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The International Monetary Fund said on Saturday it had reached a preliminary agreement with Ukraine that could see the war-scarred and cash-starved nation receive fresh aid in the first half of the year. The news was particularly good for the ex-Soviet republic because the IMF statement referred to a loan of $1 billion and not the lesser sums discussed in earlier months, AFP reported. Ukraine also gets the reprieve of not having to go though the unpopular measure of raising its pension age to get the cash. The step had been initially demanded by the IMF but strongly opposed to by Ukrainian lawmakers who want to avoid a voter backlash. The IMF staff has reached agreement with the Ukrainian authorities on an updated memorandum of economic and financial policies, the funds Ukrainian mission chief Ron van Rooden said in the statement. This paves the way for consideration of the third review of the arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility by the IMFs Executive Board ... in the second half of March, the statement said in reference to a $1 billion loan. The IMFs board usually follows through with such preliminary agreements and disburses aid once all the details have been hashed out. The IMF had dragged its feet in disbursing help to Ukraine because of its unwillingness to follow through on tough belt-tightening measures. It is far behind schedule since striking the $17.5 billion deal in the first half of 2015. Ukraine has thus far seen only $7.3 billion of that money. This has forced the pro-western government to step up its pressure and ram through detested legislation such as the raising of utility bills. Those had previously been state-subsidized and posed an extra burden on Ukraines shallow coffers. The country has also repeatedly failed in its efforts to launch a meaningful privatization drive that could help fill the budget gap. Attempts to put up land for sale have also been resisted by nationalist lawmakers and their allies who comprise a powerful contingent of the chamber. Advice from the IMF has helped it pull out of a tailspin 2014-2015 recession that saw the economy shrink by an astonishing 17%. Annualized inflation reached nearly 50% in the most dire days.

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Ukraine, IMF Reach Agreement - Financial Tribune

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Trump Ally Drastically Changes Story About Altering GOP Platform On Ukraine - TPM

Europe

14:46 05.03.2017(updated 14:47 05.03.2017) Get short URL

DONETSK (Sputnik) He pointed outthat the ceasefire regime was respected.

"Now the initiative onthe ceasefire acrossthe contact line since11:00 a.m. [local time] works. That is our joint initiative withthe LPR [Lugansk Peoples Republic]. We proposed tostop shelling viarepresentatives inthe Joint Center forControl and Coordination [JCCC]," Basurin said.

"We will see whether Ukraine would manage tocontrol radicals," Basurin added.

Since late January, the conflict ineastern Ukraine betweenlocal militia and Kiev authorities has escalated inAvdiivka and Yasynuvata towns nearDonetsk, withKiev forces and Donbass militia accusing each other ofbeing responsible forthe escalation offighting.

Sputnik/ Sergey Averin

Kiev launched a special military operation inUkraines southeast inApril 2014, afterlocal residents refused torecognize new Ukrainian authorities, which had come topower asa result ofwhat was recognized bymany people asa coup.

In February 2015, a peace agreement was signed betweenUkraines conflicting sides inthe Belarusian capital ofMinsk. Despite the fact that the deal stipulates a full ceasefire inDonbass, violations both onthe part ofKiev forces and local militia have been reported.

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Ceasefire Regime Established Between Kiev, Donbass Militia in East Ukraine - Sputnik International

March 5, 2017, 7:30 a.m.

The White House on Sunday called on Congress to investigate whether former President Obama abused his executive powers in connection with the 2016 campaign, but continued to offer no evidence to back up the claim.

The demand came amid a swirl of claims and counter-claims about Russian meddling in the presidential election. U.S. intelligence agencies have said such interference took place, and connections between the Trump camp and Russia are under investigation by the FBI.

Saturdayon Twitter, President Trump accused Obama of wire tapping his New York headquarters, Trump Tower. He offered no evidence to substantiate the claim, which an Obama spokesman labeled false.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer followed up Sunday with a statement citing very troubling reports of politically motivated investigations during the 2016 election campaign. He did not cite the source of the reports.

President Donald J. Trump is requesting that as part of their investigation into Russian activity, the congressional intelligence committees exercise their oversight authority to determine whether executive branch investigative powers were abused in advance of the presidential election, Spicer said in the statement.

The former Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper, interviewed Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press," said he had no knowledge of any electronic surveillance having taken place at Trump Tower, which served as Trump's headquarters during the 2016 campaign and transition to power after his election.

If a warrant for such surveillance had been obtained by the FBI under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, I would know that, Clapper said.

Clapper also said a report by the overall U.S. intelligence community did not contain any proof that the Trump camp had worked in concert with the Russians in order to tip the election to him.

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White House, offering no evidence, demands investigation of Obama - Los Angeles Times

Trump Calls For Congressional Inquiry Into Unproved Obama Wire-Tap Allegations NPR President Trump has asked Congress to investigate his predecessor Barack Obama in regards to alleged wire tapping in Trump Tower. Obama representatives have strongly denied the allegations. Facebook; Twitter. Google+. Email ...

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Trump Calls For Congressional Inquiry Into Unproved Obama Wire-Tap Allegations - NPR