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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

Wall Street Journal (subscription)

Ukraine in No Hurry to Borrow as Key Pension, Land Overhauls Loom Wall Street Journal (subscription) Ukraine Finance Minister Oleksandr Danylyuk said in an interview Thursday that his government might wait until the fall to seek around $1 billion in the international bond market, following the enactment of long-delayed pension and land overhauls he ...

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Ukraine in No Hurry to Borrow as Key Pension, Land Overhauls Loom - Wall Street Journal (subscription)

In a cramped warehouse on the banks of the flooded River Neris in a tranquil part of the Lithuanian capital, Jonas Ohman and his crew are loading unmarked boxes and bags onto a truck destined for the front in eastern Ukraine, more than 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) away.

The Swedish volunteer heads the so-called Blue-Yellow Movement, which helps Ukrainian government forces in their struggle against pro-Russian rebels by supplying non-lethal military aid, such as night-vision goggles, helmets, bullet-proof vests and telescopic sniper sights. They even pack colorful teddy bears for children to help ease everyday life in the devastated region.

"If we don't help stop the Russians in Ukraine, they will eventually come to get us too," he says, while trying to answer one of the calls for aid from the front and check whether previous supplies had arrived.

Recent heavy fighting in eastern Ukraine has again reminded the world of the bleeding conflict, but many in the Baltic states are only too aware of the clashes that are causing death, suffering and devastation.

According to U.N. figures, the conflict has cost almost 10,000 lives, including civilians, Ukrainian soldiers and rebels, and more than 22,000 have been injured.

Since the conflict began, millions of euros have been pumped into Ukraine by Lithuania and smaller amounts from other Baltic states, with regular fund raising events and government aid. Hundreds of wounded soldiers are treated at Lithuanian hospitals, and children from the war zone are brought to schools in the Baltic country.

Lithuania has no border with Ukraine, but like its Baltic neighbors it shares a frontier with Russia in this case, the exclave of Kaliningrad, which Moscow uses as a major Baltic military base. Although this border is less than 300 kilometers long, Lithuania like Latvia and Estonia has bitter memories of five decades of Soviet occupation and holds a deep distrust of Moscow despite its 13-year membership in NATO since regaining independence in the wake of the 1991 Soviet collapse. Lithuanians fear the conflict could prefigure Russian ambitions to forcefully retake them.

Meanwhile Ohman, who has visited the front several times, ensures the aid keeps flowing "directly to the soldiers and units, who need it badly."

"We have worked in Ukraine for several years now. We know the needs, who needs it and how to provide it," Ohman told The Associated Press before leaving on another trip there. "Ukrainian people are very happy when we come. Even though we may not have much stuff, they are thankful not just for aid but also for the attention."

The Lithuanian government is aware of the group's activities none of which is thought to be illegal.

Though rules governing exports are complicated and vary from country to country, there is technically no international embargo that prevents these items from being distributed in Ukraine, especially as they are donations. The respected Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, SIPRI, which researches global arms issues, said what the volunteers are doing is probably legal.

Another volunteer, Kotryna Stasinskaite, said she's noticed that people in other parts of Ukraine are not showing much interest in the struggle.

"I saw lots of happy, rich people in the streets of Kiev and they were obviously not concerned about all the violence and the tragedy happening in their own country," she said.

However, studies seem to indicate that the Blue-Yellow volunteers are not alone in their mission.

A survey by pollster Rait in December indicated that 63 percent of Lithuanians support efforts in helping Ukraine, and a recent charity concert raised more than 110,000 euros. The government has helped, too, with more than 8.5 million euros aid to Ukraine, according to Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius.

"A common historical past bonds the people of Lithuania and Ukraine very closely. We are united by a common struggle for independence and the same challenges," he said.

"We will continue to help Ukraine to become a thriving European country it is the aim of the whole of the Western world."

Lithuanian officials and specialists constantly travel between Vilnius and eastern Ukraine.

Defense Minister Raimundas Karoblis, who visited in January, assured Ukrainians that Lithuania would continue supporting its resistance against Russian separatist aggression and provide practical support for defense reforms.

"I was met with the warmest gratitude for all the support their country has received during the war against Russia," Karoblis told the AP. "It was also important to hear reassurances that they would provide the same assistance if Lithuania was in need."

He said a major reason for his nation's support to Ukraine is that Lithuania has a long history of fighting for its own freedom. "We take it as our concern and duty to help other nations in their struggle," he said.

Ukrainian Army Lt. Oleksander Valevich was severely concussed during heavy shelling and later was sent to Lithuania. He and other Ukrainian soldiers are being treated in Druskininkai, a luxurious resort amid pines and pristine lakes in southern Lithuania.

He now feels like he's the luckiest man on Earth.

"We used to be one state a long time ago. Later, we were separated, but I feel that Lithuania is still our soul brother," he said. "It took our pain and cares just like brothers," he said, with tears welling in his eyes.

Vitnija Saldava contributed to this report from Vilnius.

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Lithuanian volunteers help soldiers in eastern Ukraine - ABC News