Crisis in Ukraine: Daily Briefing – 21 April 2016, 7 PM Kyiv time

The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (RNBO) reported at 12:30 PMKyiv time that yesterday towards Luhansk, Russian-terrorist forces fired on Ukrainian positions at Shchastya and Popasne. Towards Donetsk, Russian-terrorist forces shelled Ukrainian positions at Avdiyivka and Zaytseve. Towards Mariupol, Russian-terrorist forces shelled Ukrainian positions at Maryinka. The RNBO reported that in the last 24 hours no Ukrainian soldiers were killed and four were wounded in action.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, “meeting in plenary session in Strasbourg, called on member states to adopt sanctions – in particular travel bans and freezing of accounts – against individuals involved in the kidnapping, unlawful detention, unfair trial and conviction of Nadyia Savchenko, unless she is released without further delay. The Assembly felt that these measures should also be considered with regard to the cases of ten other Ukrainian prisoners reportedly detained by the Russian authorities.”

Speaking in Kyiv, EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations J. Hahn stated, “The more the country reforms the more the EU and the international community can support Ukraine. So within its first 100 days, the government must work with the Rada to show it is serious about reform. In this context, I would like to mention some concrete examples for urgent actions: […] In the first 100 days of the government you should – Appoint an independent and reform-oriented general prosecutor and make a profound reform of the general prosecutor’s office. The population needs a clear sign of commitment to vigorous reform and an end to past practice. Ensure that the Agency for Prevention of Corruption has sufficient resources to start its work and that the verification of electronic asset declarations is launched. Launch establishment of Asset Recovery and Asset Management Office. Macro financial assistance:  We are ready to move ahead with disbursement of the second tranche of MFA (€600 m) – but only if the outstanding conditions are met. In the first 100 days you should: Reengage with the IMF and do what is necessary to get the programme back on track. Adopt the law on the energy regulator.”

Speaking at a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council, US Ambassador D. Baer stated,

“The United States calls for an immediate de-escalation of hostilities along the line of contact in eastern Ukraine. Violence is now at the highest level since the September 1 ceasefire. The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) recorded over 4,000 ceasefire violations on April 14 alone, with over 500 of these involving proscribed heavy weapons. According to the April 13 SMM report, combined Russian-separatist forces deployed 57 armored personnel carriers in separatist-held Donetsk. This level of violence and military activity threatens the Minsk agreements and must stop. SMM reports also reveal the toll the fighting has taken on the lives of civilians, how landmines and unexploded ordinance have spread, and how constant attacks by Russian-separatist forces have forced Ukraine to close crossing points at the line of contact in order to protect civilians from shelling. […] Free and fair local elections -consistent with OSCE standards, held under Ukrainian law, and with ODIHR observation- in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk must follow a durable ceasefire. It is impossible for Ukraine to pass an electoral law when Ukrainian soldiers and civilians are injured or killed by the ongoing violence in eastern Ukraine. […]. Let me turn now to Crimea, where the Russian Federation’s occupying authorities continue to perpetrate serious abuses against the residents of this region of Ukraine who oppose the occupation. […] We are deeply disturbed by reports that de facto authorities have ordered a suspension of the Mejlis Council, the body representing the region’s Crimean Tatar ethnic minority […] It appears that Russian authorities have failed in their attempts to sway or cajole the Mejlis to accept the Russian occupation, and are now determined to break the Mejlis entirely.[…] The United States will maintain its economic sanctions on Russia related to Crimea until it ends its occupation of Crimea, and we join the EU in reminding Russia that the process of lifting sanctions against Russia can only begin after full implementation of the Minsk agreements.”