Section: Latest news

      Memo to Ukrainian Government: Privatization Can Succeed if You Get Out of Way
      Aug09

      Memo to Ukrainian Government: Privatization Can Succeed if You Get Out of Way

      On July 18, Ukraine’s most recent attempt at privatization came to a disappointing conclusion. Odesa’s petrochemical plant, OPZ, was placed up for auction, but after the government set a minimum price of $520 million, no qualified bidders came forward. As a consequence, the state still owns the enterprise, which continues to impose...

      Gazprom asks Ukraine to boost gas transit due to Nord Stream repairs
      Aug09

      Gazprom asks Ukraine to boost gas transit due to Nord Stream repairs

      Russia`s gas giant Gazprom has asked Ukrainian state-run Ukrtransgaz, operator of the local gas transport system, to ensure an increase in gas transit shipments via Ukraine due to ongoing repairs to the Nord Stream gas pipeline, according to Ukrtransgaz`s press service. ”Yesterday, Gazprom filed an application with Ukrtransgaz for boosting...

      Fitch expects moderate economic recovery in Ukraine in 2016
      Aug09

      Fitch expects moderate economic recovery in Ukraine in 2016

      Fitch Ratings has downgraded its forecast for Ukraine`s economic growth in 2016, lowering the GDP growth rate to 1% from the previously announced 2%. ”Fitch expects only moderate economic recovery in Ukraine (we forecast GDP growth of 1% in 2016 with medium-term growth of 2%),” a Fitch statement said. Fitch earlier lowered its economic growth...

      In Ukraine, Two Steps Forward and One Step Back: Procurement Reform Advances, Slowly
      Aug09

      In Ukraine, Two Steps Forward and One Step Back: Procurement Reform Advances, Slowly

      Many changes have occurred in Ukraine since the Euromaidan, but the country still struggles mightily with corruption. Those efforts are symbolized in the ongoing fight to reform Ukraine’s corrupt procurement practices.For years, links between government officials and Ukraine’s “pharma mafia” resulted in the theft of approximately $100...

      EU imposes sanctions against two Russians
      Aug09

      EU imposes sanctions against two Russians

      The European Union (EU) has imposed sanctions against two Russian citizens suspected of terrorism, according to the decisions published in the Official Journal of the EU. Aslan Avgazarovich Byutukaev and Ayrat Nasimovich Vakhitov are named in the sanctions list. They are suspected of being associated with the ISIL (Da`esh) and the Al-Qaeda...

      Ukraine reports one killed and five wounded soldiers in past 24 hours
      Aug09

      Ukraine reports one killed and five wounded soldiers in past 24 hours

      One Ukrainian soldier was killed and five were wounded in fighting in eastern Ukraine in the past 24 hours, according to Oleksandr Motuzianyk, presidential spokesman for ATO issues. ”There was one killed in action (KIA) and five wounded in action (WIA),” he said at a briefing in Kyiv on Tuesday, a UNIAN correspondent reported. According to...

      Situation deteriorating on border with Crimea: Occupiers block exit to mainland Ukraine
      Aug09

      Situation deteriorating on border with Crimea: Occupiers block exit to mainland Ukraine

      Occupiers have halted operations at the Chonhar checkpoint in Crimea, according to the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service. ”The supervisory bodies of the country-occupier have prepared documents only for those persons who are traveling to the temporary-occupied peninsula, and only at the Chaplynka checkpoint,” the report read. The Kalanchak...

      Erdogan arrives in St. Petersburg for meeting with Putin
      Aug09

      Erdogan arrives in St. Petersburg for meeting with Putin

      Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has arrived in St. Petersburg for talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, according to Russian news agency TASS. This will be the first personal meeting between the Russian and Turkish heads of state since last November. The talks that are expected to mark a thaw in the 8-month freeze in bilateral...

      Bloomberg: Bulgaria may restore Russian gas pipeline, nuclear plant
      Aug09

      Bloomberg: Bulgaria may restore Russian gas pipeline, nuclear plant

      Bulgaria and Russia agreed to resurrect the canceled South Stream natural gas pipeline across the Black Sea and the Belene nuclear power plant as the Balkan country strives to reduce penalty payments over unfulfilled contracts awarded to Russia by international courts, according to Bloomberg. Bulgaria and Russia agreed to set up working groups...

      Ukraine calls on world to prevent recurrence of genocide of Crimean Tatar people
      Aug09

      Ukraine calls on world to prevent recurrence of genocide of Crimean Tatar people

      Ukraine has called on the international community to prevent a recurrence of the genocide of the Crimean Tatar people who were forcefully deported 70 years ago, according to a statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on the occasion of the International Day of World`s Indigenous People. ”We appeal to the international community to...