarusian territory either, they said.” Mr. Sizov is a journalist working for a Ukrainian television channel broadcasting to the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, where Ukraine’s armed forces have been fighting against Russia-supported separatists since 2014. Mr. Sizov added that he planned to leave Belarus within 24 hours, right after the talks. He is officially accredited with the Belarusian Foreign Affairs Ministry and has visited Belarus several times in the past. (RFE/RL’s Belarus Service)
Shakhtar’s home games to be in Kharkiv
KYIV – The Ukrainian soccer club Shakhtar Donetsk will play its future home games in the city of Kharkiv throughout the year, the club announced on January 30. Shakhtar has not played in its home city since the start of the conflict with Russia-backed separatists in the east in 2014, when Donetsk came under the control of separatists. It played its home games in Lviv while training and living in Kyiv. The games in Kharkiv, on an agreement until the end of 2017, will Shakhtar’s first match in Kharkiv is a Europa League last-32 return leg against Spain’s Celta Vigo on February 23. “The matches we held in Kharkiv have proved that there are many Shakhtar fans in this region. …This will enable us to be closer to our fans, and I am convinced that we can make them happy with our spectacular performance and good results,” Shakhtar chief executive Sergei Palkin said. (RFE/RL, based on reporting by AP and DPA)
Brazilian jailed over conflict in east
KYIV – A Brazilian citizen who authorities say fought alongside Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine has been sentenced to 13 years in prison by a Kyiv court. The Brazilian was convicted of creating a “terrorist organization” and “recruiting mercenaries for terrorists,” the Pechersk district court said in a statement. The January 25 statement did not name the man or say when he was sentenced. Ukrainian media, including outlets based in separatist-held territory in eastern Ukraine, have reported that his name is Rafael Lusvarghi and that he was arrested upon arrival at Kyiv’s Boryspil International Airport in October 2016. A Facebook page advocating for Mr. Lusvarghi’s release and featuring a photo of a fighter holding a separatist flag shared a report by a separatist website confirming it was he who was sentenced. The website said Mr. Lusvarghi is 32 years old. The Kyiv prosecutor’s office has alleged that the Brazilian convicted in court fought alongside separatists between September 2014 and May 2015, including in deadly battles for the town of Debaltseve and the Donetsk airport. During that time, he served as a military instructor and scout, as well as a recruiter of foreign fighters, the prosecutor’s office said. He is believed to be the first non-Russian to be convicted and sentenced by Ukraine for alleged crimes relating to the war. Foreigners from several countries have fought in the war. Russian media have quoted Mr. Lusvarghi as saying that he “fights not only for Novorossiya, but also for a multipolar world.” The term Novorossiya means “New Russia” and is used by some Russians and separatists to refer to large parts of eastern and southern Ukraine that they covet. (RFE/RL’s Christopher Miller, with reporting by from RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service)