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    Ukraine-Russia Relations and Future developments

    flamming_python
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    Post  flamming_python Tue Jan 20, 2015 1:00 pm

    Kyo wrote:Kremlin says chance of Normandy format meeting over Ukraine dwindles

    Good thumbsup russia

    Hollande & co. will be sweating in their suits for a while yet, over their delinquishing market positions in Russia.

    Of course they made the excuse that they are only looking for a compromise because a 'collapse of Russia' is not in their interests either. Well now that Russia is not compromising, they should have no more qualms.. so let's see if they have the power to achieve what they claim.
    GarryB
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    Post  GarryB Wed Jan 21, 2015 5:25 am

    Like Gazprom said, Europe will have to get its gas from the gas hub between Greece and Turkey.

    The shift from Russia in changing south stream to turkey stream will have interesting effects. If Greece leaves the EU then the pipeline from Russia to Turkey to the EU might need to go around Greece... so it would have to go through Bulgaria at the least...

    With Greece still in the EU having gas transit will add money every year to their coffers... which will at least help a little...

    Of course for the Ukraine it will be a problem because once the flow starts to turkey why would Russia continue pumping gas through the ukraine. The flow to ukraine will reverse so it will be receiving gas via an EU network but will be at the end of a receiving flow rather than mid flow collecting money for being upstream...
    George1
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    Post  George1 Sun Jan 25, 2015 2:54 am

    RZD refutes limitations for transportation of coal to Ukraine
    Kyo
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    Post  Kyo Mon Jan 26, 2015 2:16 pm

    Putin Calls Ukrainian Army 'NATO Legion'

    Ukrainian armed forces are in essence a 'NATO legion', which is not serving the country's national interests, Russian President Putin said.

    ST.PETERSBURG, January 26 (Sputnik) — Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday that the Ukrainian army has been used by NATO as a deterrent against Russia.
    "It, in essence, is not an army anymore but a foreign legion, a NATO-controlled foreign legion, which is not serving to protect Ukraine's national interests," Putin said at a meeting with university students in St. Petersburg.
    "They are pursuing other goals linked with attaining geopolitical goals of deterring Russia contrary to the interests of the Ukrainian people," Putin said.
    Commenting on the Ukraine crisis, US Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said Monday that Washington had "more tools" to increase pressure on Moscow.
    "I think we have seen that the sanctions work to create real stress in the economy. We have more tools. I am not today going to enumerate what the tools are but we have more tools," he said during a press conference in Brussels.
    Kiev is refusing to search for peaceful solution in eastern Ukraine standoff and have used a brief ceasefire to regroup its forces, the Russian president said.
    "Unfortunately, the Kiev authorities refuse to chose a peaceful path [in the Ukrainian conflict] through the use of political means," Putin said.
    "They used a brief ceasefire only to regroup their forces, and started military operation again," the president said.
    Many in Ukraine have already realized that the country is caught in a civil war that had taken lives of thousands of people.
    Meanwhile, the Ukrainian government has introduced an "emergency situation" in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk heightening overall readiness across the nation.
    The fighting between government forces and independence supporters in southeastern Ukraine's Donbas region has intensified in recent weeks, driving up the civilian death toll. On January 13, the shelling of a bus in the Donetsk Region town of Volnovakha killed 13 civilians. Last week, at least eight Donetsk residents were killed by rocket fire while waiting at a transit stop for a trolleybus.
    Mariupol, a major southeastern Ukraine port city, came under fire on January 24, leaving 30 people dead and over 90 wounded, according to Ukrainian authorities. Kiev and pro-independence forces are blaming each other for the killings.
    flamming_python
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    Post  flamming_python Mon Jan 26, 2015 2:54 pm

    Kyo wrote:Putin Calls Ukrainian Army 'NATO Legion'

    Ukrainian armed forces are in essence a 'NATO legion', which is not serving the country's national interests, Russian President Putin said.

    ST.PETERSBURG, January 26 (Sputnik) — Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday that the Ukrainian army has been used by NATO as a deterrent against Russia.
    "It, in essence, is not an army anymore but a foreign legion, a NATO-controlled foreign legion, which is not serving to protect Ukraine's national interests," Putin said at a meeting with university students in St. Petersburg.
    "They are pursuing other goals linked with attaining geopolitical goals of deterring Russia contrary to the interests of the Ukrainian people," Putin said.
    Commenting on the Ukraine crisis, US Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said Monday that Washington had "more tools" to increase pressure on Moscow.
    "I think we have seen that the sanctions work to create real stress in the economy. We have more tools. I am not today going to enumerate what the tools are but we have more tools," he said during a press conference in Brussels.
    Kiev is refusing to search for peaceful solution in eastern Ukraine standoff and have used a brief ceasefire to regroup its forces, the Russian president said.
    "Unfortunately, the Kiev authorities refuse to chose a peaceful path [in the Ukrainian conflict] through the use of political means," Putin said.
    "They used a brief ceasefire only to regroup their forces, and started military operation again," the president said.
    Many in Ukraine have already realized that the country is caught in a civil war that had taken lives of thousands of people.
    Meanwhile, the Ukrainian government has introduced an "emergency situation" in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk heightening overall readiness across the nation.
    The fighting between government forces and independence supporters in southeastern Ukraine's Donbas region has intensified in recent weeks, driving up the civilian death toll. On January 13, the shelling of a bus in the Donetsk Region town of Volnovakha killed 13 civilians. Last week, at least eight Donetsk residents were killed by rocket fire while waiting at a transit stop for a trolleybus.
    Mariupol, a major southeastern Ukraine port city, came under fire on January 24, leaving 30 people dead and over 90 wounded, according to Ukrainian authorities. Kiev and pro-independence forces are blaming each other for the killings.

    Not a coincidence that this statement was made on the backdrop of the new rebel offensive.

    I do hope though that Russia stays its hand somewhat, and does not get more involved than currently nor push an offensive past the Donbass region.
    Reason being is that it would not be the optimal path to fulfill its objectives.
    Kyo
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    Post  Kyo Mon Jan 26, 2015 7:14 pm

    Putin offers shelter to Ukrainian men

    January 26, 2015
    Russian RT
    Translated by Kristina Rus

    President Vladimir Putin believes that the period of visit of citizens of Ukraine, first of all, of military age, in Russia can be increased.

    "By the way, many people already avoid mobilization, try to move to Russia, to wait it out here for a while. And rightly so, because they are just being pushed there as cannon fodder, under the bullets," said Putin during communication with students at National Mineral Resources University "Alpine".

    However, the head of the state noted that the time of stay of the citizens of Ukraine on the territory of Russia is restricted by law, according to RIA Novosti.

    "In accordance with the new law, citizens of Ukraine can not stay on the territory of the Russian Federation for more than 30 days. They go back, and they are grabbed! And again, sent there, under the bullets. So we will probably change something here, " - said Putin. "In the framework of the law we can increase the length of stay of certain categories of persons, primarily of military age".

    Translators Note:

    This idea has been floated in the Russian media, and looks like Putin took notice. This is an excellent peaceful measure which can cool the Ukrainian war effort, and a step towards peace. Not to mention, it would save the lives of these young men. And although Ukraine may replace these men with American or NATO contractors, it is the right decision.

    Russians and Ukrainians are one people. Their ties go beyond business, a great number of residents of both countries are family. This has been a great resource for both Donbass refugees, Ukrainian men running from mobilization, and even residents of Central and Western Ukraine hit by the economic crisis. No matter how hard America might try, it will never succeed in splitting up Russia and Ukraine.


    Kyo
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    Post  Kyo Mon Jan 26, 2015 9:03 pm

    Alexander Mercouris, for Russia Insider wrote:Signs That Russia Has Tired of Waiting for West to Restrain Kiev
    Signs that Russia believes hopes for a negotiated solution are dim
    Appears to have allowed the rebel to go on an offensive
    Is anticipating the possibility of yet more sanctions

    There have been many important days in the Ukrainian conflict but it is possible 23rd January 2015 may turn out to be a key day. Consider what happened:

    The Russian Security Council met. This is the Russian government’s key decision making body on questions of foreign, defence and security policy. As President and Commander in Chief, Putin chairs it.

    We do not have a full account of what was said. What we do know is that the situation in Ukraine was the topic under discussion.

    Putin's website has provided us with an extract from the address he made to open the meeting. It repays quoting this extract in full:

    “Good afternoon, colleagues.

    We are witnessing a dramatic deterioration of the situation in southeastern Ukraine, in Donetsk People’s Republic and Lugansk People’s Republic. In this connection I would like to inform you again that a week ago, on Thursday, I sent a letter to the President of Ukraine, a written proposal to withdraw heavy weapons – artillery and multiple rocket launchers – to such a distance from which it would be impossible to fire at populated areas.

    I would like to inform you further that this proposal almost completely coincided with the requirements of the official Kiev. You know that there may be one disputed area along the line of separation between the parties to the conflict. So we suggested that weapons and heavy equipment should be withdrawn to the line that Kiev authorities themselves consider fair and corresponding to the agreements reached in Minsk on September 19, 2014.

    Unfortunately, we received no clear answer to our proposal; in fact, we also saw the reverse action, namely the Kiev government has given an official order to launch large-scale combat operations along almost the entire perimeter of contact between the opposing sides.

    The result: dozens of dead and wounded, and not only among servicemen on both sides, but, even more tragically, there has been loss of life among the civilian population, including children, the elderly and women. The artillery, multiple rocket launchers and aircraft are firing indiscriminately, directly at densely populated areas.

    All of this is happening to the accompaniment of propaganda slogans about the quest for peace and the search for those responsible. The responsibility is borne by those who issue such criminal orders. The people who do this should know that there is no other way to solve such conflicts but through peace negotiations and political means. We often hear, including from today’s official Kiev, that this is their preferred method of addressing issues, but the reality is quite different. I hope that common sense will eventually triumph.

    I would like to call for a moment of silence to honour the victims, including those who died at a bus stop in Donetsk.

    (Moment of silence.)”

    The western media has focused on that part of this address where Putin refers to the “criminal orders” that have led to the indiscriminate bombing and shelling of civilian areas by the Ukrainian military.

    Those are indeed important words. They are not however the most important words in this address.

    The most important words in the address are the ones where Putin refers to the political leaders in Kiev not as “the government of Ukraine” or “the Ukrainian government” or even “the Ukrainian side” but as “official Kiev” or “the Kiev authorities”.

    This is extraordinary language since it calls into question for the first time the degree to which the political leaders in Kiev represent Ukraine as a whole, as opposed to just Kiev.

    Putin does refer to Poroshenko as “the President of Ukraine”, something he has done since shortly after Poroshenko’s election.

    The Russians have always treated Poroshenko differently from other members of the Ukrainian government ever since Poroshenko was elected President. They have represented him as a moderate surrounded by extremists and on that basis they have tried to negotiate with him.

    Whether there is any truth to the idea of "Poroshenko the moderate" is another matter. Since Poroshenko is the President the Russians have however had no alternative but to persist with it if they are going to negotiate with the Ukrainian government at all.

    The fact that Putin still refers to Poroshenko as “the President of Ukraine” suggests the Russians have still not completely given up on this idea. However, the wording suggests that they may be coming close to doing so. Putin conspicuously does not refer to Poroshenko by name. His comments are factual and cold. This suggests a relationship on the point of collapse.

    As important as Putin’s words about the Ukrainian government are the words Putin uses to describe the two east Ukrainian rebel republics.

    For the first time Putin refers to them - without qualification - by the names they have given themselves: "the Donetsk People's Republic" and "the Lugansk People's Republic".

    This is the closest Putin has yet come to treating these republics as legitimate political entities. Taken together with his words he used to describe the Ukrainian government, it suggests that Putin in his own mind no longer thinks of the Ukrainian government as the legitimate authority in the Donbass.

    To those who will argue that this is to over interpret Putin’s words, I would point out that Putin is the President of Russia and a trained lawyer who chooses his words carefully and that these words were published on his website.

    Later on the same day, Putin has also had a telephone conversation with Lukashenko, the President of Belarus.

    Lukashenko is a key Russian ally and a key partner in the Ukrainian conflict. He has not always seen eye to eye with the Russians in relation to it.

    We do not know what Putin and Lukashenko said to each other but we do know that Ukraine was the subject of the discussion.

    It looks as if Putin, after meeting with his Security Council, spoke to Lukashenko to tell him what decisions had been taken there in order to keep Lukashenko both informed and on side.

    Russia’s other key ally, Nazarbayev the President of Kazakhstan, will surely also have been kept informed of what decisions the Russians have taken.

    Meanwhile, on the same day at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Shuvalov, the Russian Deputy Prime Minister in overall charge of the economy, warned the delegates there that Russia will not submit to sanctions and will not change its government because of them. One of Russia’s leading bankers, Kostin, who heads VTB Bank, also warned the delegates at Davos of any attempt to exclude Russian banks from the SWIFT interbank payment system.

    Shuvalov also made it clear in his comments in Davos that Russia is in continuous contact with China and that it is expecting both political and economic support from there. It is a certainty that the Russians are consulting with the Chinese before every decision they take and that the Chinese have been told of whatever was discussed and of what decisions were taken concerning Ukraine at the meeting of Russia’s Security Council.

    The Financial Times has a good summary of the comments Shuvalov and Kostin made in Davos. I attach it below.

    Meanwhile, rounding out Russian news relating to Ukraine in a packed day, the Russian Justice Ministry announced that a number of Ukrainian nationalist organisations, including Right Sector have been banned from operating on Russian territory. Some of us are surprised that they had not been banned already.

    Elsewhere, in Ukraine itself, the Donetsk rebel leader Zakharchenko announced that the Minsk Memorandum no longer applies, confirmed that the secession of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics from Ukraine is final and said that they are now committed to liberating all their territory from Ukraine.

    The Minsk Memorandum is not the same document as the Minsk Protocol, which was the original ceasefire agreement that was signed on 5th September 2014. It is the technical follow-up document that was signed on 19th September 2014.

    The Minsk Memorandum purported to set out the detailed terms of the ceasefire that had been agreed by the Minsk Protocol of 5th September 2014. It set out the ceasefire line and provided for the mutual withdrawal of heavy weapons by each side for a distance of 15 km from the ceasefire line.

    Neither the Minsk Protocol nor the Minsk Memorandum have ever been implemented. The constitutional talks required by the Minsk Protocol have never taken place. Ukraine has unilaterally cancelled the law of special status it granted the rebel regions of the Donbass in accordance with the Minsk Protocol and has failed to agree terms or recognise the elections that were held there in November. Neither side has withdrawn its troops to the ceasefire line and the withdrawal of heavy weapons has never happened.

    By saying the Minsk Memorandum no longer applies Zakharchenko is simply stating the obvious and has freed the rebels to pursue offensive operations, which it is currently what they are doing with reports of rebel advances on Mariupol and Debaltsevo.

    Now it may be that all these statements made on 23rd January 2015 amount to little. It could be that they were not coordinated and that Russian policy has not changed.

    However, on the face of it, they do suggest a hardening of the Russian position, suggesting that the Russians have for the moment simply given up hope of a negotiated solution to the war, which can only happen if there is concerted Western pressure on Kiev, of which there is no sign.

    If this is right, then the Russians have given the rebels the green light to pursue their offensive whilst Shuvalov’s and Kostin’s comments suggest they are preparing to batten down the hatches in anticipation of more Western sanctions to come.

    From the Financial Times

    One of Russia’s top bankers on Friday warned that excluding the country from the Swift banking payment system would be tantamount to “war”.

    The suggestion that Russia could be shut out of Swift triggered widespread alarm in Moscow’s financial community when it was floated by western politicians last summer. Russia’s banks rely heavily on the Belgium-based payments system for both domestic and international payments. However, the move was at the time considered too punitive a sanction, being described by one adviser as “the nuclear option”.

    Speaking at a panel in Davos on Friday Andrei Kostin, chief executive of VTB, Russia’s second-largest bank, said: “If there is no Swift, there is no banking . . . relationship, it means that the countries are on the verge of war, or they are definitely in a cold war.”

    “The next day, the Russian and American ambassadors would have to leave the capitals,” he added.

    Mr Kostin’s comments highlight how the west’s sanctions regime is creating a sense of anger and defiance among the Russian political and business elite.

    “The more you press Russia, I do not think the situation will change,” he said, pointing out that the country was moving to reduce its reliance on western payment systems such as Swift.

    “We have already created a domestic alternative to the Swift system . . . and we need to create alternatives internationally.”

    He drew attention to efforts under way between Russia and China to create a separate platform of their own, outside western control.

    Igor Shuvalov, Russia’s deputy prime minister, echoed this theme. “We are developing our eastern vector,” Mr Shuvalov declared, pointing out that although efforts to build links with China had been under way before the crisis, they had dramatically intensified since sanctions started, as Russia looked for alternatives to the west.

    Mr Shuvalov said that the so-called Bric countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) were ready to help each other in a financial crisis too. “Large Chinese investors are coming to us,” he said.

    The “pivot to Asia” has become a key part of Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy since the breakdown in relations with the west over Ukraine. While several flagship deals have been signed, such as the $400bn contract to supply Russian gas to China for 30 years last May, few Russian policy makers or businesspeople believe China can save the Russian economy from a painful recession.

    “The present situation looks like it is softer than [the 2008-09 financial crisis] but we are going into a long crisis situation and it may be protracted,” Mr Shuvalov said.

    But he added that foreign pressure would not succeed in changing the political leadership of the country.

    “We will survive any hardship in the country — eat less food, use less electricity,” he said.

    Alexei Kudrin, the respected former finance minister, predicted Russia could see capital outflows of $90bn this year after a record $151bn in 2014. “We should clearly understand the price we are paying for sanctions,” he said.
    Kyo
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    Post  Kyo Tue Jan 27, 2015 2:18 pm

    Alexander Mercouris, for Russia Insider wrote: Putin Just Condemned Ukraine Forces as "NATO Foreign Legion" Fighting for Western Interests

    It's a further confirmation that Russia has despaired of a diplomatic solution and is no longer restraining East Ukraine rebels

    A few days ago I wrote a piece for RI tentatively suggesting on the basis of certain comments Putin made at the meeting of Russia’s Security Council on 23rd January 2015 that Russia’s policy towards Ukraine has hardened and that Russia is no longer trying to restrain the rebels whilst it looks for a diplomatic solution to the conflict.

    Putin provided dramatic confirmation of this in certain comments he made to the students of the Mining Institute in St. Petersburg on 26th January 2015. These were those words as quoted on his website:

    Regrettably, the government in Kiev has refused to take the road of a peaceful settlement and does not want to resolve the problem through political means. First they used the law enforcement agencies, then the security services, and then the army. Later, when they ran up against resistance, they suspended military operations, but sadly, they only used the temporary peace to regroup and then start their operations again. They are pursuing these operations again now. Thousands of people have already been killed. This is certainly a real tragedy.

    We often speak of the ‘Ukrainian army’, but who is doing the fighting there in reality? Yes, in part it is official armed forces units, but a substantial part of those doing the fighting come from the so-called volunteer nationalist battalions. Essentially, this is not an army but is a foreign legion, in this particular case, a NATO foreign legion, which is not pursuing Ukraine’s national interests of course. They have completely different goals, related to achieving their geopolitical aim of containing Russia, and this is absolutely not in the Ukrainian people’s national interests.

    Once again Putin pointedly did not call the political leadership in Kiev “the Ukrainian government”. Instead he called it “the government in Kiev”, once again calling into question its right to speak for the whole of Ukraine.

    These comments however pale by comparison with Putin’s comments about the government’s military. He said that it is not a Ukrainian army (note that the editors of his website put the words “Ukrainian army” inside inverted commas) but “a NATO foreign legion, which is not pursuing Ukraine’s national interests” but “completely different goals, related to achieving their geopolitical aim of containing Russia”.

    These words quite explicitly deny that the Maidan authorities or their army represent Ukraine but say they are simply a catspaw of NATO. They also align Russia’s interests with those of the rebels of the Donbass since Putin calls the army the rebels are fighting a "NATO foreign legion" seeking "to contain Russia".

    Putin has never gone this far before. As I have said on other occasions, he is not merely Russia’s President but is also a trained lawyer who chooses his words carefully. There is no doubt these words were carefully chosen to make clear Russia's policy. That is why they were chosen for publication on Putin's website whilst other words Putin said to the students about other issues have not been been published.

    In light of these words, the conclusion is now inescapable: As I said in my previous article, Russia has for the time being at least given up hope of a diplomatic solution, having despaired of the western pressure on Kiev that is necessary to achieve it. Instead it has given the rebels the green light to pursue their offensive until its objectives are achieved.
    George1
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    Post  George1 Thu Jan 29, 2015 7:24 am

    Russia Imposes Restrictions on Pig Import From Ukraine's Kiev Region
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    Post  Airbornewolf Thu Jan 29, 2015 12:21 pm

    George1 wrote:Russia Imposes Restrictions on Pig Import From Ukraine's Kiev Region

    i guess Kiev has a problem now, since the Ukraine government is already full of pigs led by King-Pig Porky...where are they going to send the overflow?. Wink
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    Post  George1 Fri Mar 06, 2015 1:07 pm

    Gazprom Gets $15 Million in Advance Gas Payments From Ukraine

    Read more: http://sputniknews.com/business/20150306/1019144923.html#ixzz3TbuHtDZ1
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    Post  George1 Sun Mar 22, 2015 10:10 am

    Russia to Decide on Gas Discount for Ukraine by End of March

    Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said that the country will decide by the end of March on the possibility of a gas price discount for Ukraine in the amount of customs duty.

    BRUSSELS (Sputnik) — Russia will decide by the end of March on the possibility of a gas price discount for Ukraine in the amount of customs duty, Energy Minister Alexander Novak said Friday.

    "Russia could consider the possibility of gas discount in the amount of customs duty by the end of march if either Ukraine or the European Commission officially ask for it," Novak told reporters at a joint news conference following trilateral gas talks in Brussels.

    Novak added that the discount could cover deliveries in second quarter of 2015, and would be reviewed every subsequent quarter due to price volatility on global markets.

    The current gas discount for Ukraine under the so-called 'winter package' is valid until April 1.

    Earlier in the day, Novak said the price of the Russian gas for Ukraine in the second quarter of 2015 could be set at $348 per 1,000 cubic meters, not counting the discount.

    The current price is $329 per 1,000 cubic meters that is about $100 below the market price.

    However, Ukraine still hopes for further reduction in Russian gas price.

    Energy Minister also noted that Russia plans to reinstate the take-or-pay clause for gas deliveries to Ukraine starting on April 1.

    "The Russian side believes that starting on April 1 the take-or-pay clause will be reinstated, due to the fact that the sides are in arbitration court and take-or-pay clause will be litigated in line with 2009 contract," Novak said.

    The Russian energy minister added that despite the return to the take-or-pay clause, Kiev will continue to make prepayments for Russian gas deliveries.

    Novak assured European gas buyers these changes will not affect Russian natural gas transits through Ukraine. This East European country is currently the main route for Russian gas deliveries to Europe, which meet about 30 percent of the region's gas demand.

    In fall 2014, Russia agreed to refrain from using the contractual take-or-pay provision for the time of the peak winter season under an agreement, dubbed "winter package." The clause stipulates that Kiev either buys Russian gas at an agreed price or pays a penalty.

    A prepayment scheme has been in place for Ukraine since June 2014 after Kiev defaulted on its vast debt for previous gas deliveries.

    Read more: http://sputniknews.com/russia/20150320/1019801156.html#ixzz3V6k2AgDT
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    Post  George1 Fri May 22, 2015 10:06 pm

    Russian Prime Minister Vows Tough Response to Kiev's Failure to Repay Debts

    Read more: http://sputniknews.com/europe/20150522/1022469860.html#ixzz3auKKsEpm
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    Post  George1 Fri Jun 05, 2015 10:12 pm

    Russia’s answer to Ukraine’s sanctions over Crimea to be adequate — Russian deputy
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    Post  George1 Mon Jun 08, 2015 10:27 am

    Ukraine to Sidestep its Contract With Gazprom, Will Pay Hungary Instead

    Read more: http://sputniknews.com/europe/20150608/1023072928.html#ixzz3cStMEJfQ
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    Post  Werewolf Mon Jun 08, 2015 10:33 am

    George1 wrote:Ukraine to Sidestep its Contract With Gazprom, Will Pay Hungary Instead

    Read more: http://sputniknews.com/europe/20150608/1023072928.html#ixzz3cStMEJfQ

    Cut them off and see how the puppies are burking, if they want to steal gas then they have no right to have gas, period. If we wouldn't live in nuclear arsenal times, countries would just bomb the shit out of countries that steal and warmonger on behalf of others. Not to mention sanctions are an act of war per definition.
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    Post  Godric Mon Jun 08, 2015 5:29 pm

    George1 wrote:Ukraine to Sidestep its Contract With Gazprom, Will Pay Hungary Instead

    Read more: http://sputniknews.com/europe/20150608/1023072928.html#ixzz3cStMEJfQ

    Gazprom should just cut it's losses and turn off the gas to the EU ... because the EU are trying to make a c*nt out of the company ... see how long the EU lasts without Russian gas
    George1
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    Post  George1 Wed Jul 15, 2015 8:26 pm

    Ukraine should repay $3 billion debt to Russia out of IMF’s aid — Putin

    The Russian Finance Ministry’s press office said the IMF’s aid program for Ukraine envisaged the disbursement of three tranches worth a total of $5.1 billion until the end of this year

    NOVO-OGARYOVO, July 15. /TASS/. Ukraine should use financial aid from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to repay its $3 billion debt to Russia, President Vladimir Putin said at a government meeting on Wednesday.

    "About $5 billion [Ukraine is expected to receive as financial assistance] until the end of the year," Finance Minister Anton Siluanov told the government meeting.

    "Of this amount, $3 billion should be given to us," Putin said.

    The Russian Finance Ministry’s press office said the IMF’s aid program for Ukraine envisaged the disbursement of three tranches worth a total of $5.1 billion until the end of this year.

    The first $1.66 billion tranche was not disbursed, although the IMF’s financial aid program stipulated its transfer to Ukraine until June 15.

    Possibly, the volume of the IMF’s aid to Ukraine will be adjusted to equal slightly over $3 billion. Nevertheless, Russia’s expects Kiev to repay its debt, the Finance Ministry’s press office said.

    Russian Deputy Finance Minister Sergey Storchak said earlier Russia expected Ukraine to pay $75 million on its Eurobonds on June 22 and would regard any failure to make the payment as "a default event." However, Ukraine made this payment on schedule.

    The Ukrainian financial authorities have stated on many occasions they consider Kiev’s debt to Russia as commercial liabilities and insist on debt restructuring.

    However, Russia considers this debt as Kiev’s state liabilities and demands its full repayment in December 2015.

    Ukraine currently has to restructure debts worth about $15 billion, of which $3 billion is its debt to Russia.

    IMF says Ukraine’s $3 billion bonds sold to Russia should be treated as Kiev’s official debt

    The International Monetary Fund has formed a preliminary view that Ukraine’s $3 billion bonds sold to Russia should be treated as official rather than private debt, news agency Bloomberg reported late in June, citing a source familiar with the matter.

    Treating the $3 billion bonds as official debt would exclude them from the bond restructuring Ukraine is negotiating with a creditor group led by Franklin Templeton, placing a greater burden on private bondholders, Bloomberg said.

    At the same time, this status of the bonds still has to be approved by the IMF’s executive board.

    Russia has repeatedly said the bonds it purchased from Ukraine should be treated as official aid and repaid in full when they mature in December while Ukraine argues the debt was structured as Eurobonds under UK law and is subject to the same treatment as private creditors, Bloomberg reported.

    Ukraine’s external debt hit $72.9 billion as of late 2014 while its internal debt stood at $29 billion and its gold and foreign currency reserves were less than $10 billion.

    Russia made a decision in late 2013 to invest up to $15 billion in Ukraine’s sovereign Eurobonds. Soon afterwards, Russia bought Ukraine’s first Eurobond tranche worth $3 billion with a two-year maturity and a coupon rate of 5% per annum and coupon payments every six months.

    Russia subsequently decided against investing the other $12 billion in Ukraine’s bonds.
    George1
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    Post  George1 Fri Jul 24, 2015 2:01 pm

    Russia does not consider new gas discounts for Ukraine — Russia’s Energy Minister
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    Post  JohninMK Wed Aug 12, 2015 8:36 pm

    With the genius for organisation that has been demonstrated in Kiev, expect to see gas, oil and coal supply people in the list. Maybe even Roshen as well Smile

    KIEV, August 12. /TASS/. Ukrainian government proposes to introduce sanctions against 1,124 Russian individuals and 156 corporation, the press service of the cabinet said on Wednesday. "The sanctions will be applied in two packages to 1,124 Russian individuals and 156 corporations," the report said.

    The list of the persons and enterprises to be subjected to sanctions has been submitted to the National Council for Security and Defense.

    Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said an expanded list of US sanctions against Russia had taken effect on Tuesday. "The cabinet of ministers endorses a second expanded package of sanctions today and sends them for scrutiny to the National Security and Defense Council," he said.

    The Ukrainian government issued a resolution on September 11, 2014, on the imposition of sanctions. They concerned bans for a number of Russians to enter the Ukrainian territory, to take part in privatizations, and to export dual technologies and commodities to Russia.
    higurashihougi
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    Ukraine-Russia Relations and Future developments - Page 4 Empty ith the genius for organisation that has been demonstrated in Kiev, expect to see gas, oil and coal supply people in the list. Maybe even Roshen as well

    Post  higurashihougi Thu Aug 13, 2015 2:06 am

    JohninMK wrote:KIEV, August 12. /TASS/. Ukrainian government proposes to introduce sanctions against 1,124 Russian individuals and 156 corporation, the press service of the cabinet said on Wednesday. "The sanctions will be applied in two packages to 1,124 Russian individuals and 156 corporations," the report said.(......)

    According to Kyiv, Ukraina is being invaded by Russia. But only until now, after a year of invasion, that Kyiv has just imposed a sanction against "Russian invaders". Cool

    Basically that means Kyiv goverment has been doing business with Russian invaders for a whole year. Cool Cool

    Interesting.
    George1
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    Post  George1 Thu Aug 27, 2015 6:22 am

    Russia to respond if Kiev comes up with new sanctions list over Sentsov case — lawmaker
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    Post  higurashihougi Thu Aug 27, 2015 7:20 am

    Yes, economical sanction my ***.

    http://sputniknews.com/russia/20150826/1026225719/russia-ukraine-maks-manufacturers-aerospace-helicopters.html

    Despite Tensions, Ukrainian Aerospace Chiefs Come to Moscow Airshow

    Despite political tensions and a Ukrainian ban on most technological exports to Russia, Ukraine's aerospace industry still participated in the MAKS-2015 air show on an unofficial basis, business daily Vedomosti reported.

    The head of engine manufacturer Motor Sich, Vyacheslav Boguslayev was present at the airshow, where the company's Russian branch was featured at a stand. Ukraine's other major aerospace manufacturer, Antonov, was not present at the air show, although its executives were seen attending, sources told the newspaper.
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    Post  George1 Sat Aug 29, 2015 11:47 am

    Ukraine Calls on Russia to Agree With Debt Restructuring Proposals

    In order to receive the full amount of the loaned money, Russia must accept Ukraine's debt restructuring proposals, country's Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said.

    KIEV (Sputnik) — Russia must agree with Ukraine's debt restructuring proposals or demand refunds from those who loaned the money and fled the country, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said Friday.

    "Russia is not a member of the creditors' committee, and yesterday it stated that it wishes to receive the full amount of money. I can offer them a public advice. Those who took the money were granted political asylum in Russia. They should summon the bandits they sheltered and demand money from them, or return them here, and we will gladly hold proceedings on each of those who received money and plundered the funds of the Ukrainian state," Yatsenyuk told reporters.

    "I again call on Russia to accept our offer, as there will be no better offers for Russia," he added.

    Russia holds Ukrainian $3-billion Eurobonds due to mature by the end of 2015. The Ukrainian legislature passed a law earlier this year allowing the government to miss payments to international creditors.

    Yatsenyuk’s stance echoed his refusal on Thursday to grant better terms to Russia if it does not join the international creditor committee led by New York-based Franklin Templeton Investments fund, which holds an estimated $7 billion in Ukrainian bonds.

    Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said Moscow would insist that Kiev pay off its debt to Russia in full by December, after Ukraine announced that it had agreed with the committee to restructure $18 billion its debt and write off nearly $4 billion worth of Eurobonds.

    Read more: http://sputniknews.com/business/20150828/1026302980.html#ixzz3kCguWTFL
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    Post  George1 Wed Sep 09, 2015 1:07 pm

    Russia won’t write off Ukraine’s debt, will demand payment full — finance minister

    Three billion dollars that we have granted from the National Welfare Fund should be returned to Russia by the end of this year


    MOSCOW, September 7. / TASS /. Ukraine should pay its debt to Russia in full, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said on Monday.

    Moscow will not join the club of the creditors who decided to write off part of Kiev’s debt.

    "Russia’s debt is a sovereign one. As for sovereign debts there is a special procedure to settle such cases. We will not enter into negotiations with the Ukrainian government on this matter,"Siluanov said.

    According to the finance minister, Russia has repeatedly stated its stance on this issue.

    "We believe that sovereign debts should be paid in full at the appropriate time. Three billion dollars that we have granted from the National Welfare Fund should be returned to Russia by the end of this year. We have the funds on infrastructure and important project for Russia We really need the money, especially in the present circumstances, when the availability of Russian companies in the international financial markets is limited. Therefore, we will demand that our colleagues and partners should return the full amount of the debt in compliance with the schedule," Siluanov said.

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