Crisis in Ukraine: Daily Briefing – 11 April 2016, 7 PM Kyiv time

The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (RNBO) reported that yesterday towards Luhansk, Russian-terrorist forces fired on Ukrainian positions at Stanytsia Luhanska. Towards Donetsk, Russian-terrorist forces shelled Ukrainian positions near Avdiyivka, Zaytseve and Horlivka. Russian-terrorist forces fired on Ukrainian positions along the entire Donetsk sector of the front. Towards Mariupol, Russian-terrorist forces shelled Ukrainian positions near Berdyanske with artillery. Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense reported that in the last 24 hours, Russian-terrorist forces fired on Ukrainian positions 64 times in total. The RNBO reported that in the last 24 hours, no Ukrainian soldiers were killed and two were wounded in action. On April 8-9, no Ukrainian soldiers were killed and eleven were wounded in action.

On 10 April, Ukraine’s PM A. Yatsenyuk announced his intention to resign from office. In an address to the nation, Yatsenyuk stated, “I have taken the decision to resign as Prime Minister of Ukraine. On Tuesday, April 12 my request will be submitted to the Parliament.  […] The coalition majority in Parliament is being renewed. A new agreement is based on the purposes and principles of our Cabinet of Minister’s program. The Parliamentary faction of the Block of Petro Poroshenko has nominated Volodymyr Groysman to the post of Prime Minister. Having done everything to ensure stability and continuity of our course, I declare my decision to transfer the obligations and responsibilities of the Head of Government of Ukraine. […] I am proud of the results of our Government.  Much of our work will be appreciated in the future. I thank our nation, society, civil society activists, volunteers; I thank each and every one of you for your endurance and patience. […]. We defended our state. We created a new army and police. We ensured Ukraine’s energy independence from Russia. […] We saved the economy from default. We began large-scale structural changes. We did everything to make our European choice irreversible. Despite the war and the temporary loss of territories, we created the conditions for economic recovery. […] These changes are being made by millions of determined minds. I am confident of the strength of the new generation and new Ukrainian era. I am confident that our actions are correct. I am confident of the wisdom, sound judgment, and fairness of our society. […]” Yatsenyuk’s full address is available at http://www.kmu.gov.ua/control/en/publish/article?art_id=248951846&cat_id=244314971

The Foreign Ministers of the G7 (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK, USA) and the High Representative of the EU, met in Japan on April 10-11. The Ministers stated, “We stand united in our conviction that the conflict in Ukraine can only be solved by diplomatic means and in full respect for international law, especially the legal obligation to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence. We reiterate our condemnation of the illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula by Russia in violation of international law and reaffirm our policy of its non-recognition and sanctions against those involved. We emphasize our strongest support for full implementation of the Minsk agreements, and the work of the Normandy format and the Trilateral Contact Group, which are aimed at securing peaceful resolution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine. […] We recall that the duration of sanctions is clearly linked to Russia’s complete implementation of the Minsk agreements and respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty. We recognize the importance of maintaining dialogue with Russia in order to ensure it abides by the commitments it has made as well as international law and to reach a comprehensive, sustainable and peaceful solution to the crisis. Furthermore, we remain concerned by the ongoing disinformation campaigns in the Russian state-controlled media as well as the growing pressure on political and civil society figures voicing disagreement with the course being taken by the Russian government. We remain fully committed to Ukraine’s reform agenda, and to providing long-term support to this end. We commend and support the steps Ukraine is taking to implement comprehensive structural reforms and urge Ukraine to maintain the momentum and continue to take the difficult decisions, especially in the fight against corruption where concrete progress is required. We will continue to work together with the international financial institutions and other partners to provide financial and technical assistance.”

According to a Reuters report citing a senior EU source, the European Commission will propose granting visa-free travel to the EU for Ukrainians this month. Reuters reported, “The proposal must be approved by a qualified majority of EU member states and by the European Parliament to take effect.”

On 10 April, US Vice President J. Biden spoke with Ukraine’s PM A. Yatsenyuk after Yatsenyuk announced his intention to resign. The White House stated, “The Vice President thanked Prime Minister Yatsenyuk for his partnership during a historic time for Ukraine. He congratulated the government of Ukraine on its accomplishments over the past two years, in particular on the strides it has made on difficult but necessary economic reforms, the signature of the European Union association agreement, and the work it has done to increase energy independence. […]The leaders also agreed on the importance of assembling a new cabinet committed to implementing needed reforms, in particular those recommended by the International Monetary Fund and European Union. The Vice President commended Prime Minister Yatsenyuk for his tireless efforts on behalf of Ukraine and his intention to remain engaged in the process of pursuing these and other reforms needed to ensure the stability, prosperity, and territorial integrity of Ukraine.”