Crisis in Ukraine: Daily Briefing – 2 May 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 Novozvanivka with small arms and grenade launchers. Towards Donetsk, Russian-terrorist forces fired on Ukrainian positions at Avdiyivka. Towards Mariupol, Russian-terrorist forces fired on Ukrainian positions at Vodyane, Talakivka and Hranitne. The RNBO reported that in the last 24 hours, no Ukrainian soldiers were killed or wounded in action. The RNBO reported that on 28-30 April, three Ukrainian soldiers were killed and fourteen were wounded in action.

US Representatives E. Engel (D-NY) and A. Kinzinger (R-IL), joined by a bipartisan group of 14 members, introduced the Stability and Democracy (STAND) for Ukraine Act (HR 5094). The Act “Clarifies existing U.S. policy toward Ukraine and explicitly acknowledges Ukraine’s right to self-defense while linking any sanctions relief for Russia to timely, complete, and verifiable implementation of the Minsk framework; Explicitly roots U.S. Crimea policy in the non-recognition doctrine followed by the United States during the Soviet Union’s fifty-year occupation of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania;  Codifies existing Executive Order sanctions imposed on Russia for the forcible and illegal occupation of Crimea;  Tightens existing U.S. sanctions on Russia for its violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity by authorizing a strict sanctions-evasion framework and requiring a regular report on foreign financial institutions that are illicitly controlling Ukraine state-owned assets-namely Russian banks in Crimea; Imposes an Arms Export Control Act ‘presumption of denial’ standard on any NATO member that transfers certain defense articles or services containing U.S. technology or components to Russia while Russia is forcibly occupying the territory of Ukraine or any NATO member; Extends the Magnitsky Act to territories occupied or otherwise controlled by Russia such as Crimea, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Transnistria;  Directs the Administration to consult with the Government of Ukraine and seek to establish an international consortium to drive private investment in Ukraine by minimizing and pooling political risk to would-be private investors;  Directs the Secretary of State to develop and implement a strategy to respond to Russian disinformation and propaganda efforts toward Russian-speaking areas in countries bordering Russia.” The full text of the STAND for Ukraine Act is available at https://democrats-foreignaffairs.house.gov/sites/democrats.foreignaffairs.house.gov/files/H.R.%205094.pdf

Following a meeting in Japan, the Energy Ministers of the G7 (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK, US) stated, “We welcome the substantial energy policy reforms ongoing in Ukraine including market and tariff system reform in the gas and electricity sectors as well as diversification of energy sources and routes. In particular, we welcome the recent announcement by Ukraine of its intention to establish the necessary framework conditions for a comprehensive energy efficiency program targeted at the residential gas-based heat sector. We also welcome Ukraine’s implementation of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative to improve transparency in the energy sector. […]. We strongly urge Ukraine to pursue further ambitious reform of its energy sector, including the adoption of legislation forming an independent energy regulator, and separate legislation creating a competitive, transparent energy market. We also call for enhanced cooperation between the Ukrainian national gas transmission system operator and relevant international peers. We endorse the progress report on G7 energy sector support for Ukraine. We will continue close consultations with Ukraine on a roadmap for energy reform, resilience planning, securing its gas supply needs, including by increasing domestic production, and enhancing deployment of energy efficiency policies and technologies.”

Speaking at a UN Security Council meeting on 28 April, US Permanent Representative to the UN S. Power stated, “Over the last several months, the conflict has worsened, violence has increased, and the challenges to Minsk implementation have only grown. […]What is happening today is the result of Russia’s violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, which began with its occupation of Crimea more than two years ago, and expanded with substantial military on the ground and weapons support for armed separatists in eastern Ukraine. Every negative consequence of the conflict that we see today – every one – is traceable back to that original sin. We must not lose sight of that incontrovertible fact even as we focus on the issues and the human consequences in the present. […] As has always been the case, the crisis manufactured by Russia can and must be ended by Russia – by stopping its arming, training, and fighting along separatists in eastern Ukraine – and by ending its illegal occupation of Crimea. […] The Minsk agreements offer the only pathway – one agreed upon by all sides – to deescalate this conflict, to restore peace to Ukraine, and to reaffirm the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity that undergird all of our collective security. But to implement them, Russia and the separatists it supports must fulfill the very first step of abiding by an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, and grant full access to OSCE monitors. Together with the Normandy format leaders, the United States will continue to press for their full implementation by all parties – just as we will keep sanctions in place for as long as Russia continues to obstruct their implementation. And we will maintain our Crimea sanctions until Russia ends its occupation of the peninsula.” Power’s full remarks are available at http://ukraine.usembassy.gov/statements/usun-ambpower-ukraine-04282016.html