July 13, 2017

Newsbriefs

More

Special rep named for Ukraine negotiations

WASHINGTON – Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson on July 7 announced his appointment of Ambassador Kurt Volker to serve as the U.S. special representative for Ukraine negotiations. Ambassador Volker, who has served previously as the U.S. permanent representative to NATO as well as director for European and Eurasian affairs on the National Security Council, will take responsibility for advancing U.S. efforts to achieve the objectives set out in the Minsk agreements. State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert noted: “He will accompany the Secretary to Kyiv on Sunday, July 9, and is expected to continue to hold regular meetings with Ukraine and the other members of the Normandy Format: Russia, Germany and France.” Secretary Tillerson said: “Kurt’s wealth of experience makes him uniquely qualified to move this conflict in the direction of peace.” He added: “The United States remains fully committed to the objectives of the Minsk agreements, and I have complete confidence in Kurt to continue our efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine.” (U.S. Department of State)

Volker to coordinate State Department efforts

KYIV – A pooled media report on July 7 quoted State Department official R.C. Hammond as saying that U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker “will coordinate all State Department efforts to bring a resolution to the conflict created when Russia invaded Crimea and later eastern Ukraine.” Mr. Volker’s appointment came shortly before U.S. President Donald Trump was to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin for highly anticipated bilateral talks on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Hamburg, Germany. As special envoy, Ambassador Volker is tasked with pushing for a solution to a conflict that is now in its fourth year. More than 10,000 people have been killed and nearly 2 million have been displaced by the fighting between Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed separatists. Mr. Volker is likely to be dealing directly with Vladislav Surkov, a longtime senior aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Mr. Volker is the executive director of the McCain Institute for International Leadership at Arizona State University, which says it is “guided by” the values that have “animated the career” of Sen. John McCain (R- Ariz.), a prominent foreign policy voice in Congress and a tireless critic of Mr. Putin. A former NATO envoy, Ambassador Volker has spoken critically about the government of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, whose ouster amid mass street protests in 2014 triggered a series of events that led to Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea region and outbreak of war in eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko welcomed Mr. Volker’s appointment, saying in a July 7 tweet that it is an “important and timely move in the interests of ending Russian aggression and restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, including Crimea.” (Christopher Miller of RFE/RL, with reporting by Reuters)

Trump cites Russia’s ‘destabilizing behavior’ 

WARSAW – In a keynote address in Warsaw, U.S. President Donald Trump urged Russia “to cease its destabilizing activities in Ukraine and elsewhere” and specifically reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to NATO’s Article 5. Mr. Trump spoke on July 6 before a cheering, flag-waving crowd of 10,000 people in historic Krasinski Square in central Warsaw, where former President Lech Walesa sat among guests in the VIP area. The president said the U.S. repeatedly “has demonstrated not only with words, but with its actions, that it stands behind Article 5” of the NATO treaty – the provision stating that an attack on one NATO country is an attack on all members of the alliance. Earlier that day, after meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda, Mr. Trump said the United States is “committed to maintaining peace and security in Central Europe” and again said that Washington is “working with Poland in response to Russia’s actions and destabilizing behavior.” The country’s proximity to its rival has heightened its concerns about Moscow’s intentions in the region, especially after Russia’s illegal annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea region, its support of separatists in eastern Ukraine, and its alleged efforts to manipulate elections in the United States and some European Union countries. The White House gave its blessing to a $7.6 billion deal to sell Patriot missile defense systems to Poland by the end of the year. U.S. missile defense systems in Eastern Europe have prompted repeated complaints from Russia in the past, and President Barack Obama had shelved such plans in 2009, as part of his administration’s attempted “reset” of relations with Moscow. (RFE/RL, with reporting by AP, Reuters, DPA, CNN, CNBC and The Wall Street Journal)

MH17 suspects to be tried in Dutch court 

AMSTERDAM – The Dutch Foreign Affairs Ministry said on July 5 that the suspects in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine will be prosecuted in a Dutch court. The ministry’s announcement did not name the suspects in the July 17, 2014, tragedy, which killed 298 people from 17 different countries. But an international criminal investigation determined in 2016 that the MH17 passenger jet was shot down by a Buk anti-aircraft missile fired from separatist-controlled territory in eastern Ukraine. The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) that conducted the international investigation also determined that the Buk missile system had been brought into Ukraine from Russia shortly before MH17 was shot down and then it was smuggled back to Russia shortly afterward. Russia has rejected the JIT’s conclusions. “We’re still seeing a great deal of disinformation and attempts to discredit the investigation” by the JIT, Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders said in a July 5 statement. “Nevertheless, major results have been achieved,” Mr. Koenders said, including “the report of the investigation by the Dutch Safety Board and the JIT’s presentation of findings in September 2016.” He added, “What’s more, the ongoing criminal investigation enjoys virtually unanimous support from the international community.” Mr. Koenders said the decision to conduct the trial in a Dutch court was made by the countries jointly investigating the crash – Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, Ukraine and the Netherlands. Mr. Koenders said those countries will continue to cooperate on the prosecution and that the trial will cover all of the victims. “In this way, the JIT countries are jointly heeding the U.N. Security Council’s call to hold those responsible for this incident to account,” Mr. Koenders said. “We have every confidence that we can continue to count on broad international support. And I will continue to do my utmost to ensure that this remains the case.” (RFE/RL)

Dutch ready monument to 298 victims 

PRAGUE – King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands have announced they will join Prime Minister Mark Rutte on July 17 for the unveiling of a national monument for the victims of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17). The flight was shot down over Ukraine in July 2014, claiming the lives of all 298 people on board; 193 of the victims were from the Netherlands. The monument consists of 298 trees, one for each victim, planted in the shape of a ribbon and a memorial plaque. Each of the trees will come with a memorial plaque with a name in the center. The ribbon of trees was designed by landscape architect Robbert de Koning, while the plaque was designed by artist Ronald A. Westerhuis. The theme of the monument will be “to live on.” The unveiling of the monument will take place as the families walk through the ribbon of trees, with the king and queen walking in the front with 17 children from Vijfhuizen. They will then meet with relatives of the victims. Around 2,000 people are expected to come, including representatives from the other countries involved with the disaster. (RFE/RL)

Berlin demands explanation on turbines 

BERLIN – The German government demanded speedy answers on July 12 from industrial conglomerate Siemens, after two of the group’s gas turbines were delivered to Russian-annexed Crimea despite sanctions imposed by the European Union. Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman Steffen Seibert told journalists in Berlin that the government was following the case “with great attention,” adding, “right now, the facts of the matter need to be clarified as quickly and comprehensively as possible.” He underscored, “That’s the Siemens company’s responsibility above all.” Siemens said July 10 that two gas turbines it had sold for a power plant in Russia last year had been diverted to the Ukrainian region of Crimea. The region has been subjected to EU sanctions on energy technology since Russia illegally annexed it from Ukraine in 2014. Siemens said the transfer was a “clear breach of Siemens’ delivery contracts” and has filed a lawsuit against a Russian state firm after the two turbines turned up in Crimea. Mr. Seibert said: “I would point out that it’s the company’s job to check whether their business falls under a sanctions regime. …The delivery of the turbines into Crimea against the terms of the contract, against high-ranking assurances, is …remarkable and completely unacceptable.” (RFE/RL, based on reporting by Reuters, AFP, AP and DPA)

Kyiv to focus on reforms before NATO bid

KYIV – Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said his country would not seek NATO membership “immediately” but would instead focus on implementing reforms. Mr. Poroshenko, speaking in Kyiv after talks with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on July 10, said the government would “build a genuine program of reforms” in order to meet NATO requirements for possible future membership. Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze said that same day that Ukraine seeks “partnership” with NATO. “We have something to contribute to this system,” she said. For his part, Mr. Stoltenberg expressed NATO’s support for Ukraine and called for the complete implementation of the Minsk agreements aimed at ending the conflict in eastern Ukraine between government forces and separatists receiving military, economic, and political support from Russia. He reaffirmed that NATO members do not recognize Russia’s 2014 annexation of the Ukrainian region of Crimea. (RFE/RL)

Yanukovych will not participate in trial 

KYIV – Ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych announced that he would not participate in a high treason trial against him that was scheduled to resume in Kyiv on July 6. Mr. Yanukovych said he is recalling his lawyers from the court, which is trying him in absentia on charges of treason, violating Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and abetting Russian aggression. The ex-president fled Ukraine in February 2014 amid street protests during which his police forces killed dozens of people. He has been living in exile in Russia. “I don’t want to participate in the alleged adversary trial, the outcome of which was determined in advance,” he said in a statement, adding that his lawyers are “powerless” to argue his case “in the country of obliterated justice.” Mr. Yanukovych said prosecutors are “accusing me of all past, present and future woes of Ukraine” and called the trial “a sham.” He said that the Ukrainian law allowing the court to try him in absentia violates the European Convention on Human Rights, and the court violated his rights by refusing to allow him to participate in the trial by videoconference. On July 12 ruling, Kyiv court Judge Vladyslav Devyatko granted state-appointed defense attorney Vitaliy Meshechek’s request for a few weeks to get acquainted with the case. He adjourned Mr. Yanukovych’s in-absentia treason trial until August 3. Mr. Yanukovych’s previous lawyers, Vitaliy Serdyuk and Ihor Fedorenko, withdrew from the case on July 6, saying Mr. Yanukovych had informed them that he did not need their services any more. (RFE/RL, based on reporting by TASS and Interfax, UNIAN and Ukranews.com)

Ukraine, U.K. co-host reforms conference

OTTAWA – The governments of Ukraine and the United Kingdom on July 6 co-hosted an international conference in London on reforms in Ukraine “to showcase the progress Ukraine has made on reform since 2014, present the Ukrainian government’s Reform Action Plan 2017-2020, and bring the international community together to agree priority reform areas and show support for Ukraine,” the U.K. Foreign Office stated. Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland attended the conference. Ministerial-level plenary discussions were held, as well as “detailed conversations on each of the priority reform areas agreed in the Action Plan: good governance, economic growth, rule of law and anti-corruption, defense and security reform, and human capital,” the U.K. Foreign Office noted. U.K. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said: “Ukraine’s recent progress on reform has been astounding, but more needs to be done. Achieving the stable, prosperous future that Ukrainians desire will require absolute commitment to reform from the Ukrainian government, as well as unwavering support from the international community. …The U.K. is committed to helping Ukraine deliver reform, fight against corruption and build its ability to stand up to Russian aggression. As one of Ukraine’s closest friends, we are pleased to be by Ukraine’s side as it fulfils the aspirations of Ukrainian citizens, and realizes the economic potential of a great European country.” (Ukrainian Canadian Congress Daily Briefing)

Canada reiterates support for Ukraine

OTTAWA – On July 6, Canada’s Department of Global Affairs stated, “Canada is unequivocal in its support for the people of Ukraine. We continue to call for the protection of their rights, safety and security and respect for the sanctity of Ukraine’s borders.” Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland concluded her participation in the Opportunity Ukraine conference, in London, where she reiterated Canada’s support for Ukraine’s efforts to implement economic and democratic reforms. It was noted at the July 6 conference that Canada welcomes the progress made in a number of areas since the 2014 Revolution of Dignity, notably, key achievements in stabilizing the economy and fighting corruption. Minister Freeland announced an additional $6.89 million (Canadian) in funding to Ukraine through five new initiatives that will primarily focus on continued support of human rights monitoring, conflict resolution, and mine awareness, surveying and clearance. These initiatives, funded by Canada’s Peace and Stabilization Operations Program (PSOPs), build on and reinforce previously announced Canadian investments in police reform and support to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Minister Freeland stated, “Since the beginning of the crisis in 2013, Canada has been at the forefront of the international community’s support for Ukraine. Canada applauds reform efforts undertaken by Ukraine and believes that these new projects will help address Ukraine’s immediate national security and peace-building needs as its people pursue a secure, stable and prosperous future.” (Ukrainian Canadian Congress Daily Briefing)

MP calls for removal of visa restrictions

OTTAWA – Member of Parliament Borys Wrzesnewskyj (Etobicoke Center, Ontario) delivered a statement on the floor of Canada’s House of Commons on June 16, calling on the government to commence on a study on the removal of visitor visa restrictions on Ukrainian citizens and to reinstate the Youth Mobility Agreement between Canada and Ukraine. Mr. Wrzesnewskyj’s House of Commons statement read: “This week, the European Union introduced visa-free travel for citizens of Ukraine. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko hailed this historic milestone, calling it ‘the fall of the paper curtain’ between Ukraine and the liberal democratic West, and Business Ukraine magazine referred to this day as ‘Ukraine’s Berlin Wall Moment.’ …It is time for Canada to study the removal of visa restrictions between Canada and Ukraine, the last Soviet legacy dividing our two countries.” He also said: “…let us work with Ukraine to reinstate the Youth Mobility Agreement between Canada and Ukraine to allow young Ukrainians and young Canadians to travel to our respective countries and enrich their professional and personal lives by experiencing all the benefits each of our countries have to offer. (Office of MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj)

Ryanair cancels plans for Ukraine flights 

KYIV – Irish low-cost airline Ryanair has canceled plans to start flying to destinations in Ukraine, saying the main airport in the capital, Kyiv, had not honored terms agreed earlier this year. “Kiev [sic] airport has… chosen to protect high fare airlines and deprive Ukrainian consumers/visitors access to Europe’s lowest airfares,” Ryanair said in a statement on July 10. Ryanair had announced in March that it would begin operating 15 weekly flights on four routes from Britain, Sweden and the Netherlands, and seven new routes were also planned for the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, with some 500,000 passengers expected each year. “We regret also that Lviv Airport has fallen victim to Kyiv Airport’s decision,” the statement said. The canceled flights will lead to 400 job cuts, Ryanair said, and people who have already booked tickets will be refunded. A spokesman for Kyiv’s Boryspil Airport did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. Ryanair said it would transfer the capacity to other markets, such as Germany, Israel, and Poland. Last year, Ryanair was the largest European airline by scheduled passengers flown, and carried more international passengers than any other airline. (RFE/RL, based on reporting by Reuters and nyt.com)

Police seize servers of software firm

KYIV – Ukraine’s Internal Affairs Ministry said its cybercrime police department has prevented the second stage of a global cyberattack by seizing the servers of a small company. Authorities on July 4 seized servers belonging to Intellect Service, the software developer of the Kyiv-based tax software firm M.E. Doc. M.E. Doc was at the center of the previous week’s global outbreak of malicious software. Internal Affairs Minister Arsen Avakov said the servers of the M.E. Doc system in Kyiv had begun sending out and activating a computer virus at 1:40 p.m. local time on July 4. Mr. Avakov said the attack was due to reach its peak at 4 p.m., but he said authorities stopped the attack before 3 p.m. M.E. Doc was identified as “patient zero” of the previous week’s outbreak, which crippled computers at several multinational firms and knocked out cash machines, gas stations, and bank branches in Ukraine before spreading to other countries. The company denies allegations that poor security helped seed the malware epidemic.
M.E. Doc is used by 80 percent of the companies in Ukraine to file taxes. The SBU said on its website on July 1 that the cyberattack that started in Ukraine and spread around the world on June 27 aimed to destroy important data and spread panic. The SBU said: “The available data, including those obtained in cooperation with international antivirus companies, give us reason to believe that the same hacking groups are involved in the attacks, which in December 2016 attacked the financial system, transport and energy facilities of Ukraine using TeleBots and BlackEnergy.” It added: “This testifies to the involvement of the special services of Russian Federation in this attack.” (RFE/RL, based on reporting by AP, Reuters, Interfax-Ukraine and ssu.gov.ua)

Comments are closed.