December 2019 - Ukraine Special Weapons News

Putin, Zelenskiy Exchange New Year Wishes, Discuss Another Prisoner Swap RFE/RL 31 Dec 2019 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to discuss another prisoner swap as tensions ease between the two neighbors.
Russian Prime Minister: All Gas Issues With Ukraine Have Been Settled Sputnik 31 Dec 2019 -- Moscow and Kiev have signed documents ensuring the transit of Russian gas via Ukraine starting 1 January 2020, after a long dispute over Ukrainian lawsuits against Gazprom.
Price To Pay: Release Of Former Ukrainian Riot Police In Prisoner Swap Sparks Anguish, Debate RFE/RL 30 Dec 2019 -- They were former Ukrainian Interior Ministry crack police officers suspected of taking part in the bloody crackdown on demonstrators at the Euromaidan protests in Kyiv that pushed Moscow-friendly President Viktor Yanukovych from power nearly six years ago, in February 2014.
Zelenskiy Defends Decision To Swap Berkut Fighters With Separatists Amid Tearful Reunions In Kyiv RFE/RL 30 Dec 2019 -- Western leaders and Russia have welcomed a mass prisoner exchange amid efforts to end the five-year war between Kyiv and Russia-backed separatists fighting in Ukraine's east.
Ukraine-Russia Prisoner Swap Draws Criticism VOA 30 Dec 2019 -- Criticism mounted in Kyiv Monday over a controversial prisoner swap with Russian-backed separatists, as it emerged that among the captives exchanged by Ukraine were five riot policemen accused of killing protesters during the 2014 Maidan uprising.
Russia, Ukraine Reach Five-Year Gas-Transit Deal RFE/RL 30 Dec 2019 -- Russia and Ukraine have signed a five-year, $7 billion deal on the transit of Russian natural gas to Europe following intense negotiations ahead of a year-end deadline.
Pompeo To Make First Ukraine Visit As Impeachment In U.S. Buffets Relations RFE/RL 30 Dec 2019 -- Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will travel to Ukraine this week for the first time as the United States' top diplomat with an acrimonious impeachment process under way in Washington that revolves in part around White House actions toward Kyiv.
Pompeo to Visit Ukraine This Week VOA 30 Dec 2019 -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo leaves this week for Ukraine – the country at the center of President Donald Trump's impeachment.
Ukraine, pro-Russians swap prisoners Press TV 29 Dec 2019 -- The government in Ukraine carries out a prisoner exchange with pro-Russia forces seeking greater autonomy in the Russian-speaking east of the country.
Ukraine, Russia-Backed Separatists Complete Prisoner Swap RFE/RL 29 Dec 2019 -- Ukrainian authorities and Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine have completed what was billed as an "all-for-all" prisoner swap near the village of Horlivka on December 29, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's office said.
Zelensky Says First Part of Normandy Accords Implemented Following Prisoner Exchange Sputnik 29 Dec 2019 -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that the first part of the Normandy accords was successfully implemented following an exchange of prisoners between Kiev and the self-proclaimed people's republics of Lugansk (LPR) and Donetsk (DPR).
Ukraine's Ombudswoman Confirms Start of Prisoner Exchange Between Kiev, Donbass Sputnik 29 Dec 2019 -- Ukraine's ombudswoman, Lyudmyla Denisova, has confirmed that a prisoner exchange between Kiev and the self-proclaimed people's republics of Lugansk (LPR) and Donetsk (DPR) started on Sunday in the Donbass region.
US Top Security Officials Tried Convincing Trump to Not Freeze Ukraine Aid - Reports Sputnik 30 Dec 2019 -- The opposition of top security officials of the United States to President Donald Trump's demand that military help for Ukraine be put on hold, allegedly in order to lever Kiev's contribution in his own election campaign, was stronger than previously thought, The New York Times said on Monday.
US drone conducted reconnaissance near Russia's Crimea: Sputnik Press TV 28 Dec 2019 -- A US drone has reportedly conducted a reconnaissance flight off the Crimean Peninsula despite multiple calls by Russia that the Pentagon halt such operations near the country's territory.
Zelenskiy Says Ukrainian Prisoner Swap 'Supposed To' Happen On December 29 RFE/RL 28 Dec 2019 -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said that while a prisoner swap is "supposed to" take place on December 29, the list of individuals to be handed over between central Ukrainian authorities and Russia-backed separatists has not been finalized.
Donbass Ombudswoman Reveals Date of Prisoner Exchange Between Kiev and East Ukraine Republics Sputnik 28 Dec 2019 -- The latest prisoner swap between Kiev and Donbass took place at the end of 2017. At that time, the parties agreed to continue the exchange process.
US Drone Conducted Reconnaissance Near Russia's Crimea Airspace Sputnik 28 Dec 2019 -- Foreign aircraft regularly conduct reconnaissance near Russia's borders. They are often seen in the Crimea and Krasnodar Territory, over the Baltic Sea and near Russian bases in Syria.
Zelensky Signs Finalised Election Code of Ukraine Sputnik 28 Dec 2019 -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a finalized election code with so-called open regional lists, according to the website of the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's unicameral parliament.
Ukraine Says It Has New Contracts For Second Batch Of U.S. Javelin Missiles RFE/RL 27 Dec 2019 -- Deputy Defense Minister Anatoliy Petrenko says Kyiv recently concluded contracts for the delivery of a second batch of Javelin U.S. anti-tank missile systems.
Naftogaz Receives $2.9 Billion Payment From Gazprom With New Agreement RFE/RL 27 Dec 2019 -- Naftogaz, Ukraine's state-owned gas company, has said it received $2.9 billion from Russia's Gazprom to settle a legal fight, part of a larger deal the two companies reached earlier this month.
Gazprom Completes $2.9 Bln Payment to Ukraine's Naftogaz in Move to Settle Long-Running Gas Dispute Sputnik 27 Dec 2019 -- In February 2018, the Stockholm Arbitration Court ordered the Russian gas giant to pay Naftogaz some $2.56 billion over its alleged failure to ship agreed-upon amounts of gas through the Ukrainian pipeline network en route to Europe. The dispute became a part of the broader conflict between Russia and Ukraine in the wake of the 2014 coup in Kiev.
'Serious American' Companies Studying Purchase Of Ukraine Motor Sich, U.S. Top Diplomat Says RFE/RL 27 Dec 2019 -- William Taylor, the outgoing top U.S. diplomat to Ukraine, said "serious American" companies are studying the possible purchase of Motor Sich, one of the world’s top makers of aircraft engines.
USS Ross Arrives in Ukraine NNS 26 Dec 2019 -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) arrived in Odessa, Ukraine, Dec. 24 for a scheduled port visit as part of its continued Black Sea presence and support to regional partners.
Russian, Ukrainian State Gas Companies To Meet On Finalizing New Contract RFE/RL 26 Dec 2019 -- The state-owned gas companies of Russia and Ukraine are set to meet in Vienna on December 26 to finalize a new transit contract.
Ukraine Signs Deal with US for 2nd Batch of Javelin Systems - Deputy Defenсe Minister Sputnik 26 Dec 2019 -- Ukraine signed a deal with the United States to receive the second batch of anti-tank missile systems Javelin, Deputy Defen?e Minister Anatolii Petrenko said.
Ukraine Launches Criminal Probe Over Russia's Railway Bridge To Crimea RFE/RL 25 Dec 2019 -- Kyiv has launched a criminal investigation after a Russian passenger train arrived in Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula using a controversial, Russian-built bridge.
Ukraine govt., pro-Russians agree on prisoner swap by year end Press TV 24 Dec 2019 -- The representatives of the government and the pro-Russia forces in Ukraine have agreed to carry out a prisoner exchange by the end of the year, following extensive peace talks in Paris.
Putin officially unveils Crimea rail bridge, prompts EU denunciation Press TV 23 Dec 2019 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has officially opened a rail route linking Russia's two biggest cities to Crimea, which rejoined the Russian Federation in 2014.
Amid Western Condemnation, Putin Opens Crimea Bridge To Rail Traffic RFE/RL 23 Dec 2019 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has taken part in a ceremony officially opening a controversial bridge from mainland Russia to the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula to rail traffic.
OSCE Says Ukraine Prisoner Swap Agreed 'By End Of Year' RFE/RL 23 Dec 2019 -- Special OSCE representative in Ukraine Martin Sajdik has announced that a trilateral forum on the ongoing war in eastern Ukraine has "reached an agreement on a mutual release and exchange of conflict-related detainees by the end of the year."
UN: Civilians Caught in Eastern Ukrainian Conflict VOA 23 Dec 2019 -- A report by the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights finds civilians in conflict-torn eastern Ukraine remain at risk of human rights violations and death despite an easing of hostilities between the Ukrainian government and Russian-backed rebels in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions.
'White House ordered freeze on Ukraine aid 90 mins after Trump call to Zelensky' Press TV 22 Dec 2019 -- The administration of US President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to freeze $391 million of military aid to Ukraine less than two hours after the controversial phone call in which Trump asked his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate former vice president Joe Biden, according to newly released internal emails.
Russia, Ukraine Disclose Details Of New Gas Transit Deal RFE/RL 21 Dec 2019 -- Officials from Russia and Ukraine have given details on a new five-year deal to transport Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine.
Russia, Ukraine Reach Gas-Transit Deal RFE/RL 20 Dec 2019 -- Moscow and Kyiv have reached a preliminary deal on the transit of Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine but ahead of the looming New Year's deadline.
Ukraine's PrivatBank Files Additional Court Claims Against Former Oligarch Owners RFE/RL 19 Dec 2019 -- Ukrainian state-owned PrivatBank on December 18 filed a $600 million lawsuit in Israel as part of its worldwide effort to recover assets it says the lender's two previous majority shareholders had allegedly embezzled.
Fraught Gas Talks Between Russia, Ukraine, EU To Resume In Berlin RFE/RL 19 Dec 2019 -- The next round of natural-gas transit talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the European Union are set to resume in Berlin on December 19.
Swiss Court Orders Russia To Pay Ukraine Oil Firm $44 Million For Crimea Investments RFE/RL 19 Dec 2019 -- The Supreme Court of Switzerland has ruled in favor of Ukraine's state majority-owned Ukrnafta oil production company to recover $44 million in investments from Moscow that were lost as a result of Russia's annexation of Crimea.
UN Adopts Updated Resolution To Safeguard Rights In Crimea RFE/RL 19 Dec 2019 -- The UN General Assembly on December 18 adopted a draft resolution seeking protection of human rights in Russian-occupied Crimea, according to Ukraine's permanent mission to the international body in New York.
UK statement on the human rights situation in Ukraine UK FCO 18 Dec 2019 -- The UK's Ambassador to the UN in Geneva Julian Braithwaite delivers statement to the Human Rights Council in response to the oral update of High Commissioner on Ukraine.
Ukraine Lifts Prosecutorial Immunity For Members Of Parliament RFE/RL 19 Dec 2019 -- Ukraine's national legislature, the Verkhovna Rada, on December 18 passed a bill in its final reading that cancels prosecutorial immunity for lawmakers.
Prosecutor Chosen As Ukraine's New Anti-Corruption Chief RFE/RL 16 Dec 2019 -- A selection commission has named a new chief for Ukraine's National Agency for Prevention of Corruption (NAPZK), an independent body that outlines and implements policies to prevent fraud.
Ukraine, Russia To Continue Gas-Transit Talks RFE/RL 14 Dec 2019 -- Russia's state-controlled energy giant Gazprom and Ukraine's Naftogaz say they will continue talks on the extension of a deal on gas transit from Russia to Europe through Ukrainian territory beyond the end of December, when the current 10-year agreement expires.
Peskov Says There Were Attempts to Hold Tense Talks at Normandy Four Summit Sputnik 14 Dec 2019 -- There were attempts to hold tense conversations at the recent Normandy Four summit but the talks overall took place in a working spirit, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
Visiting Ukrainian Official Says Relations With U.S. Remain 'Unshattered' RFE/RL 13 Dec 2019 -- The first Ukrainian administration official to visit Washington in months says bilateral relations remain strong despite the central role Ukraine has played in the impeachment inquiry into U.S. President Donald Trump.
Zelensky Believes Minsk-2 Clauses Regarding Control Over Border Should Be Changed Sputnik 13 Dec 2019 -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky believes that some clauses of the Minsk agreements on the Donbass settlement could be changed, in particular, those related to border control.
Poroshenko: Zelenskiy Crossed 'No Red Lines' In Paris Talks With Putin RFE/RL 12 Dec 2019 -- Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said his successor, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, did not cross any "red lines" in his recent talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on resolving the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
Ukrainian Lawmakers Extend Donbas Special Status Law Until End Of 2020 RFE/RL 12 Dec 2019 -- Ukrainian lawmakers have approved a bill extending the law on the special status of local self-governance in areas of the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk regions until December 31, 2020.
EU Extends Sanctions On Russia For Role In Ukraine Conflict RFE/RL 13 Dec 2019 -- European Union leaders on December 12 decided to prolong economic sanctions on Russia over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine by another six months.
Ukraine Welcomes, Germany Rejects Expected U.S. Sanctions On Nord Stream RFE/RL 12 Dec 2019 -- Ukraine has welcomed expected U.S. sanctions on the Russian Nord Stream 2 natural-gas pipeline as"good news," while Germany, the main beneficiary of the project, has rejected the move as "foreign interference."
Ukraine Investigators Confirm Treason Probe Of Ex-President Poroshenko RFE/RL 11 Dec 2019 -- Ukrainian investigators are looking into whether former President Petro Poroshenko committed treason when the so-called Minsk agreement in 2015, a 13-point road map for resolving the military conflict in eastern Ukraine, was signed.
Moscow, Kiev agree on 'comprehensive ceasefire' in Eastern Ukraine Press TV 10 Dec 2019 -- The leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France, and Germany have agreed to implement a "full and comprehensive" ceasefire in Eastern Ukraine after top-level negotiations.
Red Lines And Relief: Mixed Feelings In Ukraine After Zelenskiy-Putin Talks RFE/RL 10 Dec 2019 -- Much hype preceded the Paris meeting of Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Vladimir Putin, the first face-to-face talks between the current leaders of Ukraine and Russia on the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
'Low Hanging Fruit' And The Politics Of Perception: Five Takeaways From The Paris Summit On The War In Ukraine RFE/RL 10 Dec 2019 -- Ahead of his first-ever meeting with Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy suggested there was little chance of breakthroughs on the thorniest disputes blocking the path to peace in the Donbas.
'Srebrenica Could Start There' - Putin on Possibility of Border Closure by Ukrainian Military Sputnik 10 Dec 2019 -- The comment comes on the heels of President Putin's meeting with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky as part of the Normandy Four summit in Paris. This marked the first meeting between the two heads of state since Zelensky assumed office earlier this year.
Ukraine, Russia Agree On Full Cease-Fire, 'All For All' Prisoner Swap By End Of 2019 RFE/RL 10 Dec 2019 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on December 9 agreed to "commit to a full and comprehensive implementation" of a cease-fire in eastern Ukraine by the end of 2019, a joint communique says.
Putin, Zelenskiy Meet For First Time In Bid To Bring Peace To Eastern Ukraine RFE/RL 09 Dec 2019 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, are meeting for the first time in Paris for long-awaited talks on resolving the military conflict in eastern Ukraine that has left more than 13,000 people dead since 2014.
Ukraine Seeks Court Trial In London To Defend Against Unpaid $3 Billion Eurobond To Russia RFE/RL 09 Dec 2019 -- Ukraine will ask the British Supreme Court on December 9 to not compel it to pay nearly $4 billion in debt to Russia from a Eurobond that Moscow had refused to have restructured when Kyiv's economy nosedived following the Euromaidan pro-democracy movement nearly six years ago.
Normandy Summit Kicks Off in Paris to Advance Ukraine Peace Settlement Sputnik 09 Dec 2019 -- Leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany will meet in Paris on Monday for a high-stakes summit that will seek to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine after it claimed more than 13,000 lives.
Leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France, Germany to hold summit on Donbass conflict Press TV 09 Dec 2019 -- The presidents of Russia and Ukraine are set to hold their first face-to-face talks in Paris along with leaders of France and Germany as part of renewed four-way efforts to end a deadly conflict in eastern Ukraine.
In Kyiv, Crowd Lays Out 'Red Lines' For Zelenskiy Ahead Of Peace Talks RFE/RL 08 Dec 2019 -- Thousands of Ukrainians gathered in downtown Kyiv on December 8 under the banner "Red Lines For Ze" and calling for a tough stance from President Volodymyr Zelenskiy when he joins the leaders of France, Germany, and Russia for peace talks in Paris on December 9.
Analysts: Risks Are High for Paris Summit on Ukraine VOA 08 Dec 2019 -- Five years after Kremlin-backed separatists seized power in Ukraine's Donbas region, leaders of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine will meet in Paris December 9 in a bid to revive efforts for a peaceful resolution to a conflict that's left more than 13,000 civilians and combatants dead and 30,000 wounded.
IMF Agrees To Three-Year Lending Plan With Ukraine Worth $5.5 Billion RFE/RL 07 Dec 2019 -- International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Kristalina Georgieva says the lender has reached agreement with Ukraine on a new three-year loan program worth $5.5 billion.
Kyiv Gives ICC Evidence Of 'Executions' Of Ukrainian Soldiers By Separatists In Eastern Ukraine RFE/RL 07 Dec 2019 -- Evidence that Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine killed soldiers in their captivity execution-style has been forwarded to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
H-Hour For Ukraine's 'Normandy Four' RFE/RL 06 Dec 2019 -- KYIV -- In some circles, it's being called a peace summit. But the "Normandy Format" meeting in Paris on December 9 seems unlikely to live up to that billing, unless closer adherence to the frequently violated cease-fire in the war in eastern Ukraine counts -- and even that may be a long shot, judging by assessments from officials, analysts, and one of the four heads of state involved.
The Latest, Best Chance to End East Ukraine War VOA 06 Dec 2019 -- The leaders of Russia and Ukraine hold their first face-to-face talks in Paris next week as part of a European summit aimed at ending the five-year war between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian rebels in east Ukraine.
Ukraine To Issue Diplomatic Response Over Kazakh President's Denial Of Crimea's Annexation RFE/RL 05 Dec 2019 -- Ukraine has voiced concern over Kazakh President President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev's description of Russia's takeover of Crimea, when he said it wasn't an annexation.
Ally Of Ukrainian Ex-PM Sought Plan To Import U.S. Gas To Ukraine RFE/RL 05 Dec 2019 -- A Texas-based firm was hired by a company linked to former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's political party to develop a plan to import U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) into Ukraine.
Amid Contentious Impeachment Hearing, Lawmakers Express Bilateral Support For Ukraine RFE/RL 04 Dec 2019 -- As the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee began a contentious hearing on Capitol Hill in the Ukraine-centered impeachment probe of President Donald Trump, a bipartisan group of lawmakers gathered in the same building to express clear support for the beleaguered Eastern European country and its new leader.
Russians, Italians Charged With Trying To Evade U.S. Sanctions Related To Crimea RFE/RL 04 Dec 2019 -- U.S. federal prosecutors have charged Russian, Italian, and U.S. companies and several employees for allegedly attempting to evade U.S. sanctions that were imposed after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014.
Ukraine Parliament Votes To Reboot Graft-Fighting Agency Amid Bribe Scandal RFE/RL 04 Dec 2019 -- Ukraine's parliament on December 3 passed a law that revamps the State Bureau of Investigations (DBR) on the same day that authorities detained a close associate of the corruption-fighting agency's chief for allegedly demanding a $150,000 bribe from a construction company.
Pentagon Announces New $250 Million Ukraine Military Aid Package Months Ahead of Expectations Sputnik 04 Dec 2019 -- The Trump administration will seek at least $250 million in military aid for Ukraine next year, a senior Pentagon official said at a Wednesday press briefing. Months ahead of schedule, the announcement comes amid an impeachment inquiry into the president for withholding some of this year's aid to the country.
The Crimea Circumvention: How EU Firms Are Sidestepping Sanctions And Making Money On The Peninsula RFE/RL 03 Dec 2019 -- In December 2014, Serhiy Khodko, a local official under Moscow-installed authorities in Crimea, received a medal from Russia's Defense Ministry "for the return" of the Ukrainian peninsula to Russian control.
Zelenskiy Denies Reports Of Deal To Investigate Trump's Political Rival RFE/RL 02 Dec 2019 -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has denied in an interview with several magazines that there had been a quid-pro-quo deal with U.S. President Donald Trump to investigate the latter's political rival, ex-vice president Joe Biden, and his son, Hunter.
Political solution 'long overdue' to protect the children of eastern Ukraine UN News 02 Dec 2019 -- Nearly half a million children in eastern Ukraine continue to face "grave risks" to their physical health and psychological well-being, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Monday.
Dutch Prosecutors Accuse Moscow Of Letting MH17 Suspect Flee RFE/RL 03 Dec 2019 -- The Dutch Public Prosecution Service (OM) has accused Russia of allowing a suspect to evade its investigation into the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 by not arresting him and letting him return to separatist-held territory in eastern Ukraine.

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December 2019 - Ukraine Special Weapons News