unian--2020-02-20--Police to act under law to unblock roads amid coronavirus evacuation protests in Novi Sanzhary – int

Police to act under law to unblock roads amid coronavirus evacuation protests in Novi Sanzhary – interior ministry

Local residents are rallying against the arrival of evacuees from China .
Ukrainian police will act under law to unblock roads amid protests in the town of Novi Sanzhary , Ukraine 's Poltava region , against the accommodation of evacuees from the Chinese city of Wuhan , the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak .
`` Law enforcement agencies will respond to any offenses in strict accordance with the law of Ukraine , as they have acted to this day .
Now a lot of preventive work is being carried out with citizens .
We urge them not to violate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government decisions that are adopted and implemented in strict accordance with the letter of the law , '' Director of the media liaison office at the Ministry of Internal Affairs Artem Shevchenko said at a briefing in Novi Sanzhary , where Ukrainian citizens and foreigners evacuated from China are being accommodated .
According to him , illegal actions will immediately be stopped by law enforcement in a legal way .
`` If unlawful actions do not fall within criminal liability , preventive conversations will be held with violators and they will be released @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more serious unlawful acts have been committed , the police will respond to them in accordance with the provisions of the Criminal Code and the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses , '' the ministry quoted him on Facebook as saying .
As UNIAN reported , chartered flight PQ 7302 with Ukrainian citizens and foreigners evacuated from China landed at Kharkiv Airport on February 20 .
Then the evacuees were taken to the National Guard 's medical center in Novi Sanzhary .
Ukraine 's Health Ministry reported there were 45 Ukrainians , 27 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doctors , on board the plane .
They all will be placed under 14-day observation with a strict regime of sanitary-epidemiological control and safety .
Meanwhile , local residents in Novi Sanzhary have blocked roads in protest against the arrival of the evacuees from China .

Local residents are rallying against the arrival of evacuees from China.
Ukrainian police will act under law to unblock roads amid protests in the town of Novi Sanzhary, Ukraine's Poltava region, against the accommodation of evacuees from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak.
"Law enforcement agencies will respond to any offenses in strict accordance with the law of Ukraine, as they have acted to this day. Now a lot of preventive work is being carried out with citizens. We urge them not to violate public safety and not to interfere with government decisions that are adopted and implemented in strict accordance with the letter of the law," Director of the media liaison office at the Ministry of Internal Affairs Artem Shevchenko said at a briefing in Novi Sanzhary, where Ukrainian citizens and foreigners evacuated from China are being accommodated.
According to him, illegal actions will immediately be stopped by law enforcement in a legal way.
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"If unlawful actions do not fall within criminal liability, preventive conversations will be held with violators and they will be released. In the event that tougher and more serious unlawful acts have been committed, the police will respond to them in accordance with the provisions of the Criminal Code and the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses," the ministry quoted him on Facebook as saying.
As UNIAN reported, chartered flight PQ 7302 with Ukrainian citizens and foreigners evacuated from China landed at Kharkiv Airport on February 20. Then the evacuees were taken to the National Guard's medical center in Novi Sanzhary.
Ukraine's Health Ministry reported there were 45 Ukrainians, 27 foreigners and crew members, including three doctors, on board the plane.
They all will be placed under 14-day observation with a strict regime of sanitary-epidemiological control and safety.
Meanwhile, local residents in Novi Sanzhary have blocked roads in protest against the arrival of the evacuees from China.


unian--2020-02-21--Experts identify four external factors to have decisive influence on Ukraine's national security

The settlement of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict , which initially went beyond bilateral relations , will depend largely on external factors .
Experts with Ukraine-based Razumkov Center for Economic and Political Studies have identified four external factors that will have a decisive influence on the national security of Ukraine .
`` The aggressive policy of the Russian Federation remains the main external threat to Ukraine 's security .
The settlement of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict , which initially went beyond bilateral relations , will depend largely on external factors , '' that 's according to the annual analytical assessments `` Ukraine 2019-2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presented at a press conference in Kyiv , an UNIAN correspondent reports .
Read alsoUkraine ready for dialogue with Donbas residents , but not with `` fake puppets '' – FM Prystaiko The experts believe the so-called `` crisis in Donbas '' is closely woven into the context of the crisis of the global security system and Russia 's confrontation with the West .
Amid Russia 's operations in various parts of the world and the Kremlin 's unchanged policy toward Ukraine , Russian President Vladimir Putin will continue his attempts to use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the internal and foreign policy failures .
The center indicates an analysis of the results of 2019 provides grounds for highlighting the following external factors , which will likely have a decisive influence on national security in general and on the course of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict , in particular in 2020 : 1 ) major global turbulence and conflict ; geopolitical competition between world leadrs ; 2 ) inability of international institutions to ensure peace , stability , and security ; 3 ) the use of the `` Ukrainian card '' in relations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States , and the attempts to resolve the so-called `` Ukrainian crisis '' without Ukraine ; 4 ) the erosion of the West 's attention to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict against the background of aggravation of conflicts in the Middle East , increased priority on global agenda of climate change , nuclear arms control and non-proliferation of the crisis of Euro-Atlantic solidarity . ''

The settlement of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, which initially went beyond bilateral relations, will depend largely on external factors.
Experts with Ukraine-based Razumkov Center for Economic and Political Studies have identified four external factors that will have a decisive influence on the national security of Ukraine.
"The aggressive policy of the Russian Federation remains the main external threat to Ukraine's security. The settlement of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, which initially went beyond bilateral relations, will depend largely on external factors," that's according to the annual analytical assessments "Ukraine 2019-2020: wide opportunities, conflicting results" presented at a press conference in Kyiv, an UNIAN correspondent reports.
Read alsoUkraine ready for dialogue with Donbas residents, but not with "fake puppets" – FM Prystaiko
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The experts believe the so-called "crisis in Donbas" is closely woven into the context of the crisis of the global security system and Russia's confrontation with the West. Amid Russia's operations in various parts of the world and the Kremlin's unchanged policy toward Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin will continue his attempts to use Ukraine to consolidate successes or compensate for the internal and foreign policy failures.
The center indicates an analysis of the results of 2019 provides grounds for highlighting the following external factors, which will likely have a decisive influence on national security in general and on the course of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, in particular in 2020: 1) major global turbulence and conflict; geopolitical competition between world leadrs; 2) inability of international institutions to ensure peace, stability, and security; 3) the use of the "Ukrainian card" in relations between Russia, Europe, and the United States, and the attempts to resolve the so-called "Ukrainian crisis" without Ukraine; 4) the erosion of the West's attention to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict against the background of aggravation of conflicts in the Middle East, increased priority on global agenda of climate change, nuclear arms control and non-proliferation of the crisis of Euro-Atlantic solidarity."


unian--2020-02-21--PM Honcharuk explains slowdown in GDP growth

However , the economy continues to grow faster than in Europe , the official says .
Ukrainian Prime Minister Oleksiy @ @ @ @ @ in Ukraine 's economy growth in the fourth quarter of 2019 ( Q4 ) is @ @ @ @ @ `` The economy continues to grow faster than in Europe .
In the fourth quarter @ @ @ @ @ .
It 's true , this is due to absolutely objective factors .
For example @ @ @ @ @ cheaper gas than it was last winter .
We have generated and consumed much less @ @ @ @ @ than last winter .
October and November were unsuccessful for our industry in terms of @ @ @ @ @ said when presenting the Government 's report in the Verkhovna Rada , Ukraine 's parliament @ @ @ @ @ Read alsoUkraine 's Economy Ministry expects over US $ 3 bln in foreign investment in @ @ @ @ @ , the growth of Ukraine 's real GDP in the fourth quarter of 2019 was @ @ @ @ @ ) , having slowed down from 4.1 % in Q3 2019 y-o-y .

PM Honcharuk explains slowdown in GDP growth
14:00, 21.02.20 2912
However, the economy continues to grow faster than in Europe, the official says.
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unian--2020-02-21--Police release 23 detainees following clashes in Novi Sanzhary

Head of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Poltava region Ivan Vyhovskiy has said the police released 23 out of the 24 most aggressive individuals detained during clashes in Poltava region yesterday after a mob attacked the convoy bringing Wuhan evacuees to a medical center in the town of Novi Sanzhary .
Speaking at an extraordinary session of Poltava Regional Council , he said 24 persons who had been acting most aggressively were removed from the crowd and brought to police stations , according to an UNIAN correspondent .
He emphasized all persons had been identified , 23 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while one man will remain in custody under Article 208 of the Criminal Code .
According to Vyhovskiy , 200 law enforcers are securing the perimeter of the medical facility hosting the evacuees for a 14-day observation period .
In addition , Vyhovskiy said nine police officers were injured during yesterday 's clashes .
Four were provided with medical assistance in the hospital and released home .
Another five are in-patient treatment and need additional examination .
He added some law enforcement officers had been injured by stones in the head .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to medics who diagnosed him with minor bodily injuries , provided medical care and released him home .
As UNIAN reported , chartered flight PQ 7302 with Ukrainian citizens and foreigners evacuated from China landed at Kharkiv Airport on February 20 .
Then the evacuees were bussed to the National Guard 's medical center in Novi Sanzhary .
Ukraine 's Health Ministry reported there were 45 Ukrainians , 27 foreigners and crew members , including three doctors , on board the plane .
They all will be placed under 14-day observation with a @ @ @ @

One man remains in custody.
Head of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Poltava region Ivan Vyhovskiy has said the police released 23 out of the 24 most aggressive individuals detained during clashes in Poltava region yesterday after a mob attacked the convoy bringing Wuhan evacuees to a medical center in the town of Novi Sanzhary.
Speaking at an extraordinary session of Poltava Regional Council, he said 24 persons who had been acting most aggressively were removed from the crowd and brought to police stations, according to an UNIAN correspondent.
He emphasized all persons had been identified, 23 detainees were released pending pretrial investigation, while one man will remain in custody under Article 208 of the Criminal Code.
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According to Vyhovskiy, 200 law enforcers are securing the perimeter of the medical facility hosting the evacuees for a 14-day observation period.
In addition, Vyhovskiy said nine police officers were injured during yesterday's clashes. Four were provided with medical assistance in the hospital and released home. Another five are in-patient treatment and need additional examination. He added some law enforcement officers had been injured by stones in the head.
According to Vyhovskiy, one civilian also turned to medics who diagnosed him with minor bodily injuries, provided medical care and released him home.
As UNIAN reported, chartered flight PQ 7302 with Ukrainian citizens and foreigners evacuated from China landed at Kharkiv Airport on February 20. Then the evacuees were bussed to the National Guard's medical center in Novi Sanzhary. Ukraine's Health Ministry reported there were 45 Ukrainians, 27 foreigners and crew members, including three doctors, on board the plane. They all will be placed under 14-day observation with a strict biosecurity regime.


unian--2020-02-21--National Bank may cut key rate already in mid-2020 – Ukraine's economy minister

On January 31 , the regulator cut the key rate by 2.5 percentage points to a three-year low of 11 % per annum .
Ukrainian Minister for Development of Economy , Trade and Agriculture Tymofiy Mylovanov believes that in the current conditions the National Bank of Ukraine ( NBU ) has every reason to reduce its key policy rate to 7 % before the middle of 2020 , rather than at the end of the year the regulator projected earlier .
`` According to the National Bank 's forecast , the level [ of the key rate ] may reach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
We believe that in the current macroeconomic situation it is realistic to reach that rate in the middle of the year .
If the key rate is 7 % , we can talk about capital market , '' he said at a meeting of the parliamentary Committee on Economic Development on February 20 .
As UNIAN reported earlier , on January 31 , the National Bank continued easing its monetary policy , cutting the key rate by 2.5 percentage points to a three-year low of 11 % per annum .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate lowering to 8 % at the end of 2020 from 9 % projected earlier .

National Bank may cut key rate already in mid-2020 – Ukraine's economy minister
13:20, 21.02.20 862
On January 31, the regulator cut the key rate by 2.5 percentage points to a three-year low of 11% per annum.
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unian--2020-02-21--Over half of Ukrainians believe Ukraine developments moving in wrong direction – poll

The Armed Forces of Ukraine remain the most trusted government institution .
The share of those who believe that events in Ukraine are developing in the wrong direction has significantly exceeded the share of those who have the opposite point of view .
Some 53 % of Ukrainians believe that events in Ukraine are developing in the wrong direction .
`` Some 25 % of respondents believe that events in Ukraine are developing in the right direction ( against 57 % in September 2019 , 44 % in December 2019 ) , while 53 % think that events are developing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % in September 2019 , 36 % in December 2019 ) , '' according to a conducted by the Ukrainian Centre for Economic and Political Studies named after Oleksandr Razumkov .
Thus , the share of those who believe that events in Ukraine are developing in the wrong direction has significantly exceeded the share of those who have the opposite point of view .
`` Compared to the previous months , the share of those who believe that Ukraine is able to overcome existing problems and difficulties in the next few years has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 28 % in December , and 21 % according to the latest survey ) .
The share of those who believe that the country is able to overcome them in the more distant future was 40 % , 50 % and 49 % , respectively ) , and that it 's unable to overcome it , respectively ( 6 % , 11 % and 15 % ) , '' the results said .
At the same time , it is noted that among the executive and law enforcement authorities , Ukrainian trust @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 69 % of respondents ) , the State Emergency Service ( 65 % ) , the State Border Guard Service ( 60 % ) , and the National Guard of Ukraine ( 60 % ) .
According to the study , distrust is most often expressed toward the state apparatus ( officials ) ( 77 % ) , the judiciary as a whole ( 76 % ) , local courts ( 71 % ) , prosecutors ( 68 % ) , the Specialized Anti-corruption Prosecutor 's Office ( 66 % ) , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % ) , the National Agency on Corruption Prevention ( 65 % ) , the Government of Ukraine ( 64.5 % ) , the Supreme Court ( 64 % ) , the High Anti-Corruption Court ( 64 % ) , and the Constitutional Court of Ukraine ( 60.5 % ) .
According to the survey , 6 % of respondents fully support the activities of the Ukrainian government , 34 % support certain measures , and 51 % do not support it .
The actions by Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk are fully supported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support certain measures , and 52 % show no support for any of his actions .
`` A total of 28 % of respondents trust the government and 64.5 % do n't trust it , while 25 % express their confidence in Prime Minister Honcharuk and 63 % do n't , '' the study said .
It is noted the level of confidence in the government has declined significantly in recent months .
It reached high indicators in September 2019 , when 57 % of respondents trusted the government , and only 22 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ level of trust in the government significantly depends on political sympathies of respondents : 65 % of the electorate of the Servant of the People Party trust the government , while 27 % do n't , among supporters of the Opposition Platform – For Life Party it 's 11 % against 88 % , backers of European Solidarity Party – 8 % against 89 % , and those of Batkivshchyna Party – 18.5 % against 75 % , respectively .
The survey was conducted on February 13-17 , 2020 among 2,018 respondents over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ except the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions , the Autonomous Republic Crimea and Sevastopol ) .
The margin of error does not exceed 2.3 % .

The Armed Forces of Ukraine remain the most trusted government institution.
The share of those who believe that events in Ukraine are developing in the wrong direction has significantly exceeded the share of those who have the opposite point of view.
Some 53% of Ukrainians believe that events in Ukraine are developing in the wrong direction.
"Some 25% of respondents believe that events in Ukraine are developing in the right direction (against 57% in September 2019, 44% in December 2019), while 53% think that events are developing in the wrong direction (against 17% in September 2019, 36% in December 2019)," according to a conducted by the Ukrainian Centre for Economic and Political Studies named after Oleksandr Razumkov.
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Thus, the share of those who believe that events in Ukraine are developing in the wrong direction has significantly exceeded the share of those who have the opposite point of view.
"Compared to the previous months, the share of those who believe that Ukraine is able to overcome existing problems and difficulties in the next few years has decreased (41% in September 2019, 28% in December, and 21% according to the latest survey). The share of those who believe that the country is able to overcome them in the more distant future was 40%, 50% and 49%, respectively), and that it's unable to overcome it, respectively (6%, 11% and 15%)," the results said.
Read alsoSome 64% of Ukrainians support accession to EU – poll
At the same time, it is noted that among the executive and law enforcement authorities, Ukrainian trust in the Armed Forces of Ukraine (69% of respondents), the State Emergency Service (65%), the State Border Guard Service (60%), and the National Guard of Ukraine (60%).
According to the study, distrust is most often expressed toward the state apparatus (officials) (77%), the judiciary as a whole (76%), local courts (71%), prosecutors (68%), the Specialized Anti-corruption Prosecutor's Office (66%), the National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine (65%), the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (65%), the Government of Ukraine (64.5%), the Supreme Court (64%), the High Anti-Corruption Court (64%), and the Constitutional Court of Ukraine (60.5 %).
According to the survey, 6% of respondents fully support the activities of the Ukrainian government, 34% support certain measures, and 51% do not support it. The actions by Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk are fully supported by 6%, while 29.5% support certain measures, and 52% show no support for any of his actions.
"A total of 28% of respondents trust the government and 64.5% don't trust it, while 25% express their confidence in Prime Minister Honcharuk and 63% don't," the study said.
It is noted the level of confidence in the government has declined significantly in recent months. It reached high indicators in September 2019, when 57% of respondents trusted the government, and only 22% did not trust it. The level of trust in the government significantly depends on political sympathies of respondents: 65% of the electorate of the Servant of the People Party trust the government, while 27% don't, among supporters of the Opposition Platform – For Life Party it's 11% against 88%, backers of European Solidarity Party – 8% against 89%, and those of Batkivshchyna Party – 18.5% against 75%, respectively.
Read alsoPoll: 51% of Ukrainians stand for Ukraine joining NATO
The survey was conducted on February 13-17, 2020 among 2,018 respondents over 18 in all regions of Ukraine (except the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, the Autonomous Republic Crimea and Sevastopol). The margin of error does not exceed 2.3%.


unian--2020-02-21--Putin: We're not friends with Ukraine, but there's always hope – Russian media

At the same time , Putin recalled Moscow and Kyiv had managed to agree on a prisoner swap , as well as on gas transit through Ukraine .
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Russia and Ukraine are not friends anymore , but he hopes for an agreement with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky on improving relations between the two countries .
`` There 's always hope , '' Putin told Russian news agency TASS in an interview for the project `` 20 Questions with Vladimir Putin . ''
By the same token , he pointed to certain changes in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Unfortunately , as you see , after returning from Paris [ from the Normandy Four summit between Germany , Russia , Ukraine and France on December 9 ] , he [ Zelensky ] started talking about the necessity to review the Minsk Agreements .
This begs the question , '' Putin said .
At the same time , he recalled Moscow and Kyiv had managed to agree on a prisoner swap , as well as on gas transit through Ukraine .
Putin also said Russia and Ukraine had a great deal to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He said `` Russia is sustaining losses from the lack of friendship with Ukraine . ''
`` I have said time and again , I believe that we are the same people .
I do n't know whether they [ Ukrainians ] like this or not , but if you look at the real situation , that is true , '' Putin said .
The Russian leader acknowledged : `` Many things do divide us , but we should not forget about the bonds that unite us .
Also , we should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UNIAN memo .
Russia annexed Ukraine 's Crimea in March 2014 after its troops had occupied the peninsula .
An illegal referendum was held for Crimeans to decide on accession to Russia .
De-facto Crimean authorities reported that allegedly 96.77 % of the Crimean population had voted for joining Russia .
On March 18 , 2014 , the so-called agreement on the accession of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol to Russia was signed in the Kremlin .
The West did not recognize the annexation in response to which sanctions against Russia were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ designate February 20 , 2014 , as the official date when the temporary occupation of Crimea began .
After the annexation of Crimea by Russia in March 2014 , Ukraine 's east was seized by Russian-backed forces , and on April 15 , 2014 , the Ukrainian government had to launch its first formal military action against the invaders who had seized government buildings in towns and cities across eastern Ukraine .
Less than a month later , the armed forces in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk declared independence after unrecognized @ @

At the same time, Putin recalled Moscow and Kyiv had managed to agree on a prisoner swap, as well as on gas transit through Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Russia and Ukraine are not friends anymore, but he hopes for an agreement with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky on improving relations between the two countries.
"There's always hope," Putin told Russian news agency TASS in an interview for the project "20 Questions with Vladimir Putin."
By the same token, he pointed to certain changes in the stance of his Ukrainian counterpart.
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"Unfortunately, as you see, after returning from Paris [from the Normandy Four summit between Germany, Russia, Ukraine and France on December 9], he [Zelensky] started talking about the necessity to review the Minsk Agreements. This begs the question," Putin said.
At the same time, he recalled Moscow and Kyiv had managed to agree on a prisoner swap, as well as on gas transit through Ukraine.
Read alsoNo prospects for Donbas settlement until Russia stops arms supplies – Prystaiko
Putin also said Russia and Ukraine had a great deal to share, although some rifts certainly existed. He said "Russia is sustaining losses from the lack of friendship with Ukraine."
"I have said time and again, I believe that we are the same people. I don't know whether they [Ukrainians] like this or not, but if you look at the real situation, that is true," Putin said.
The Russian leader acknowledged: "Many things do divide us, but we should not forget about the bonds that unite us. Also, we should avoid ruining what we have."
UNIAN memo. Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea in March 2014 after its troops had occupied the peninsula. An illegal referendum was held for Crimeans to decide on accession to Russia. De-facto Crimean authorities reported that allegedly 96.77% of the Crimean population had voted for joining Russia. On March 18, 2014, the so-called agreement on the accession of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol to Russia was signed in the Kremlin. The West did not recognize the annexation in response to which sanctions against Russia were introduced. Ukraine's parliament voted to designate February 20, 2014, as the official date when the temporary occupation of Crimea began.
After the annexation of Crimea by Russia in March 2014, Ukraine's east was seized by Russian-backed forces, and on April 15, 2014, the Ukrainian government had to launch its first formal military action against the invaders who had seized government buildings in towns and cities across eastern Ukraine. Less than a month later, the armed forces in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk declared independence after unrecognized referendums.


unian--2020-02-21--Ukraine imports almost 11.7 bcm of gas from Europe in 2019

Since late November 2015 , the country has not been purchasing natural gas from Russia 's Gazprom .
Ukraine imported 11.66 billion cubic meters ( bcm ) of natural gas worth US $ 2.3 billion from European countries in 2019 .
Ukraine received 5.26 bcm of gas worth US $ 1 billion from traders registered in Switzerland , 3.4 bcm worth US $ 676.1 million from Germany , 624.2 million cubic meters ( mcm ) worth US $ 119.9 million from Poland , and 606.4 mcm worth US $ 114 million from the Czech Republic .
Some 500 mcm worth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 397.2 mcm worth US $ 80.7 million from France , 267.7 mcm worth US $ 72.5 million from Austria , 258.2 mcm worth US $ 56.3 million from the United Kingdom , and 133.7 mcm worth US $ 32.3 million from Luxembourg , according to the State Statistics Service .
As UNIAN reported earlier , Ukraine in 2018 imported 10.39 bcm of natural gas totaling US $ 3.12 billion .
In late November 2015 , Ukraine halted all gas purchases from Russia 's Gazprom .
In general , the country doubled gas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to 10.3 bcm , reducing by 56.5 % the purchase of hydrocarbons from Russia .
In 2016 , Ukraine imported 11.1 bcm of gas from Europe alone , while gas imports in 2017 totaled 13.9 bcm .
Natural gas imports in 2017 were estimated at US $ 3.228 billion .

Ukraine imports almost 11.7 bcm of gas from Europe in 2019
12:20, 21.02.20 862
Since late November 2015, the country has not been purchasing natural gas from Russia's Gazprom.
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unian--2020-02-21--Chinese woman taken off Kyiv-Moscow train at Russian border amid coronavirus suspicions – media

She was admitted to a Bryansk-based hospital dealing with infectious diseases .
A Chinese woman who was traveling by rail @ @ @ @ @ taken off the train after crossing into Russia as authorities suspected she had contracted a @ @ @ @ @ had a fever , Russia 's Interfax wrote on February 21 .
She was taken @ @ @ @ @ in the Russian city of Bryansk , said head of the local department of the @ @ @ @ @ Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing Lyudmila Trapeznikova .
According to the official , all @ @ @ @ @ in the same rail car were also put in quarantine at the Bryansk city hospital @ @ @ @ @ the incident is yet to be published .
As UNIAN reported , the number of @ @ @ @ @ cured of the novel coronavirus grew to 18,515 as of the morning of February 21 @

She was admitted to a Bryansk-based hospital dealing with infectious diseases.
A Chinese woman who was traveling by rail from Kyiv to Moscow was taken off the train after crossing into Russia as authorities suspected she had contracted a novel coronavirus.
The woman had a fever, Russia's Interfax wrote on February 21.
She was taken to the infectious diseases hospital in the Russian city of Bryansk, said head of the local department of the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing Lyudmila Trapeznikova.
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Read alsoBoth Ukrainians who contracted coronavirus on board cruise ship successfully recovered – MP
According to the official, all passengers that had been traveling in the same rail car were also put in quarantine at the Bryansk city hospital.
A detailed report of the incident is yet to be published.
As UNIAN reported, the number of patients who have been successfully cured of the novel coronavirus grew to 18,515 as of the morning of February 21.


unian--2020-02-21--Russia developing coastal radar station to track ships off Crimea coast

Officials say the portable station will allow tracking `` within the 200-mile exclusive economic zone . ''
Russia 's RTI @ @ @ @ @ Laguna-M mobile coastal radar station to track the movement of ships .
Officials say the @ @ @ @ @ `` within the 200-mile exclusive economic zone . ''
It is also reported Laguna-M will @ @ @ @ @ and vessels in the 120-degree sector , determining the coordinates and course parameters `` with @ @ @ @ @ The device will be able to identify vessels beyond the horizon .
According to FlotProm @ @ @ @ @ used `` in the southern regions of Russia . ''
As UNIAN reported earlier , @ @ @ @ @ the U.S.-made UGM-133A Trident II D5 , adopted by the U.S. forces in 1990 , @ @ @ @ @ than the R-30 `` Bulava-30 '' modern ballistic missiles that have been in service with @ @ @ @ @ 2018 .

Officials say the portable station will allow tracking "within the 200-mile exclusive economic zone."
Russia's RTI defense concern is developing the Laguna-M mobile coastal radar station to track the movement of ships.
Officials say the portable station will allow tracking "within the 200-mile exclusive economic zone."
It is also reported Laguna-M will be able to track ships and vessels in the 120-degree sector, determining the coordinates and course parameters "with high enough accuracy."
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The device will be able to identify vessels beyond the horizon. According to FlotProm, the station will be used "in the southern regions of Russia."
Read alsoAmid Western condemnation, Putin opens Crimea bridge to rail traffic – media
As UNIAN reported earlier, Russian expert Konstantin Sivkov said the U.S.-made UGM-133A Trident II D5, adopted by the U.S. forces in 1990, is in many respects better than the R-30 "Bulava-30" modern ballistic missiles that have been in service with the Russian army since in 2018.


unian--2020-02-21--Ukraine boosts farm produce exports by 14%, to almost US$2 bln in Jan

China , Egypt , Spain , the Netherlands , and Turkey were major importers of Ukrainian agricultural products in January .
Ukraine 's Ministry for Development of Economy , Trade and Agriculture says the country in January 2019 boosted farm produce exports by 14 % year-over-year ( y-o-y ) , to US $ 1.98 billion , accounting for 48 % of Ukraine 's total exports .
`` Ukraine is showing positive dynamics in increasing agricultural exports , in particular , due to increased yields and agricultural production , demand for Ukrainian products among foreign consumers and the opening of new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the major shares in agri-exports , that is 48 % and 23 % , respectively .
However , we are gradually increasing shipments of finished , niche , and organic products , '' the ministry 's press service quoted Deputy Minister of Economic Development , Trade and Agriculture Taras Vysotskyi as saying on February 20 .
Top 5 buyers of Ukrainian agricultural products in January were China ( 10.2 % of total supplies ) , Egypt ( 10.1 % ) , Spain and the Netherlands ( 8 % each ) , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As UNIAN reported earlier , Ukraine in 2019 updated its historical record of agri-exports , having supplied to foreign markets agricultural products worth US $ 22.4 billion , which was almost 20 % up from 2018 .
At the same time , Ukraine 's agri-food shipment to the European Union accounted for 33.5 % of the country 's agri-exports .

Ukraine boosts farm produce exports by 14%, to almost US$2 bln in Jan
11:20, 21.02.20 917
China, Egypt, Spain, the Netherlands, and Turkey were major importers of Ukrainian agricultural products in January.
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unian--2020-02-21--Zelensky's spokeswoman tells how president reacted to protests over Wuhan evacuees

According to the spokeswoman , `` the government communicated well and all agencies did their job . ''
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Press Secretary Yulia Mendel has said the president devoted his whole day to the issue of protests in Poltava region where people took to the streets to oppose the arrival of Ukrainian citizens evacuated from China 's Wuhan to a local medical facility for a 14-day quarantine .
`` He devoted the whole day to this situation .
In principle , he was ready for some nuances , because we had been preparing , '' she told a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' adding that the government had been planning the evacuation effort for weeks .
Mendel also recalled that Zelensky in his yesterday 's address had mentioned politicians who `` divided Ukrainians into right and wrong . ''
According to the spokeswoman , `` the government communicated well and all services did their job . ''
`` He tried to do everything , or rather not tried but really did everything because he devoted the whole day to ensure that the government communicates well and all agencies do their job , '' she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chartered flight PQ 7302 carrying Ukrainian citizens and foreigners evacuated from China 's Wuhan , the epicenter of coronavirus outbreak , landed in Kharkiv Airport on February 20 .
Then the evacuees were taken to the National Guard 's medical center in the town of Novi Sanzhary .
Ukraine 's Health Ministry reported there were 45 Ukrainians , 27 foreigners and crew members , including three doctors , on board the plane .
They all will be placed under 14-day observation with a strict regime of sanitary-epidemiological control and safety .
Read alsoEvacuees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police dispersing protesters to unblock roads ( Live stream ) Meanwhile , local residents in Novi Sanzhary were blocking roads leading to the facility , protesting against the arrival of evacuees from China in fear that they could potentially bring along the coronavirus into the area .

According to the spokeswoman, "the government communicated well and all agencies did their job."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Press Secretary Yulia Mendel has said the president devoted his whole day to the issue of protests in Poltava region where people took to the streets to oppose the arrival of Ukrainian citizens evacuated from China's Wuhan to a local medical facility for a 14-day quarantine.
"He devoted the whole day to this situation. In principle, he was ready for some nuances, because we had been preparing," she told a morning TV show "Snidanok z 1+1," adding that the government had been planning the evacuation effort for weeks.
Mendel also recalled that Zelensky in his yesterday's address had mentioned politicians who "divided Ukrainians into right and wrong."
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According to the spokeswoman, "the government communicated well and all services did their job."
Read alsoZelensky comments on Wuhan evacuation effort, shames opponents
"He tried to do everything, or rather not tried but really did everything because he devoted the whole day to ensure that the government communicates well and all agencies do their job," she said.
As UNIAN reported, a chartered flight PQ 7302 carrying Ukrainian citizens and foreigners evacuated from China's Wuhan, the epicenter of coronavirus outbreak, landed in Kharkiv Airport on February 20. Then the evacuees were taken to the National Guard's medical center in the town of Novi Sanzhary.
Ukraine's Health Ministry reported there were 45 Ukrainians, 27 foreigners and crew members, including three doctors, on board the plane.
They all will be placed under 14-day observation with a strict regime of sanitary-epidemiological control and safety.
Read alsoEvacuees from China arriving in Novi Sanzhary, police dispersing protesters to unblock roads (Live stream)
Meanwhile, local residents in Novi Sanzhary were blocking roads leading to the facility, protesting against the arrival of evacuees from China in fear that they could potentially bring along the coronavirus into the area.
Twenty-four people were detained amid riots.


unian--2020-02-21--Ukraine ready for dialogue with Donbas residents, but not with "fake puppets" – FM Prystaiko

Prystaiko also said the government was ready to hold local elections on the whole territory of Ukraine .
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko has said Ukraine is ready for a dialogue with Donbas residents , but not with the fake puppets , so-called `` representatives . ''
`` We are ready for a dialogue with Donbas residents , but not with the fake puppets , so-called 'representatives . '
This dialogue must be inclusive with all those , who are temporarily displaced from Donbas within Ukraine .
The voice of those internally displaced persons should also be heard in Minsk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ General Assembly plenary meeting on the situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine .
Read alsoUkraine working on new version of Minsk Agreements despite Russia 's stance Prystaiko also said the government was ready to hold local elections on the whole territory of Ukraine .
`` We look forward to holding local elections on the whole territory of Ukraine .
However , without basic security and political prerequisites the people of Donbas , including those who were forced to flee their homes , will not have a chance to make their democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be certified as legitimate by Ukraine and by the international community , based on the existing and recognized standards , '' he said .

Prystaiko also said the government was ready to hold local elections on the whole territory of Ukraine.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko has said Ukraine is ready for a dialogue with Donbas residents, but not with the fake puppets, so-called "representatives."
"We are ready for a dialogue with Donbas residents, but not with the fake puppets, so-called 'representatives.' This dialogue must be inclusive with all those, who are temporarily displaced from Donbas within Ukraine. The voice of those internally displaced persons should also be heard in Minsk," he said at the UN General Assembly plenary meeting on the situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
Read alsoUkraine working on new version of Minsk Agreements despite Russia's stance
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Prystaiko also said the government was ready to hold local elections on the whole territory of Ukraine.
"We look forward to holding local elections on the whole territory of Ukraine. However, without basic security and political prerequisites the people of Donbas, including those who were forced to flee their homes, will not have a chance to make their democratic choice at the elections, which should be certified as legitimate by Ukraine and by the international community, based on the existing and recognized standards," he said.


unian--2020-02-21--NBU strengthens official hryvnia to UAH 24.48 to U.S. dollar on Feb 21

The official forex rate against the euro for Friday is fixed at UAH 26.42 per euro .
The National Bank @ @ @ @ @ on February 20 set the official forex rate at UAH 24.48 to the U.S. dollar @ @ @ @ @ 's national currency stronger by four kopiykas .
The Central Bank fixed the following official @ @ @ @ @ against key foreign currencies for February 21 : US $ 100 will be traded for @ @ @ @ @ as of February 20 ) ; EUR 100 will be traded for UAH 2,642.49 ( @ @ @ @ @ 20 ) .
As UNIAN reported earlier , the Ukrainian hryvnia in January 2020 weakened @ @ @ @ @ U.S. dollar , to UAH 25.03 per U.S. dollar and by 4.7 % against the @ @ @ @ @ per euro .
In 2019 , Ukraine 's national currency strengthened by 14.5 % against @ @ @ @ @ UAH 23.69 and by 16.7 % against the euro , to UAH 26.42 .
The @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. dollar was registered at UAH 30.01 in February 2015 .

NBU strengthens official hryvnia to UAH 24.48 to U.S. dollar on Feb 21
10:20, 21.02.20 1205
The official forex rate against the euro for Friday is fixed at UAH 26.42 per euro.
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unian--2020-02-21--Zelensky promises Ukrainian woman left behind in Wuhan "to find a way" to bring her back

The woman earlier refused to board an evacuation plane after she was denied taking along her pet dog over the alleged lack of veterinary paperwork required for transportation .
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has made a phone call to personally encourage Anastasia Zinchenko , a Ukrainian woman left behind in the Chinese city of Wuhan at the epicenter of coronavirus outbreak , telling her that the government will `` find a way '' to get her back to Ukraine .
The woman earlier refused to board an evacuation plane after she was denied taking along her pet dog over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for transportation .
Read alsoUkrainians evacuated from China to be quarantined in medical center outside Poltava The woman posted on Instagram a video of her conversation with the Ukrainian president put on a loudspeaker .
`` I 'm aware that you stayed because your dog was n't allowed on board .
I just found out .
Look , we won ’ t leave you there .
I wanted to call you personally because I find it very important .
We will surely find means and ways .
I just recently learned about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way to bring you back , '' Zelensky said .
As UNIAN reported earlier , Zinchenko said it was the Ukrainian embassy that was to blame for the boarding issue as she had collected all paperwork required .
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs never received from the embassy any documents she had provided , the woman earlier said .
At the same time , the embassy insists it 's the Chinese authorities that banned transportation of the Ukrainian woman 's dog .

The woman earlier refused to board an evacuation plane after she was denied taking along her pet dog over the alleged lack of veterinary paperwork required for transportation.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has made a phone call to personally encourage Anastasia Zinchenko, a Ukrainian woman left behind in the Chinese city of Wuhan at the epicenter of coronavirus outbreak, telling her that the government will "find a way" to get her back to Ukraine.
The woman earlier refused to board an evacuation plane after she was denied taking along her pet dog over the alleged lack of veterinary paperwork required for transportation.
Read alsoUkrainians evacuated from China to be quarantined in medical center outside Poltava
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The woman posted on Instagram a video of her conversation with the Ukrainian president put on a loudspeaker.
"I'm aware that you stayed because your dog wasn't allowed on board. I just found out. Look, we won’t leave you there. I wanted to call you personally because I find it very important. We will surely find means and ways. I just recently learned about the problem... but we will find a way to bring you back," Zelensky said.
As UNIAN reported earlier, Zinchenko said it was the Ukrainian embassy that was to blame for the boarding issue as she had collected all paperwork required. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs never received from the embassy any documents she had provided, the woman earlier said.
At the same time, the embassy insists it's the Chinese authorities that banned transportation of the Ukrainian woman's dog.


unian--2020-02-21--No prospects for Donbas settlement until Russia stops arms supplies – Prystaiko

Ukraine stands for the deployment of peacekeepers throughout the occupied Donbas , not only along the line of contact .
Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko says the settlement of the armed conflict in Donbas , sparked by Russia , will have no prospects until the border , through which Russian weapons are delivered , is sealed .
The comment came at a New York briefing on Thursday following a debate at the UN General Assembly on the situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine .
Asked about the possibility of deploying peacekeepers in eastern Ukraine , Prystaiko said he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Guterres , and had already raised the issue of peacekeepers before the chairman of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly , Tijjani Muhammad-Bande .
Prystaiko recalled that Ukraine had already raised the issue of peacekeepers in 2015 , and that Kyiv would be pleased if this issue was considered .
Read alsoUkraine working on new version of Minsk Agreements despite Russia 's stance He underlined Ukraine 's position that the peacekeeping mission must be deployed throughout Donbas , not just the demarcation line as the Russians suggested .
Prystaiko added that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ukraine-Russia border rather than the line of contact , and if no agreement is reached with Russia that the border should be closed to everyone who crosses in , bringing weapons , there will be no prospects for a settlement .
Also , he noted that the Russians did not agree with this option .
Russian President Vladimir Putin during the Normandy Four summit in Paris December 9 , 2019 , once again insisted on the idea of launching a peacekeeping operation , which he says should protect the OSCE SMM along the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the same time , Putin was reminded that the mandate of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission extends across the entire territory of Donbas , not only to the area along the demarcation line , so the so-called `` idea of protection '' means that the monitors ' movement will be limited .
As UNIAN reported earlier , Vadym Prystaiko noted that Ukraine was expecting another exchange of held persons with the Russian Federation in the near future .

Ukraine stands for the deployment of peacekeepers throughout the occupied Donbas, not only along the line of contact.
Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko says the settlement of the armed conflict in Donbas, sparked by Russia, will have no prospects until the border, through which Russian weapons are delivered, is sealed.
The comment came at a New York briefing on Thursday following a debate at the UN General Assembly on the situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
Asked about the possibility of deploying peacekeepers in eastern Ukraine, Prystaiko said he was set to meet with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and had already raised the issue of peacekeepers before the chairman of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande.
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Prystaiko recalled that Ukraine had already raised the issue of peacekeepers in 2015, and that Kyiv would be pleased if this issue was considered.
Read alsoUkraine working on new version of Minsk Agreements despite Russia's stance
He underlined Ukraine's position that the peacekeeping mission must be deployed throughout Donbas, not just the demarcation line as the Russians suggested.
Prystaiko added that the "problems" revolve around the Ukraine-Russia border rather than the line of contact, and if no agreement is reached with Russia that the border should be closed to everyone who crosses in, bringing weapons, there will be no prospects for a settlement.
Also, he noted that the Russians did not agree with this option.
Russian President Vladimir Putin during the Normandy Four summit in Paris December 9, 2019, once again insisted on the idea of launching a peacekeeping operation, which he says should protect the OSCE SMM along the demarcation line.
According to him, at the same time, Putin was reminded that the mandate of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission extends across the entire territory of Donbas, not only to the area along the demarcation line, so the so-called "idea of protection" means that the monitors' movement will be limited.
As UNIAN reported earlier, Vadym Prystaiko noted that Ukraine was expecting another exchange of held persons with the Russian Federation in the near future.


unian--2020-02-21--Ukraine reports 10 enemy attacks in Donbas on Feb 20

No casualties were reported among Ukrainian troops in the past day .
Russia 's hybrid military forces on Thursday mounted 10 attacks on Ukrainian positions in Donbas , eastern Ukraine .
`` The armed forces of the Russian Federation violated the ceasefire 10 times on February 20 , '' the press center of Ukraine 's Joint Forces Operation said in a Facebook update as of 07:00 Kyiv time on February 21 , 2020 .
The enemy opened fire , employing proscribed 120mm and 82mm mortars , cannons installed on infantry fighting vehicles , grenade launchers of various types , heavy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alsoDonbas escalation : Russian occupation forces attack Ukrainian troops , try to penetrate line of contact ( Video ) Under attack came Ukrainian positions near the towns of Maryinka and Krasnohorivka , and the villages of Novomykhailivka , Pyshchevyk , Pavlopil , Lebedynske , Starohnativka , and Novozvanivka .
No casualties were reported among Ukrainian troops in the past day .
`` Since Friday midnight , Russia-led forces have attacked Ukrainian positions near Krasnohorivka , and the village of Orikhove , Pavlopil , and Lebedynske , using 120mm and 82mm mortars , grenade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guns , and rifles , '' the update said .

No casualties were reported among Ukrainian troops in the past day.
Russia's hybrid military forces on Thursday mounted 10 attacks on Ukrainian positions in Donbas, eastern Ukraine.
"The armed forces of the Russian Federation violated the ceasefire 10 times on February 20," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation said in a Facebook update as of 07:00 Kyiv time on February 21, 2020.
The enemy opened fire, employing proscribed 120mm and 82mm mortars, cannons installed on infantry fighting vehicles, grenade launchers of various types, heavy machine guns, and rifles.
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Read alsoDonbas escalation: Russian occupation forces attack Ukrainian troops, try to penetrate line of contact (Video)
Under attack came Ukrainian positions near the towns of Maryinka and Krasnohorivka, and the villages of Novomykhailivka, Pyshchevyk, Pavlopil, Lebedynske, Starohnativka, and Novozvanivka.
No casualties were reported among Ukrainian troops in the past day.
"Since Friday midnight, Russia-led forces have attacked Ukrainian positions near Krasnohorivka, and the village of Orikhove, Pavlopil, and Lebedynske, using 120mm and 82mm mortars, grenade launchers of various types, heavy machine guns, and rifles," the update said.


unian--2020-02-21--Ukraine working on new version of Minsk Agreements despite Russia's stance

The accords need to be amended , the top diplomat says .
Ukraine is now working toward updating the Minsk agreements on Donbas settlement , which have exhausted themselves , says Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko .
`` The war continues , and we can not allow Russia , which started it , to get out of it easily , '' Prystaiko told the Voice of America .
Ukraine is set to amend the Minsk agreements despite Russia opposing the move .
He recalled that the provisions of the agreements were to be implemented back in 2015 .
Read alsoPrystaiko @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We have n't even come close to this '' '' Now it 's 2020 – and we still haven ’ t achieved peace .
Therefore , we believe that we not only can – we must change this document because some of its provisions just ca n't be implemented , '' he explained .
Prystaiko has added that the Ukrainian side is now working to force all participants to agree that `` the Minsk agreements have exhausted themselves and require change . ''
At the same time , Prystaiko states that some changes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made .
As an example , he cited disengagement of forces and the `` Steinmeier formula '' , also emphasizing the fact that Russia did not object to these actions .
According to the Foreign Minister , over time , a new document will be developed that will be easier to implement to achieve practical results .
The minister called the exchange of held persons and POWs between Ukraine and Russia the only partial achievement of the Minsk process .

The accords need to be amended, the top diplomat says.
Ukraine is now working toward updating the Minsk agreements on Donbas settlement, which have exhausted themselves, says Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko.
"The war continues, and we cannot allow Russia, which started it, to get out of it easily," Prystaiko told the Voice of America.
Ukraine is set to amend the Minsk agreements despite Russia opposing the move.
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He recalled that the provisions of the agreements were to be implemented back in 2015.
Read alsoPrystaiko on joint patrols in Donbas: "We haven't even come close to this"
"Now it's 2020 – and we still haven’t achieved peace. Therefore, we believe that we not only can – we must change this document because some of its provisions just can't be implemented," he explained.
Prystaiko has added that the Ukrainian side is now working to force all participants to agree that "the Minsk agreements have exhausted themselves and require change."
At the same time, Prystaiko states that some changes to the Minsk agreements have already been made. As an example, he cited disengagement of forces and the "Steinmeier formula", also emphasizing the fact that Russia did not object to these actions.
According to the Foreign Minister, over time, a new document will be developed that will be easier to implement to achieve practical results.
The minister called the exchange of held persons and POWs between Ukraine and Russia the only partial achievement of the Minsk process.


unian--2020-02-21--CNN: U.S. Justice Department puts Brooklyn prosecutor atop Ukraine probes

It 's not clear what cases will fall under Donoghue 's purview .
The U.S. Justice Department has assigned the top prosecutor in Brooklyn to coordinate Ukraine-related investigations , according to a memo released Tuesday to Congress , bringing a new layer of Washington supervision to an area of interest that has become a political minefield .
Richard Donoghue , the U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of New York , will `` coordinate existing matters '' and `` assess , investigate , and address any other matters relating to Ukraine , including the opening of any new investigations or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to the memo , sent last month by the deputy attorney general to senior Justice Department officials , CNN reported .
Manhattan U.S. attorney Geoffrey Berman is investigating Rudy Giuliani , the president 's personal lawyer , along with associates who played a role in his efforts to dig up political dirt on the Joe Biden and his son , Hunter , in Ukraine .
It 's not clear what cases will fall under Donoghue 's purview but in the memo , Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen says there are `` several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different U.S. attorneys offices and law enforcement components in the Justice Department .
Donoghue is already `` handling certain Ukraine-related matters , '' Rosen said .
Under the new policy , any new matter relating to Ukraine that arises should be directed to Donoghue 's office `` for investigation and appropriate handling , '' the memo states .

It's not clear what cases will fall under Donoghue's purview.
The U.S. Justice Department has assigned the top prosecutor in Brooklyn to coordinate Ukraine-related investigations, according to a memo released Tuesday to Congress, bringing a new layer of Washington supervision to an area of interest that has become a political minefield.
Richard Donoghue, the U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of New York, will "coordinate existing matters" and "assess, investigate, and address any other matters relating to Ukraine, including the opening of any new investigations or the expansion of existing ones," according to the memo, sent last month by the deputy attorney general to senior Justice Department officials, CNN reported.
Read alsoFox News: Barr taps network of prosecutors to review Russia-Ukraine cases
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Manhattan U.S. attorney Geoffrey Berman is investigating Rudy Giuliani, the president's personal lawyer, along with associates who played a role in his efforts to dig up political dirt on the Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, in Ukraine.
It's not clear what cases will fall under Donoghue's purview but in the memo, Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen says there are "several distinct open investigations being handled" by different U.S. attorneys offices and law enforcement components in the Justice Department.
Donoghue is already "handling certain Ukraine-related matters," Rosen said.
Under the new policy, any new matter relating to Ukraine that arises should be directed to Donoghue's office "for investigation and appropriate handling," the memo states.


unian--2020-02-21--As gesture of solidarity, Ukraine's Health Minister ready to join in with quarantined evacuees from

As gesture of solidarity, Ukraine's Health Minister ready to join in with quarantined evacuees from China

Skaletska thanked the pilots of the plane that had brought the people to Ukraine , the doctors and the entire crew .
Ukrainian Health Minister Zoryana Skaletska has said she will join in with evacuees from China who have been put in 14-day quarantine in Ukraine .
`` I 've made up my mind to join the people under observation .
I 'll spend the next 14 days together with them , in the same premises , under the same conditions , '' the minister wrote on Facebook on February 20 .
She said she hoped that her presence would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ town of Novi Sanzhary , Poltava region , who came out against the accommodation of the evacuees in a local health center , and the rest of Ukraine .
Read alsoOver 10 police officers badly injured in clashes with protesters in Novi Sanzhary – interior minister '' What has been happening today – panic and zero tolerance , negativity and aggression – have produced a strong negative impression on me .
The people evacuated from China got even more impressed .
Therefore , I ask you to express the words of support and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they have agreed to spend two weeks in isolation for the sake of safety of all of us .
I hope that my personal example will contribute to calming the situation down and bringing about a reconciliation , '' she said .
Skaletska also thanked the pilots of the plane that had brought the evacuees to Ukraine , the doctors and the entire crew , `` who have volunteered to help with the evacuation and [ agreed to ] spend the next 14 days with all of them in isolation . ''
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Ukrainian citizens and foreigners evacuated from China landed at Kharkiv Airport on February 20 .
Then the evacuees were bussed to the National Guard 's medical center in Novi Sanzhary .
Ukraine 's Health Ministry reported there were 45 Ukrainians , 27 foreigners and crew members , including three doctors , on board the plane .
They all will be placed under 14-day observation with a strict biosecurity regime .

Skaletska thanked the pilots of the plane that had brought the people to Ukraine, the doctors and the entire crew.
Ukrainian Health Minister Zoryana Skaletska has said she will join in with evacuees from China who have been put in 14-day quarantine in Ukraine.
"I've made up my mind to join the people under observation. I'll spend the next 14 days together with them, in the same premises, under the same conditions," the minister wrote on Facebook on February 20.
She said she hoped that her presence would calm down both local residents in the town of Novi Sanzhary, Poltava region, who came out against the accommodation of the evacuees in a local health center, and the rest of Ukraine.
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Read alsoOver 10 police officers badly injured in clashes with protesters in Novi Sanzhary – interior minister
"What has been happening today – panic and zero tolerance, negativity and aggression – have produced a strong negative impression on me. The people evacuated from China got even more impressed. Therefore, I ask you to express the words of support and gratitude to them for the fact that they have agreed to spend two weeks in isolation for the sake of safety of all of us. I hope that my personal example will contribute to calming the situation down and bringing about a reconciliation," she said.
Skaletska also thanked the pilots of the plane that had brought the evacuees to Ukraine, the doctors and the entire crew, "who have volunteered to help with the evacuation and [agreed to] spend the next 14 days with all of them in isolation."
As UNIAN reported, chartered flight PQ 7302 with Ukrainian citizens and foreigners evacuated from China landed at Kharkiv Airport on February 20. Then the evacuees were bussed to the National Guard's medical center in Novi Sanzhary. Ukraine's Health Ministry reported there were 45 Ukrainians, 27 foreigners and crew members, including three doctors, on board the plane. They all will be placed under 14-day observation with a strict biosecurity regime.


unian--2020-02-22--Former Ukraine diplomat Marie Yovanovitch has book deal – media

Financial terms were not disclosed .
Former Ukraine ambassador Marie Yovanovitch , the career diplomat who during the impeachment hearings of President Donald Trump offered a chilling account of alleged threats from Trump and his allies , has a book deal .
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt confirmed Friday to The Associated Press that it had acquired Yovanovitch 's planned memoir , currently untitled .
According to the publisher , the book will trace her long career , from Mogadishu , Somalia , to Kyiv and `` finally back to Washington , D.C. – where , to her dismay , she found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same challenges she had spent her career combating overseas . ''
`` Yovanovitch 's book will deliver pointed reflections on the issues confronting America today , and thoughts on how we can shore up our democracy , '' Houghton Mifflin Harcourt said in an announcement .
Financial terms were not disclosed , but two people familiar with the deal told the AP that the agreement was worth seven figures , even though the book is not expected until spring 2021 , months after this fall 's election .
They were not authorized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of anonymity to discuss financial terms .
Yovanovitch was represented by the Javelin literary agency , where other clients include former FBI Director James Comey and former National Security Adviser John Bolton .

Financial terms were not disclosed.
Former Ukraine ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, the career diplomat who during the impeachment hearings of President Donald Trump offered a chilling account of alleged threats from Trump and his allies, has a book deal.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt confirmed Friday to The Associated Press that it had acquired Yovanovitch's planned memoir, currently untitled. According to the publisher, the book will trace her long career, from Mogadishu, Somalia, to Kyiv and "finally back to Washington, D.C. – where, to her dismay, she found a political system beset by many of the same challenges she had spent her career combating overseas."
Read alsoMarie Yovanovitch retires from State Department – CNN
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"Yovanovitch's book will deliver pointed reflections on the issues confronting America today, and thoughts on how we can shore up our democracy," Houghton Mifflin Harcourt said in an announcement.
Financial terms were not disclosed, but two people familiar with the deal told the AP that the agreement was worth seven figures, even though the book is not expected until spring 2021, months after this fall's election. They were not authorized to discuss negotiations and spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss financial terms.
Yovanovitch was represented by the Javelin literary agency, where other clients include former FBI Director James Comey and former National Security Adviser John Bolton.


unian--2020-02-21--CBS News: MH17 prosecutor says Russians "haven't been helpful at all"

The trial of the suspects in the downing of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing over Donbas in the summer of 2014 will begin on March 9 , 2020 .
Dutch Chief Prosecutor and Chairman of the Joint Investigation Team probing the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over Russia-occupied Donbas in July 2014 Fred Westerbeke says that despite all the evidence pointing to the Russian military , Russia has not been helpful and has never admitted fault in the disaster .
`` [ Russia ] has not been helpful at all .
Because what they should have done , is give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proof we needed in this difficult investigation… they should have told us that the second day after it happened , '' he tells Scott Pelley , an American journalist and an anchor for CBS News .
`` They should have told us , 'We made a mistake . '
'' Pelley 's report on the incident will be broadcast on 60 Minutes , Sunday , February 23 at 7 p.m. ET/PT on CBS .
The Dutch prosecutor investigating why a passenger jet was shot down over Ukraine in 2014 has brought murder indictments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ukraine , but Russia wo n't turn them over .
`` Russia wo n't turn over the defendants and 60 Minutes found one of them living openly in Moscow , under Russian government protection , denying any role in the shootdown , '' CBS News reported .
According to CBS News , two weeks from now , in a Dutch courtroom , four men will go on trial for 298 counts of murder .
Dutch prosecutors will present a case saying that MH17 was brought down by a Russian anti-aircraft missile fired by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Westerbeke said on June 19 that the trial of the suspects in the downing of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing over Donbas in the summer of 2014 would begin on March 9 , 2020 .
The first four suspects in the MH17 tragedy are Russian terrorist Igor Girkin ( AKA `` Strelkov '' ) , who in the summer of 2014 was the so-called `` Minister of Defense of the Donetsk People 's Republic '' ( `` DPR '' ) ; Russian General Sergei Dubinsky ( nom de guerre `` Khmuryi '' ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; '' Oleg Pulatov ( nom de guerre `` Gyurza '' ) , who in 2014 headed of `` the 2nd division of the GRU of the DPR ; '' as well as Leonid Kharchenko ( nom de guerre `` Krot '' ) , who was the leader of the `` reconnaissance battalion '' of Russia-led forces .
On July 17 , 2014 , as many as 298 people died when their aircraft was shot out of the sky over eastern Ukraine ; 193 of those on board were Dutch , many of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Flight MH17 en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur .

The trial of the suspects in the downing of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing over Donbas in the summer of 2014 will begin on March 9, 2020.
Dutch Chief Prosecutor and Chairman of the Joint Investigation Team probing the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over Russia-occupied Donbas in July 2014 Fred Westerbeke says that despite all the evidence pointing to the Russian military, Russia has not been helpful and has never admitted fault in the disaster.
"[Russia] has not been helpful at all. Because what they should have done, is give us all the information and all the proof we needed in this difficult investigation… they should have told us that the second day after it happened," he tells Scott Pelley, an American journalist and an anchor for CBS News. "They should have told us, 'We made a mistake.'"
Pelley's report on the incident will be broadcast on 60 Minutes, Sunday, February 23 at 7 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.
Видео дня
The Dutch prosecutor investigating why a passenger jet was shot down over Ukraine in 2014 has brought murder indictments against three Russians and one citizen of Ukraine, but Russia won't turn them over.
Read alsoMH17 suspect Tsemakh reportedly killed in Moscow late in Jan – Russian media
"Russia won't turn over the defendants and 60 Minutes found one of them living openly in Moscow, under Russian government protection, denying any role in the shootdown," CBS News reported.
According to CBS News, two weeks from now, in a Dutch courtroom, four men will go on trial for 298 counts of murder. Dutch prosecutors will present a case saying that MH17 was brought down by a Russian anti-aircraft missile fired by a Russian crew.
As UNIAN reported, Westerbeke said on June 19 that the trial of the suspects in the downing of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing over Donbas in the summer of 2014 would begin on March 9, 2020. The first four suspects in the MH17 tragedy are Russian terrorist Igor Girkin (AKA "Strelkov"), who in the summer of 2014 was the so-called "Minister of Defense of the Donetsk People's Republic" ("DPR"); Russian General Sergei Dubinsky (nom de guerre "Khmuryi"), who led the "DPR intelligence;" Oleg Pulatov (nom de guerre "Gyurza"), who in 2014 headed of "the 2nd division of the GRU of the DPR;" as well as Leonid Kharchenko (nom de guerre "Krot"), who was the leader of the "reconnaissance battalion" of Russia-led forces.
On July 17, 2014, as many as 298 people died when their aircraft was shot out of the sky over eastern Ukraine; 193 of those on board were Dutch, many of them headed for vacation on Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.


unian--2020-02-21--Ukraine's MFA on Arbitral Tribunal award: Russia to face legal scrutiny for Kerch Bridge constructio

Ukraine's MFA on Arbitral Tribunal award: Russia to face legal scrutiny for Kerch Bridge construction

The award will be publicly available no later than 21 days after the decision .
Ukraine 's Ministry of Foreign Affairs ( MFA ) has commented on an award by the Arbitral Tribunal regarding the preliminary objections of the Russian Federation to jurisdiction in a dispute concerning coastal state rights in the Black Sea , the Sea of Azov , and the Kerch Strait ( Ukraine v. the Russian Federation ) .
`` The Tribunal agreed with Ukraine that Russia 's claim of an internal waters status was not a proper subject for a jurisdictional objection and should be decided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The ruling means that Russia will face legal scrutiny for its illegal construction of the Kerch Bridge and its harassment of vessels in the Sea of Azov , both of which harm international navigation to Ukrainian ports , '' the ministry said in a statement on February 21 .
Read alsoMFA Prystaiko : Hague Arbitration Tribunal reaffirms jurisdiction to consider Ukraine 's claim on Azov Sea As was earlier reported , in an arbitration under Annex VII to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ( `` UNCLOS '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Black Sea , the Sea of Azov , and the Kerch Strait , the Arbitral Tribunal on February 21 issued an award concerning the preliminary objections of the Russian Federation .
The Permanent Court of Arbitration ( `` PCA '' ) acts as registry for the proceedings .
`` The Tribunal rejected Russia 's position that it lacks jurisdiction over Ukraine 's case and determined that it would hear significant aspects of Ukraine 's claims , including those related to Russia 's violations of UNCLOS in the Kerch Strait and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Since 2014 , however , Russia has excluded Ukraine from its own maritime areas and exploited Ukraine 's natural resources , including fisheries and vast oil and gas reserves .
Russia has also disregarded environmental protections and harmed international navigation , including by illegally building the Kerch Bridge , harassing international shipping , and seizing Ukrainian jack-up drilling rigs .
`` Today , the Tribunal rejected Russia 's effort to escape accountability for its conduct in the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait .
Russia has attempted to remove these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the sea , '' the statement said .
In ruling that Ukraine 's case will move forward to the merits phase , the Tribunal concluded that it could not hear a portion of claims relating to Ukraine 's rights as a coastal state in the waters near Crimea .
`` The Tribunal concluded that it lacked jurisdiction over those claims because it does not have authority to address issues concerning sovereignty over Crimea .
At the same time , the Tribunal has made it clear that recognizing it as having a dispute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not in any way mean alteration of its status .
The Tribunal expressly stated that its decision does not imply that the Russian Federation 's actions in Crimea were lawful , '' the ministry said .
According to the statement , the Tribunal 's decision supports the international consensus , and the Tribunal itself made clear that it does not endorse Russia 's claim of sovereignty .
`` Today 's ruling is a rebuke to Russia 's view that its unilateral actions are immune from legal challenge .
As a result of today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case on the merits before the Law of the Sea Tribunal .
After further filings , the Tribunal will hold a hearing on the merits at which Ukraine will present its full case .
Today 's victory is another success for Ukraine in holding Russia accountable for its violations of international law , '' it said .
In November 2019 , the International Court of Justice ( `` ICJ '' ) rejected Russia 's jurisdictional objections to Ukraine 's case under treaties concerning terrorism financing and racial discrimination .
According to the ministry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will have to answer for its violations of international law before the World Court .
In May 2019 , Ukraine also secured historic provisional measures from the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea , ordering the release of the three naval vessels and twenty-four servicemen Russia had detained .
According to the Rules of Procedure , the award will be publicly available after the parties have expressed their possible objections to the presence of confidential information in the decision , but no later than 21 days after the decision .

The award will be publicly available no later than 21 days after the decision.
Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has commented on an award by the Arbitral Tribunal regarding the preliminary objections of the Russian Federation to jurisdiction in a dispute concerning coastal state rights in the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov, and the Kerch Strait (Ukraine v. the Russian Federation).
"The Tribunal agreed with Ukraine that Russia's claim of an internal waters status was not a proper subject for a jurisdictional objection and should be decided at the merits stage of the case. The ruling means that Russia will face legal scrutiny for its illegal construction of the Kerch Bridge and its harassment of vessels in the Sea of Azov, both of which harm international navigation to Ukrainian ports," the ministry said in a statement on February 21.
Read alsoMFA Prystaiko: Hague Arbitration Tribunal reaffirms jurisdiction to consider Ukraine's claim on Azov Sea
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As was earlier reported, in an arbitration under Annex VII to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ("UNCLOS") in respect of coastal State rights in the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov, and the Kerch Strait, the Arbitral Tribunal on February 21 issued an award concerning the preliminary objections of the Russian Federation. The Permanent Court of Arbitration ("PCA") acts as registry for the proceedings.
"The Tribunal rejected Russia's position that it lacks jurisdiction over Ukraine's case and determined that it would hear significant aspects of Ukraine's claims, including those related to Russia's violations of UNCLOS in the Kerch Strait and the Sea of Azov," the ministry said.
Since 2014, however, Russia has excluded Ukraine from its own maritime areas and exploited Ukraine's natural resources, including fisheries and vast oil and gas reserves. Russia has also disregarded environmental protections and harmed international navigation, including by illegally building the Kerch Bridge, harassing international shipping, and seizing Ukrainian jack-up drilling rigs.
"Today, the Tribunal rejected Russia's effort to escape accountability for its conduct in the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait. Russia has attempted to remove these two vital international waterways from the law of the sea," the statement said.
In ruling that Ukraine's case will move forward to the merits phase, the Tribunal concluded that it could not hear a portion of claims relating to Ukraine's rights as a coastal state in the waters near Crimea. "The Tribunal concluded that it lacked jurisdiction over those claims because it does not have authority to address issues concerning sovereignty over Crimea. At the same time, the Tribunal has made it clear that recognizing it as having a dispute over the territorial identity of Crimea does not in any way mean alteration of its status. The Tribunal expressly stated that its decision does not imply that the Russian Federation's actions in Crimea were lawful," the ministry said.
According to the statement, the Tribunal's decision supports the international consensus, and the Tribunal itself made clear that it does not endorse Russia's claim of sovereignty.
"Today's ruling is a rebuke to Russia's view that its unilateral actions are immune from legal challenge. As a result of today's ruling, Ukraine will present its case on the merits before the Law of the Sea Tribunal. After further filings, the Tribunal will hold a hearing on the merits at which Ukraine will present its full case. Today's victory is another success for Ukraine in holding Russia accountable for its violations of international law," it said.
In November 2019, the International Court of Justice ("ICJ") rejected Russia's jurisdictional objections to Ukraine's case under treaties concerning terrorism financing and racial discrimination.
According to the ministry, for the first time, Russia will have to answer for its violations of international law before the World Court.
In May 2019, Ukraine also secured historic provisional measures from the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, ordering the release of the three naval vessels and twenty-four servicemen Russia had detained.
According to the Rules of Procedure, the award will be publicly available after the parties have expressed their possible objections to the presence of confidential information in the decision, but no later than 21 days after the decision.


unian--2020-02-21--Reuters: Russia denies backing Trump re-election, critics express alarm

The Kremlin on Friday denied Russia was interfering in the 2020 U.S. presidential campaign to boost President Donald Trump 's re-election chances following reports that American intelligence officials warned Congress about the election threat last week .
U.S. intelligence officials told members of the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee in a classified briefing last week that Russia was again interfering in American politics ahead of November 's election , a person familiar with the discussion told Reuters .
Trump has since ousted the acting intelligence chief , replacing him this week with a political loyalist in an abrupt move as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alarm over national security concerns .
On Twitter , the Republican president accused Democrats in Congress of launching a misinformation campaign `` saying that Russia prefers me to any of the Do Nothing Democrat candidates . ''
Trump called it a `` hoax '' in his Friday tweet .
U.S. officials have long warned that Russia and other countries would seek to interfere in the Nov. 3 presidential election , following Russia 's meddling in the 2016 campaign that ended with Trump 's surprise victory over Democratic rival Hillary Clinton .
U.S. intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operations , cyber attacks and other methods in its 2016 operation in an effort to boost Trump , an allegation that Russia denies .
Trump , sensitive to doubts over the legitimacy of his win , has also questioned that finding and repeatedly criticized American intelligence agencies .
On Friday , the Kremlin said the latest allegations were false .
`` These are more paranoid announcements which , to our regret , will multiply as we get closer to the ( U.S. ) election , '' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the truth . ''
Mueller found no conclusive evidence of coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign .
He also pointed at 10 instances in which Trump may have attempted to obstruct his investigation , as Democrats alleged , but left any finding of obstruction to Congress .
Trump is seeking a second term in office .
Last July , he called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate one of his potential Democratic rivals , former Vice President Joe Biden , sparking his impeachment in the Democratic-controlled House .
Trump , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate , has also publicly called on China to probe Biden .
Last week 's classified congressional briefing sparked a sharp response by Trump , who rebuked acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire for allowing his staff to brief the lawmakers , including Democratic House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff , who led the impeachment inquiry , the New York Times reported , quoting five people familiar with the matter .
Trump then dismissed Maguire , announcing this week that Richard Grenell , a Trump loyalist , would be the acting intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as U.S. ambassador to Germany .
His appointment drew sharp rebukes from Democrats and other critics who said Grenell lacked intelligence experience .
Trump tweeted on Friday that four candidates were being considered for the permanent post of intelligence head and that a decision would come in the next few weeks .

Russia's alleged interference sparked a two-year-long U.S. investigation headed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
The Kremlin on Friday denied Russia was interfering in the 2020 U.S. presidential campaign to boost President Donald Trump's re-election chances following reports that American intelligence officials warned Congress about the election threat last week.
U.S. intelligence officials told members of the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee in a classified briefing last week that Russia was again interfering in American politics ahead of November's election, a person familiar with the discussion told Reuters.
Trump has since ousted the acting intelligence chief, replacing him this week with a political loyalist in an abrupt move as Democrats and former U.S. officials raised the alarm over national security concerns.
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Read alsoFox News: Barr taps network of prosecutors to review Russia-Ukraine cases
On Twitter, the Republican president accused Democrats in Congress of launching a misinformation campaign "saying that Russia prefers me to any of the Do Nothing Democrat candidates." Trump called it a "hoax" in his Friday tweet.
U.S. officials have long warned that Russia and other countries would seek to interfere in the Nov. 3 presidential election, following Russia's meddling in the 2016 campaign that ended with Trump's surprise victory over Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.
U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that the Kremlin used disinformation operations, cyber attacks and other methods in its 2016 operation in an effort to boost Trump, an allegation that Russia denies. Trump, sensitive to doubts over the legitimacy of his win, has also questioned that finding and repeatedly criticized American intelligence agencies.
On Friday, the Kremlin said the latest allegations were false.
"These are more paranoid announcements which, to our regret, will multiply as we get closer to the (U.S.) election," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. "They have nothing to do with the truth."
Russia's alleged interference sparked a two-year-long U.S. investigation headed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
Mueller found no conclusive evidence of coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign. He also pointed at 10 instances in which Trump may have attempted to obstruct his investigation, as Democrats alleged, but left any finding of obstruction to Congress.
Trump is seeking a second term in office.
Last July, he called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate one of his potential Democratic rivals, former Vice President Joe Biden, sparking his impeachment in the Democratic-controlled House.
Trump, who was later acquitted by the Republican-led U.S. Senate, has also publicly called on China to probe Biden.
Last week's classified congressional briefing sparked a sharp response by Trump, who rebuked acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire for allowing his staff to brief the lawmakers, including Democratic House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, who led the impeachment inquiry, the New York Times reported, quoting five people familiar with the matter.
Trump then dismissed Maguire, announcing this week that Richard Grenell, a Trump loyalist, would be the acting intelligence chief, even as he continues serving as U.S. ambassador to Germany. His appointment drew sharp rebukes from Democrats and other critics who said Grenell lacked intelligence experience.
Trump tweeted on Friday that four candidates were being considered for the permanent post of intelligence head and that a decision would come in the next few weeks.


unian--2020-02-21--Interior Ministry: Situation in Novi Sanzhary returns to normal

The Ukrainian Interior Ministry has reported the situation in the town of Novi Sanzhary , Poltava region , has returned to normal after recent riots against evacuees from the Chinese city of Wuhan , the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak .
`` Now the situation in Novi Sanzhary is calm .
Public order is maintained by 320 members of the National Guard , 70 officers of the National Police , and 16 workers of the State Emergency Service .
The situation is completely under control ... We will not let anyone threaten security in the Novi Sanzhary health center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anton Gerashchenko said at a briefing on February 21 , according to an UNIAN correspondent .
Read alsoProvocateurs who radicalized rally against Wuhan evacuees `` not local '' , police found Five criminal cases were opened on the fact of the unrest : mass riots , illegal blocking of roads , hooliganism and incitement to ethnic or racial hatred , as the rioters `` used hate speech against foreign citizens '' that were evacuated from China together with the Ukrainians , Gerashchenko said .
In turn , Deputy Health Minister Dmytro Koval once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undergone health checks at the health center in Novi Sanzhary and tested negative for the coronavirus .
As UNIAN reported earlier , local residents in Novi Sanzhary , Poltava region , on February 20 protested against the arrival of Ukrainian citizens and foreigners evacuated from China and accommodated at a local medical center , which is within the Ukrainian Interior Ministry 's jurisdiction .
Protesters threw stones at buses with the evacuees .
During the clashes , nine law enforcement officers were injured .
The police opened two criminal cases on the fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence against law enforcement officers .
On February 21 , the police released 23 of the 24 most aggressive individuals detained during the protests ; one person remained under arrest .
The evacuees will stay in Novi Sanzhary under 14-day observation with a strict biosecurity regime .

Police have opened five criminal cases.
The Ukrainian Interior Ministry has reported the situation in the town of Novi Sanzhary, Poltava region, has returned to normal after recent riots against evacuees from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak.
"Now the situation in Novi Sanzhary is calm. Public order is maintained by 320 members of the National Guard, 70 officers of the National Police, and 16 workers of the State Emergency Service. The situation is completely under control ... We will not let anyone threaten security in the Novi Sanzhary health center," Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Anton Gerashchenko said at a briefing on February 21, according to an UNIAN correspondent.
Read alsoProvocateurs who radicalized rally against Wuhan evacuees "not local", police found
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Five criminal cases were opened on the fact of the unrest: mass riots, illegal blocking of roads, hooliganism and incitement to ethnic or racial hatred, as the rioters "used hate speech against foreign citizens" that were evacuated from China together with the Ukrainians, Gerashchenko said.
In turn, Deputy Health Minister Dmytro Koval once again emphasized that the evacuated citizens had undergone health checks at the health center in Novi Sanzhary and tested negative for the coronavirus.
As UNIAN reported earlier, local residents in Novi Sanzhary, Poltava region, on February 20 protested against the arrival of Ukrainian citizens and foreigners evacuated from China and accommodated at a local medical center, which is within the Ukrainian Interior Ministry's jurisdiction. Protesters threw stones at buses with the evacuees.
During the clashes, nine law enforcement officers were injured. The police opened two criminal cases on the fact of mass riots in Novi Sanzhary and violence against law enforcement officers.
On February 21, the police released 23 of the 24 most aggressive individuals detained during the protests; one person remained under arrest.
The evacuees will stay in Novi Sanzhary under 14-day observation with a strict biosecurity regime.


unian--2020-02-21--MFA Prystaiko: Hague Arbitration Tribunal reaffirms jurisdiction to consider Ukraine's claim on Azov

MFA Prystaiko: Hague Arbitration Tribunal reaffirms jurisdiction to consider Ukraine's claim on Azov Sea

Now the arbitration should begin consideration of the claim of Ukraine against Russia on the merits .
Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs ( MFA ) Vadym Prystaiko says the Hague Arbitration Tribunal has reaffirmed its jurisdiction to consider Ukraine 's claim against Russia on the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait .
`` The Law of the Sea case goes forward !
The Hague Arbitration Tribunal reaffirmed its jurisdiction to consider Ukraine 's claim on the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait , as well as the expropriation of our natural resources , '' he said on Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the illegal construction of the Kerch bridge by Russia as well as the harassment of navigation in the Sea of Azov , '' he said .
Read alsoRussia-controlled `` court '' in occupied Crimea rules to remand detained Ukrainian fishermen in custody for 10 days At the same time , the minister did not indicate that the arbitration would consider Ukraine 's lawsuit against Russia regarding the Black Sea .
As UNIAN reported earlier , on September 14 , 2016 , Ukraine initiated a dispute with the Russian Federation regarding its violation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Sea .
A statement by Ukraine 's Foreign Ministry emphasized that Kyiv was ready to prove in arbitration that Russia impudently violates the sovereign rights of Ukraine to enjoy guaranteed rights in its sea waters and on the continental shelf in the sea zones adjacent to Crimea , including the right to use natural resources of the continental shelf .
On February 19 , 2018 , Ukraine sent the International Tribunal a memorandum that contains a statement of all the circumstances on which Ukraine 's position is based , as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 , Russia lodged an objection with the International Tribunal regarding the jurisdiction of this institution to consider Ukraine 's lawsuit against the Russian Federation .
For this reason , in August of the same year , the arbitration decided to divide the process into two components – jurisdictional and substantive ones .
Ukraine 's Foreign Ministry says the Russian Federation 's objections to the jurisdiction of the arbitration to consider the lawsuit regarding the violation by Russia of the Convention on the Law of the Sea are groundless .

Now the arbitration should begin consideration of the claim of Ukraine against Russia on the merits.
Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Vadym Prystaiko says the Hague Arbitration Tribunal has reaffirmed its jurisdiction to consider Ukraine's claim against Russia on the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait.
"The Law of the Sea case goes forward! The Hague Arbitration Tribunal reaffirmed its jurisdiction to consider Ukraine's claim on the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait, as well as the expropriation of our natural resources," he said on Twitter on February 21.
"This applies to the illegal construction of the Kerch bridge by Russia as well as the harassment of navigation in the Sea of Azov," he said.
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Read alsoRussia-controlled "court" in occupied Crimea rules to remand detained Ukrainian fishermen in custody for 10 days
At the same time, the minister did not indicate that the arbitration would consider Ukraine's lawsuit against Russia regarding the Black Sea.
As UNIAN reported earlier, on September 14, 2016, Ukraine initiated a dispute with the Russian Federation regarding its violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
A statement by Ukraine's Foreign Ministry emphasized that Kyiv was ready to prove in arbitration that Russia impudently violates the sovereign rights of Ukraine to enjoy guaranteed rights in its sea waters and on the continental shelf in the sea zones adjacent to Crimea, including the right to use natural resources of the continental shelf.
On February 19, 2018, Ukraine sent the International Tribunal a memorandum that contains a statement of all the circumstances on which Ukraine's position is based, as well as their legal justification.
In May 2018, Russia lodged an objection with the International Tribunal regarding the jurisdiction of this institution to consider Ukraine's lawsuit against the Russian Federation. For this reason, in August of the same year, the arbitration decided to divide the process into two components – jurisdictional and substantive ones.
Ukraine's Foreign Ministry says the Russian Federation's objections to the jurisdiction of the arbitration to consider the lawsuit regarding the violation by Russia of the Convention on the Law of the Sea are groundless.