Crisis in Ukraine: Daily Briefing – 18 October 2016, 6 PM Kyiv time

The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (RNBO) reported that yesterday towards Luhansk Russian-terrorist forces fired on Ukrainian positions near Popasne. At Stanytsia Luhanska and Krymske, Russian-terrorist forces shelled Ukrainian positions with mortars. Towards Donetsk, Russian-terrorist forces shelled Ukrainian positions at Luhanske village with mortars. At Avdiyivka, Russian-terrorist forces fired on Ukrainian positions. Towards Mariupol, Russian-terrorist forces carried out heavy mortar and artillery shelling of Ukrainian positions at Talakivka, Vodyane, Lebedynske and Shyorkyne, firing over 500 shells. At Krasnohorivka, Russian-terrorist forces fired on Ukrainian positions. The RNBO reported that in the last 24 hours, no Ukrainian soldiers were killed and three Ukrainian soldiers were wounded in action.

Ukraine’s President P. Poroshenko will meet with German Chancellor A. Merkel, French President F. Hollande and Russian President V. Putin in Berlin on 19 October. Speaking about the meeting, President Poroshenko stated, “I am optimistic about the future of Ukraine. But, unfortunately, I am not so optimistic regarding tomorrow’s meeting. However, I would be very pleased to be amazed.” President Poroshenko stressed that elections in the Donbas would only be possible after the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine. President Poroshenko stated, “In no country of the world can the elections take place in the presence of foreign occupational troops. I cannot imagine how we can provide local elections in the presence of Russian troops. We already had such type of so-called elections in Crimea when 50 thousand Russian military were present in Crimea and organized so-called referendum. This is their understanding of democratic elections.”

Writing for the Atlantic Council, V. Zimmerman stated, “After long resisting Western pressure to implement the political points in the Minsk agreements, Ukraine scored a diplomatic victory last week when the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) passed two important resolutions. The first resolution officially defines the conflict in Ukraine as Russian aggression, countering those who claim it is just a civil war or separatism. Most importantly, it calls on Russia to ‘allow Ukraine to regain control of Crimea’ and ‘withdraw its troops from the territory of Ukraine.’ The West now also recognizes the impossibility of conducting free and fair elections in the Donbas unless the security situation there improves and Russian military withdraw. The second resolution highlights serious human rights violations in Crimea and eastern Ukraine and calls on both sides to address them. The resolutions’ passage has already prompted a change in rhetoric among top European officials. In his recent remarks, Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that ‘conditions for holding elections in the Donbas have not been met.’ Even French President François Hollande, who previously upset the Ukrainian leadership with his prioritization of elections is now calling for a roadmap outlining steps to restore control of the border. […]With the diplomatic breakthrough at PACE last week, Ukraine demonstrated that it’s not a pawn of great powers, but is quite capable of defending its national interests. Iryna Gerashchenko, deputy speaker of the Ukrainian parliament, played a critical role by representing Ukraine’s position, which is complete security, not just a week-long ceasefire; the release of all Ukrainian hostages without blackmail for amnesty; access of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to the border; and free and fair elections in the Donbas.”