Crisis in Ukraine: Daily Briefing
28 January 2015, 6 PM Kyiv time
1. Russian Invasion of Ukraine
The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (RNBO) reported at 12:30 PM Kyiv time that attacks and shelling of Ukrainian positions by Kremlin-backed terrorists continued. Kremlin-backed terrorists shelled Ukrainian positions with artillery, mortars, grenade launchers, tanks and Grads (truck-mounted multiple rocket launchers). The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported that Kremlin-backed terrorists shelled Ukrainian positions 126 times in the last 24 hours. From 10:30 PM-12:45 AM Kremlin-backed terrorists attacked Ukrainian positions near Pisky-Vodyane and Novbakhmutivka. Ukrainian forces repelled the attacks. The Ministry of Defense reported at 12:00 PM Kyiv time that Ukrainian forces repelled attacks by Kremlin-backed terrorists near Krymske. The RNBO reported that in the last 24 hours, 3 Ukrainian soldiers were killed and 5 Ukrainian soldiers were wounded.
2. Poroshenko sends letter to Putin demanding fulfillment of Minsk agreements
Ukrainian President P. Poroshenko sent a letter to Russian President V. Putin, the key element of which was the demand not only to cease fire and fulfill the Minsk agreements, but also to liberate Nadiya Savchenko and all the hostages.”
3. Canada to provide second $200 million low interest loan to Ukraine
Canadian PM S. Harper announced that Canada will be providing a second $200 million low interest loan as “part of a broader package of additional international assistance for Ukraine, and is conditional on the approval of the next review of Ukraine’s International Monetary Fund (IMF)-supported program.” PM Harper stated, “The loan announced today will help promote economic and social stability as the Ukrainian government works to re-build itself into a democratic, independent, and prosperous country, free from aggressors.”
4. Ukraine and US sign Declaration of Intent on loan guarantees
Ukrainian Minister of Finance N. Jaresko and US Treasury Secretary J. Lew signed a Declaration of Intent on loan guarantees from the US to Ukraine. Speaking in Kyiv, Lew stated “The United States has committed to negotiate a loan guarantee of $1 billion to the Government of Ukraine in the first half of 2015, provided Ukraine remains on track with the reform program it has agreed to with the IMF. We are proposing to Congress that we provide an additional $1 billion for a total of $3 billion of loan guarantees, as long as Ukraine continues making concrete progress on its reform agenda and continues to require that support.”
5. US Assistant Secretary of State: A Europe Whole, Free and at Peace rises or falls with Ukraine
Speaking at the Brookings Institution on 27 January, US Assistant Secretary of State V. Nuland stated, “Of course, none of us could have predicted how the Transatlantic bond and our twenty-five years of work together for a Europe, Whole, Free and at Peace would be tested by Russian aggression in Ukraine. […] [U]ltimately, we all know that today, a Europe, Whole Free and at Peace rises or falls with Ukraine. Ukraine’s frontline for freedom is ours as well. […] We must also help Ukraine staunch the bleeding. That means continuing to support Ukraine with defensive security support. […] It also means holding the Minsk agreement signatories – the separatists and Russia – to account when they refuse Ukraine control of its own border, when deadly Russian weapons and fighters continue to flow across it by the hundreds, and when state-owned Russian media spews lies about who is responsible for the violence. […]But the off ramp for Russia – the route back to better ties with all of us – is very simple: the minute Russia allows Ukraine to control its side of the international border and stops fueling the conflict, the situation will improve.”
