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Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Friday that US sanctions against Russia will remain in place until Moscow "reverses the actions" it has taken in Ukraine.

The comments are notable given President Donald Trump's at-times reluctance to criticize Russia over its actions in Crimea, though he did declare last month that the territory was "taken" by Russia. As a candidate, Trump hinted he might recognize Russia's annexation of Crimea, and sources have previously told CNN that Ukraine-related sanctions were on the table for review as part of Trump's interest in pursuing warmer ties with Moscow.

"American and NATO support for Ukraine remains steadfast. As we have repeated at every ministerial and summit since Russia launched its campaign of aggression against Ukraine, NATO allies stand firm in our support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Tillerson said at a NATO meeting at the organization's headquarters in Brussels. "We do not, and will not, accept Russian efforts to change the borders of territory of Ukraine."

He added, "We will continue to hold Russia accountable to its Minsk commitments. The United States sanctions will remain until Moscow reverses the actions that triggered our sanctions."

At his confirmation hearings in January, Tillerson called Russia's claims on Crimea "illegitimate." His comments on Friday also echo those made by US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, when she told the UN Security Council last month that US sanctions against Russia would remain in place until it withdraws from Crimea.

Earlier Friday, Tillerson and Defense Secretary James Mattis criticized Russian actions in overseas comments aimed at reassuring US allies.

Mattis, appearing with his British counterpart in London, also called out the Putin regime for "mucking around" in other people's elections -- a particularly notable claim coming at a time when federal and congressional investigators are probing alleged Russian meddling in the US elections last November.

"We look to engaging with Russia on a political or diplomatic level, but right now, Russia is choosing to be a strategic competitor," Mattis said during a news conference with Michael Fallon, the UK defense secretary. "We are going to have to carve out diplomatically some kind of maneuver room here, assuming Russia can change its behavior and act in accordance with international norms and international law."

He also said "Russian activity" in Afghanistan "gives us concern," though he stopped short of saying the Putin government was arming the Taliban.

In response to Mattis, Alexey Pushkov, a senior Russian lawmaker, tweeted, "New US administration sounds just like the old one Mattis is indistinguishable from (former Defense Secretary Ash) Carter, Tillerson is talking about 'Russian aggression.' (Barack) Obama and (Hillary) Clinton must be happy."

Tillerson is in Brussels to reinforce US commitment to NATO -- an organization Trump has repeatedly criticized -- and referred to the alliance as "the bedrock for transatlantic security."

"We understand that a threat against one of us is a threat against all of us, and we will respond accordingly. We will uphold the agreements we have made to defend our allies," he added.

The Trump administration's top diplomat, however, reiterated on Friday Trump's call for members to increase their financial contributions to the organization.

"Our goal should be to agree at the May leaders meeting that by the end of the year, all allies will have either met the pledge guidelines or will have developed plans that clearly articulate how, with annual milestone progress commitments, the pledge will be fulfilled," Tillerson told the ministers.

But Trump's hopes of striking a grand bargain with Russia are fading, two administration officials told CNN Thursday.

According to one senior administration official, this isn't necessarily because Trump's view of Putin has evolved. But Trump believes in the current atmosphere -- with so much media scrutiny and ongoing probes into Trump-Russia ties and election meddling -- that it won't be possible to "make a deal," as the President himself has framed it, the officials said.

One of the White House officials said the President was particularly "frustrated" in a meeting in the Oval Office with newly minted national security adviser H.R. McMaster and other top officials in the wake of Russia's February cruise missile deployment -- an apparent treaty violation.

This official said that with each violation from Russia, the President views it as that much harder to make amends. The President is not closing the door on engaging with Russia on a variety of issues -- including Syria, Ukraine and combating ISIS -- but the administration is not optimistic at the moment.

CNN's Nicole Gaouette, Sara Murray, Elizabeth Landers, Eugene Scott, Mary Ilyushina and Matthew Chance contributed to this report.

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Tillerson: US to maintain Ukraine-related sanctions on Russia until Crimea is returned - The Missoulian

Europe

11:55 02.04.2017(updated 12:03 02.04.2017) Get short URL

He called Polish authorities' reaction tothe shelling "a condition ofpowerless senility."

On Wednesday, unidentified attackers shelled the Polish Consulate General inLutsk using a grenade launcher; no one was hurt inthe incident, butthe consulate building was damaged, according tothe diplomatic mission.

Commenting onthe matter, Pietka recalled that onMarch 16, an array ofleading Ukrainian nationalist organizations such asFreedom, the Convention ofUkrainian Nationalists and the Right Sector adopted a so-called National Manifesto.

In particular, the document stipulates the ouster ofcurrent Ukrainian authorities, that Ukraine must have access tonuclear weapons, and the creation ofthe Baltic-Black Sea Union.

"This was ignored bysenior Polish officials, who immediately call all the negative incidents, especially those inWestern Ukraine, Russian provocations," Pietka said.

"I would call these officials' reaction tothe threatening incident inLutsk a condition akin toimpotent senility," he added.

"These people do not want topay attention tothe anti-Polish nature ofUkrainian nationalism and chauvinism, which developed and gained strength afterthe Maidan coup inUkraine. They do not see the processes going ina very dangerous direction because Kiev does not control the political situation not only inWestern Ukraine, butelsewhere inthe country," according to Pietka.

Sputnik/ Alexey Vitvitsky

In this vein, he referred toa recent spate ofincidents acrossUkraine, including the one inKiev, where a Polish military cemetery was desecrated.Another incident saw an attack onthe Polish Embassy, where a huge portrait of Bandera was installed.

"Regrettably, both Polish authorities and the opposition, including the former Solidarity labor union], prefer toignore the danger emanating fromgrowing Ukrainian nationalism. They refuse tounderstand the fact that Ukrainian nationalists are absolutely irrelevant partners forpolitical cooperation," Pietka pointed out.

Sputnik/ Grigoriy Vasilenko

A man carrying a picture of Stepan Bandera during a torchlight procession of Ukrainian nationalists in downtown Kiev. File photo

Earlier, the Polish Press Agency reported that representatives fromPoland's Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) consider the Ukrainian parliament's recognition ofthe Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) asfighters forindependence a "slap inthe face" tothe people ofPoland and toits President.

The Ukrainian Insurgent Army is being glorified, and a law has been passed recognizing the special role played bythe UPA inUkrainian history." Based onthe law, "anyone who asserts the fact that the UPA is a criminal organization involved inthe genocide [of Poles] can be punished; this is a disgrace. It is a slap inthe face tothe Polish people and President Komorowski," SLD deputy Tomasz Kalita stated.

Sputnik/ Alexey Vitvitsky

Polish historians blame the killing ofbetween 100,000 and 130,000 Polish civilians and 5,000-10,000 Ukrainian civilians inVolhynia and Eastern Galicia onthe UPA, claims which Ukrainian historians have downplayed or denied outright.

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'Powerless Senility': Poland Unwilling to Heed Ukraine's Nationalist Threat - Sputnik International

The comments are notable given President Donald Trump's at-times reluctance to criticize Russia over its actions in Crimea, though he did declare last month that the territory was "taken" by Russia. As a candidate, Trump hinted he might recognize Russia's annexation of Crimea, and sources have previously told CNN that Ukraine-related sanctions were on the table for review as part of Trump's interest in pursuing warmer ties with Moscow.

"American and NATO support for Ukraine remains steadfast. As we have repeated at every ministerial and summit since Russia launched its campaign of aggression against Ukraine, NATO allies stand firm in our support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Tillerson said at a NATO meeting at the organization's headquarters in Brussels. "We do not, and will not, accept Russian efforts to change the borders of territory of Ukraine."

He added, "We will continue to hold Russia accountable to its Minsk commitments. The United States sanctions will remain until Moscow reverses the actions that triggered our sanctions."

Earlier Friday, Tillerson and Defense Secretary James Mattis criticized Russian actions in overseas comments aimed at reassuring US allies.

Mattis, appearing with his British counterpart in London, also called out the Putin regime for "mucking around" in other people's elections -- a particularly notable claim coming at a time when federal and congressional investigators are probing alleged Russian meddling in the US elections last November.

"We look to engaging with Russia on a political or diplomatic level, but right now, Russia is choosing to be a strategic competitor," Mattis said during a news conference with Michael Fallon, the UK defense secretary. "We are going to have to carve out diplomatically some kind of maneuver room here, assuming Russia can change its behavior and act in accordance with international norms and international law."

He also said "Russian activity" in Afghanistan "gives us concern," though he stopped short of saying the Putin government was arming the Taliban.

In response to Mattis, Alexey Pushkov, a senior Russian lawmaker, tweeted, "New US administration sounds just like the old one Mattis is indistinguishable from (former Defense Secretary Ash) Carter, Tillerson is talking about 'Russian aggression.' (Barack) Obama and (Hillary) Clinton must be happy."

Tillerson is in Brussels to reinforce US commitment to NATO -- an organization Trump has repeatedly criticized -- and referred to the alliance as "the bedrock for transatlantic security."

"We understand that a threat against one of us is a threat against all of us, and we will respond accordingly. We will uphold the agreements we have made to defend our allies," he added.

The Trump administration's top diplomat, however, reiterated on Friday Trump's call for members to increase their financial contributions to the organization.

"Our goal should be to agree at the May leaders meeting that by the end of the year, all allies will have either met the pledge guidelines or will have developed plans that clearly articulate how, with annual milestone progress commitments, the pledge will be fulfilled," Tillerson told the ministers.

According to one senior administration official, this isn't necessarily because Trump's view of Putin has evolved. But Trump believes in the current atmosphere -- with so much media scrutiny and ongoing probes into Trump-Russia ties and election meddling -- that it won't be possible to "make a deal," as the President himself has framed it, the officials said.

One of the White House officials said the President was particularly "frustrated" in a meeting in the Oval Office with newly minted national security adviser H.R. McMaster and other top officials in the wake of Russia's February cruise missile deployment -- an apparent treaty violation.

This official said that with each violation from Russia, the President views it as that much harder to make amends. The President is not closing the door on engaging with Russia on a variety of issues -- including Syria, Ukraine and combating ISIS -- but the administration is not optimistic at the moment.

CNN's Nicole Gaouette, Sara Murray, Elizabeth Landers, Eugene Scott, Mary Ilyushina and Matthew Chance contributed to this report.

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Tillerson: US to maintain Ukraine-related sanctions on Russia ...

Since Ukraine is geographically located between Europe and Asia, much of its culture exhibits both Eastern and Western influences. Over the years it has been invariably influenced by movements such as those brought about during the Byzantine Empire and the Renaissance. Today, the country is somewhat culturally divided with the western regions bearing a stronger European influence and the eastern regions showing a strong Russian influence.

It is interesting to note that Communist rule in Russia had quite a strong effect on the art and writing of Ukraine. During the late 1920s and early 1930s, the Soviet authorities began enforcing the socialist realism art style in Ukraine. This style dictated that all artists and writers glorify the Soviet Regime with their talents. However, it wasn't long before the Soviet Union collapsed and artists and writers again became free to express themselves as they wanted. Unfortunately the collapse of the union also brought about a decrease in government subsidies. Writers chose to emulate the styles used in the 11th and 13th centuries, while artists expanded their horizons trying new techniques, subject matters and styles.

Ukrainian culture is richly embedded in ancient traditions. Even today many historical songs such as the dumy and the playing of the kobza which was popular during the 16th century is still enjoyed. However, music has also come a long way since then and Polissia magic pop and Kolomiya rap have gained popularity. The culture scene has also seen a resurgence of Cossack songs and song poetry. There are also a number of cultural festivals such as the Tavriya Games which are most popular.

The Ukrainian people also enjoy their culture in the form of traditional dances and dance games. Many of these originated in rural Cossack villages and some of the oldest dances can be traced back to ancient cults. Traditionally many of these dances were performed only by males or females, but today both sexes sometimes mix and enjoy the dance together. Appreciation for these dances is usually kept alive by Ukrainian dance troupes.

Many people do not know that the tradition of the Easter egg had it's beginnings in the Ukraine. In times gone by (and still sometimes today) these eggs were drawn on with wax to create patterns. Dye was then added to give the eggs their delightful colors the dye not affecting the wax coated parts of the egg. Once the whole egg was dyed, the wax was removed leaving only the colorful pattern. The tradition is thousands of years old and predates the arrival of Christianity in the country. While Christian interpretations of this practice abound, many Ukrainians still believe that the egg has immense power and releases the earth from the restraints of winter. Even the designs have meaning and the eggs are usually given as gifts or used as decorations.

Ukrainians celebrate a number of holidays, namely Christmas, Easter, Whitsuntide, New Years and Ivana Kupala (St John's Eve). They also hold a festival every autumn to celebrate the end of the harvest. While some of these festivals are celebrated world wide, Ukrainians have their very own way of observing them. Ukrainian culture is very interesting and there is so much to say on the matter that it cannot be discussed fully here. The best way to find out more is to visit the country and learn from the locals.

Original post:
Culture in Ukraine | By Ukraine Channel

Ukraine has a large audiovisual offering. With some 322 TV broadcasting stations and 590 cable TV companies in the Ukraine there is certainly no shortage of things to watch. Ukraine's three chief TV channels are Inter, 1+1 and UT-1. These three channels receive about 90% of profits brought in by advertising and are thus the most developed. Other channels that benefit from advertising profits include Novyi Canal, ICTV and STB. The TV system in the Ukraine is run by the National TV Company of the Ukraine (NTCU) as well as 26 regional TV/Radio institutions.

Ukraine's TV channel 1+1 is the largest private TV channel and the most popular. The channel broadcasts programs enjoyed by all members of the family as well as people from all backgrounds. This 24 hour channel has about 95% coverage and is found on UT-2. Channel UT-1 has the highest coverage with 98%. Programs transmitted by the NTCU can be viewed on UT-1 which broadcasts 19 hours each day. Ukrainian TV station Inter makes use of channel UT-3.

Russian channels such as ORT, NTV, TV-6 and RTR are broadcast on Ukrainian televisions through cable networks and satellite. Various areas of the country can also receive transmissions from Polish, Hungarian, Turkish and Hungarian TV. Cable and satellite also open up international channels such as Eurosport, CNN and BBC.

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Television in Ukraine | By Ukraine Channel