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By Lindsay Dunsmuir | WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON The United States has strongly signaled it will continue to support Ukraine, Finance Minister Oleksandr Danylyuk said on Friday, adding that the war-torn country had a "good, pragmatic" relationship with Washington.

Ukraine has previously expressed some nervousness about the possibility the Trump administration might try to cut a deal with Russia over Crimea and the eastern part of Ukraine that has been seized by Russian-backed separatists.

President Donald Trump promised a thaw in relations during his 2016 election campaign, but relations between Washington and Moscow currently remain tense due to the countries' military involvement in the Syrian crisis.

"Support of Ukraine is not a snapshot, it's a movie," Danylyuk told Reuters on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank spring meetings in Washington.

Asked about recent rhetoric from some senior U.S. officials that appeared to imply an easing of support for Ukraine, he said that actions spoke louder than words.

"On that front we are getting strong signals from the U.S. that support will continue ... we have a good, pragmatic relationship," Danylyuk said. "There is obviously a U.S. interest for a stable Ukraine."

He added that he had met U.S. Treasury officials as well as Trump administration economic advisers this week.

REFORMS EXPECTED TO PASS

The IMF stepped in with a $17.5 billion bailout program for Ukraine as the nation neared bankruptcy following the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014 and the outbreak of the Russian-backed separatist insurgency in its industrial east.

Ukraine expects three more tranches of loans this year but disbursement is dependent on meeting IMF conditions including structural reforms and tackling corruption. Since 2015, Kiev has received about $8 billion in IMF aid.

The global lender has called for an overhaul of the pension system to cut Ukraine's large deficit and action to further liberalize its agricultural sector.

There have been concerns about opposition from vested interests, particularly on land market reform.

"There is a pushback, they've been successful for many years. What will change is this time they are going to lose," Danylyuk said.

The minister said he wanted to have reform laws for both sectors finalized by mid-May and expected Ukraine's parliament to pass them by the end of June, at which point he also hoped for agreement from the IMF to release the next tranche of aid.

He also said that Ukraine plans to issue new sovereign bonds in September or October and submit its appeal in June against a ruling by a British court last month that it failed to offer a court-ready defense for not paying back $3 billion it borrowed from Russia in 2013.

Ukraine had argued that the debt was taken out under duress.

(Reporting by Lindsay Dunsmuir; Editing by Paul Simao)

MOSCOW Russia has told the United States it regrets Washington's opposition to letting its inspectors take part in an investigation into a chemical weapons attack in Syria earlier this month, the foreign ministry said on Friday.

PANAMA CITY A Panamanian court has granted bail to the two founders of Mossack Fonseca, the law firm at the center of the Panama Papers scandal, in a case allegedly tied to a sprawling corruption scandal in Brazil.

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Ukraine not worried relations with US fraying in Trump era - Reuters

about 18 hours ago Updated: about 16 hours ago

Former Ukrainian member of parliament Mykola Martynenko, under investigation for suspected embezzlement, speaks at a court in Kiev on Friday. Photograph: Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters

Ukrainian anti-corruption investigators have detained an influential former member of parliament and a senior energy executive, as Kievs authorities come under domestic and western pressure to crack down on top-level graft.

Agents from Ukraines national anti-corruption bureau (Nabu) detained Mykola Martynenko, a close ally of ex-prime minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, on Thursday night for allegedly embezzling $17.3 million (16.2 million) through a crooked deal to sell uranium at inflated prices to a state-run enrichment plant.

As part of the same case, Nabu agents on Friday detained Sergiy Pereloma, the first deputy chairman of Ukraines state gas company, Naftogaz. Lawyers for both the accused denied their involvement in any wrongdoing.

Nabu detectives swooped on the powerful pair less than two months after detaining the head of Ukraines tax agency, Roman Nasirov, on suspicion of defrauding the state of some 70 million in tax payments, to the benefit of firms linked to fugitive deputy Oleksandr Onishchenko.

Mr Nasirov denies the charge, and is under house arrest after paying bail of 100 million hryvnia (3.5 million). Prosecutors asked a Kiev court to hold Mr Martynenko in pre-trial detention or set bail at a colossal 300 million hryvnia.

From the start of the investigation [in December 2015], Nabu detectives sent 16 requests for international legal assistance to eight countries, the anti-corruption agency said in a statement.

The investigation revealed that, among other things, the [stolen] money was spent on renting property in the EU for the suspects relatives, on medical treatment, and on paying lawyers to defend the suspect in another criminal case which is being investigated by the prosecutors office in Switzerland.

Igor Cherezov, a lawyer for Mr Martynenko, said the allegations were politically motivated, and insisted his client would fight them and had no intention of fleeing Ukraine.

He also dismissed suggestions that Mr Martynenko could be struck down with a sudden illness during the legal proceedings, as apparently happened to Mr Nasirov, who was carried into court on a stretcher and observed proceedings from beneath a blanket, drawing ridicule from critics.

Mr Martynenko, who formerly served as head of the energy committee in Ukraines parliament, resigned as a deputy in late 2015 amid reports that he was being investigated in Switzerland on corruption allegations he also denies.

He was the deputy chief of Mr Yatsenyuks Peoples Front party, and reputedly an extremely influential figure in the backroom dealing that still dominates politics in Ukraine, much to the frustration of its people.

Mr Nasirov was the first really powerful official to be detained on graft charges since Ukraines 2014 revolution, which was above all fuelled by widespread fury at corruption and the impunity of a venal elite of political and business cronies.

The western states and lenders that are propping up Ukraine financially, helping guide its reforms and backing its bid to pivot away from Russia and towards Europe, have demanded greater effort to tackle corruption.

In releasing its latest tranche of aid to Ukraine this month, the International Monetary Fund warned Kiev against possible policy reversals as key reforms face strong pushback from vested interests.

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Ukraine's anti-corruption drive nets two more 'big fish' - Irish Times

By Lindsay Dunsmuir

WASHINGTON, April 21 (Reuters) - The United States has strongly signaled it will continue to support Ukraine, Finance Minister Oleksandr Danylyuk said on Friday, adding that the war-torn country had a "good, pragmatic" relationship with Washington.

Ukraine has previously expressed some nervousness about the possibility the Trump administration might try to cut a deal with Russia over Crimea and the eastern part of Ukraine that has been seized by Russian-backed separatists.

President Donald Trump promised a thaw in relations during his 2016 election campaign, but relations between Washington and Moscow currently remain tense due to the countries' military involvement in the Syrian crisis.

"Support of Ukraine is not a snapshot, it's a movie," Danylyuk told Reuters on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank spring meetings in Washington.

Asked about recent rhetoric from some senior U.S. officials that appeared to imply an easing of support for Ukraine, he said that actions spoke louder than words.

"On that front we are getting strong signals from the U.S. that support will continue ... we have a good, pragmatic relationship," Danylyuk said. "There is obviously a U.S. interest for a stable Ukraine."

He added that he had met U.S. Treasury officials as well as Trump administration economic advisers this week.

REFORMS EXPECTED TO PASS

The IMF stepped in with a $17.5 billion bailout programme for Ukraine as the nation neared bankruptcy following the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014 and the outbreak of the Russian-backed separatist insurgency in its industrial east.

Ukraine expects three more tranches of loans this year but disbursement is dependent on meeting IMF conditions including structural reforms and tackling corruption. Since 2015, Kiev has received about $8 billion in IMF aid.

The global lender has called for an overhaul of the pension system to cut Ukraine's large deficit and action to further liberalize its agricultural sector.

There have been concerns about opposition from vested interests, particularly on land market reform.

"There is a pushback, they've been successful for many years. What will change is this time they are going to lose," Danylyuk said.

The minister said he wanted to have reform laws for both sectors finalized by mid-May and expected Ukraine's parliament to pass them by the end of June, at which point he also hoped for agreement from the IMF to release the next tranche of aid.

He also said that Ukraine plans to issue new sovereign bonds in September or October and submit its appeal in June against a ruling by a British court last month that it failed to offer a court-ready defense for not paying back $3 billion it borrowed from Russia in 2013.

Ukraine had argued that the debt was taken out under duress. (Reporting by Lindsay Dunsmuir; Editing by Paul Simao)

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INTERVIEW-Ukraine not worried relations with U.S. fraying in Trump era - Thomson Reuters Foundation

The Trump administration is expected to appoint a special envoy for directly communicating with a top aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a new report.

Two European officials told BuzzFeed Friday that the official would interact with Vladislav Surkov, who has been called the Kremlins gray cardinal.

The envoys job would involve negotiating with Surkov over ending the three-year-old conflict in eastern Ukraine, which began when Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine and backed pro-Russian separatists in the country.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer declined to commentFridayon whether the administration would appoint an envoy for working with Surkov.

The United States sanctioned Surkov in 2014 for his involvement in the Ukrainian conflict.

BuzzFeed said Secretary of State Rex Tillerson would oversee the envoys selection for a full-time role likely including supporting staff.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel supports opening the channel, according to the report, and raised the idea while meeting President Trump at the White House in March.

The Obama administration also maintained a channel with Surkov, with Victoria Nuland serving as the U.S. envoy.

Nuland, a Senate-confirmed career foreign officer, held the title of assistant secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs.

BuzzFeed added Nuland discussed implementing the Minsk Agreements, a package of measures aimed at resolving the conflict between Ukraine and Russian-backed separatists, with Surkov.

The U.S. is not a signatory to the agreements, Buzzfeed noted, so the direct line helped Washington exert pressure on Moscow to fulfill the documents pledges.

Russia is under intense congressional and media scrutiny following FBI Director James Comeys announcement last month his bureau is probing Russian involvement in the 2016 presidential race.

The FBIs investigation will reportedly include whether there was any collusion between Russian officials and members of Trumps campaign.

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Trump admin may open channel to Putin aide over Ukraine: report - The Hill

The late Rabbi Menachem Mendel Deitsch. Photo: Provided.

Just before the last day of Passover, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Deitsch died in Israel. The well-known Chabadrabbi was injured inabrutal attack inOctober 2016 in Zhitomir, Ukraine, where he wassavagelybeaten by bunch of thugs. Rabbi Deitsch was only 64 years old. His death has become a tragicsymbol of antisemitismin Ukraine a phenomenon that the world prefers to ignore.

Antisemitism is thriving in Ukraine, as is ultra-nationalism and hatred against all minority groups. One needs only to watch Ukrainian television coverage praising neo-Nazi ralliesto discover what the country has become. But the resurgence of antisemitism here has only been made possible bythe worlds indifference and inaction.

During the last six months, there have been scores of hate crimes in Ukraine. When it comes to the Jewish community, these crimes include the desecration of Rabbi Nachman of Breslovs grave in Uman, which was crowned bya pigs head with a swastika carved on it.This and other antisemitic attacks weredocumented with photos and detailed descriptions. All of them were reported to the Ukrainian police. The result? Nothing. And the worlds reaction? Nada.

April 21, 2017 4:57 pm

The desecration of Jewish buildings and memorials has become quite common in Ukraine and, in some cases, the vandalism isrepeated many times peryear.

Simultaneously, there has beena disgusting attempt to rewrite history throughout the country.In a macabre-like episode, Ukrainian nationalists are trying to whitewash theBabi Yar massacre that took place during the Holocaust, and the countrys officials including Kievs mayor are allowing it.Ukraine is alsoerecting memorials and setting up exhibitions to honor the perpetrators of the most vicious antisemitic attacks that took placeduring the Holocaust.

One such exhibition honored theexploits of Ivan Rohach, who was the editor of the Ukrainian ultra-nationalistic OUN newspaper; he alsorepeatedly called for the extermination of the Jews. Amemorial was also established to honorYelena Teliga, a fierce antisemite whodemonized Jews and helped instigate theBabi Yar massacre.

Daily life in Ukraine is dangerous for Jews, and rabbis and community leaders are afraid to speak out about it for fear of makingthe situation worse.

Amid all of this, the worldhas beensilent.

The European Parliament, for instance, led the fight for Ukrainian MP Nadija Savchenkos release from Russian prison. But many Europeans were silent whenshe said the following on a popular radio show in Kiev: I have nothing against the Jews, but I do hate kikes who have grabbed 80% of [the] power in our country, [despite] being just 2% of our population.

And do not tell us about the Ukrainian prime minister who happened to be Jewish. His appointment came specificallyto refute the long catalog of Ukrainian antisemitism.

In the case of Rabbi Deitsch, the death of a very good man and devoted rabbi shall not go unnoticed. We must hold the Ukrainian authoritiesaccountable for this crime, and for the crime of vile and open antisemitism.And it is time for the world to finally demand action and justice.

Dr Inna Rogatchi is awriter, filmmaker, scholar, public figure and philanthropist. She made theinternationally prized film on Simon Wiesenthal, The Lessons of Survival. Her recent project Shining Souls, Champions of Humanity was inaugurated at the European Parliament early in 2017 and is on aworld tour.

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Antisemitic Hate Crimes Thrive in Ukraine - Algemeiner