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Speculation grew that Ukrainescentral bank governor is preparing to step down, a move that could stall the momentum of economic reforms and further delay transfers from a $17.5 billion international bailout.

Valeriya Gontareva has told President Petro Poroshenko and International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde about her plans to resign, theDzerkalo Tyzhnyanewspaper reported Feb. 25, without saying where it got the information. Ex-Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk was offered the job, but isnt interested, a party ally said Monday, declining to say who made the approach. The central bankspress office deniedthe governor has announced her intention to quit.

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Gontareva, 52, helped stem a plunge in Ukraines currency and rebuild foreign reserves as a second revolution in 10 years and fighting with Russia-backed insurgents ravaged the ex-Soviet economy. While some reforms to alignUkraine with the European Union have become bogged down as they threaten vested interests, the central bank has won praise from foreign investors for its endeavors, including smoothing IMF disbursements.

Ukraines latest$1 billion tranche from the Washington-based lender has been delayed since November and risks further postponement in the event of a leadership change at the central bank, according to Oleksandr Parashchiy, head of research at the Concorde Capital investment company in Ukraines capital, Kiev.

The possible rotation of the central banks head ahead of a possible signing of the latest IMF memorandum in the coming weeks doesnt look optimal for Ukraine as it would cause instability and delays, he said. Its possible Gontarevawill be allowed to leave, but in exchange for remaining for the next three months.

Gontareva allowed the hryvnia to float freely, brought inflation down from more than 60 percent and cleaned up the financial system by shutting down banks that served the needs of oligarch owners. In December, she oversaw the nationalization of the countrys No. 1 lender, Privatbank.

Selected by Poroshenko in June 2014, Gontareva is less than halfway through her seven-year term.Under Ukrainian legislation, the president nominates central bank governors and parliament must approve them.

View original post here:
Ukrainian Central Bank Governor's Future in Doubt as Rumors Grow - Bloomberg

2017-02-27T12:51+02:00 12:51 27.02.2017

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has signed a decree on the introduction of the decisions of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) "On Information Security Doctrine of Ukraine" and adopted it.

The document comes into force on the day of its publication, the press service of the Ukrainian president said on Saturday.

"The need for information security doctrine of Ukraine is tied to the uprise of actual threats to national security in the information sphere, as well as the need to identify innovative approaches to the development and protection of information space in the context of globalization and the free circulation of information," the report says.

The purpose of the doctrine is to specify the principles of formation and implementation of the state information policy, especially to counter Russia's information devastating effects in the conditions of the hybrid war unleashed by Russia.

The document defines Ukraine's national interests in the information sphere, the threat of their implementation, directions and priorities of the state policy in information sphere. Its legal basis is the Constitution of Ukraine and laws of Ukraine, Ukraine's national security strategy approved by presidential decree No. 287 dated May 26, 2015, as well as international treaties accepted as binding by the Verkhovna Rada.

To implement the Doctrine the National Security Council will coordinate the activities of executive bodies to ensure national security in the information sphere, taking into account the specific conditions and conduct of aggressive information war against Ukraine not only on its territory, but also in the world.

In this regard, the Security Council will also identify key measures in accordance with the provisions of the Doctrine.

The Cabinet of Ministers shall ensure the implementation of the information policy of the state, funding programs related to information security, guide and coordinate the work of ministries and other executive bodies in this field.

The Ministry of Information Policy is entrusted to organize and provide media monitoring of public resources of national segment of the Internet for the purpose of identifying information, the dissemination of which is prohibited in Ukraine. The Information Ministry is also required to monitor threats to national interests and national security in the information sphere.

In addition, the ministry should form the current priorities of the state information policy and monitor their implementation, coordinate the activities of central and local executive authorities in the field of information sovereignty of Ukraine, government communications, crisis communications, particularly during the antiterrorist operation in the special period.

The Information Policy is also tasked with developing and implementing the strategy of information provision of the process of release and reintegration of the temporarily occupied territories.

The ministry should contribute to the Foreign Ministry in a report and presentation of the official position of Ukraine in the foreign media.

The doctrine also assigns a number of tasks on the Foreign Ministry, Defense Ministry, Security Service, the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection, intelligence agencies and the National Institute for Strategic Studies.

Participation in the protection of Ukrainian information space by raising audiovisual and printed materials of the aggressor; elaboration of priorities and incentives for the development of Ukrainian cinema, television content, printing, in particular on the coverage of the heroic resistance of the Ukrainian people to the Russian aggression will be carried out by the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, Ukrainian State Film Agency, the National Council of Ukraine on Television and Radio Broadcasting, State Committee of TV and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine in accordance with their competence.

Read more:
Poroshenko confirms Ukraine's doctrine on information security - Interfax

The Allies called on Russia to reverse its illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula.

Head of the NATO Representation to Ukraine Alexander Vinnikov said this at the international forum "Crimea under occupation: Consequences for Ukraine and the world",an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"[At the Warsaw Summit] Allies called on Russia to reverse its illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula, which NATO member-states do not and will not recognize," Vinnikov said.

He added that it was important for the NATO Representation to Ukraine to provide support for this forum.

As reported, February 25-26, Kyiv hosts the international forum "Crimea under occupation: Consequences for Ukraine and the world."

February 26, Ukraine will mark the Day of Resistance to Occupation of Crimea.

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Head of the NATO Representation to Ukraine: Allies call on Russia to reverse illegal annexation of Crimea - Ukrinform. Ukraine and world news

The search to find Jamala's successor has been going on since last year. In January submissions for the national selection closed and 24 acts battled it out for a place in the final. You can read more about Ukraine's national selection in our live story feature.Serhii Prytula hosted the Ukrainian national selection which was broadcast live from Kyiv, host city of the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest.during the show.

Two acts from each semi final qualified resulting in the following line-up (in order of appearance):

After all the songs had been performed the lines opened and the jury made their final deliberations. The results show opened with Alma, France's participantin 2017 performing her entry, Requiem. The jury then gave their results:

Poland's Kasia Mo then took to the stage to perform a powerful rendition of her 2017 song, Flashlight. Following this, the votes from the public were announced:

O.Torvald emerged victorious after finishing higher than Tayanna in the public vote and will represent Ukraine in May with the song Time.

O.Torvaldis composed of lead singer ZheniaHalych, guitarist Denys Myziuk, drummer Sasha Solokha, bass guitarist Mykyta Vasyliev, and DJ Polarnik. The band was founded in the city of Poltava but relocated to Kyiv in 2006 where they began performing to large venues with thousands of spectators. They released their first album in 2008.

As with last year, the winner was decided by a combination of jury and public votes. The jury for 2017:

Salto Nazad was created in 2011 and are experimental in their musical style performing combinations of reggae, hip hop, funk, and electronic music. During the first semi-final of the Ukrainian selection they performed a song called Oh, Mum!

Melovinis the stage name of Kostiantyn Bocharov and in 2015 he won the sixth series of The X Factor in Ukraine. As a child he performed in a choir, studied choreography and attended a theatre school. His song for the Ukrainian national selection is called Wonder.

Illaria was educated at theKyiv Institute of Music and first took to the stage in 2007. The singer first participated in the Ukrainian national selection in 2014 with the song I'm Alive. Over her 10 year career Illaria has released three solo albums, Free, 13 Months and I'm Alive.

Tayanna is the stage name ofsinger and songwriter, Tetiana Reshetniak. Her song for the national selection, I Love You, was written by Tayanna herself alongsideMaks Barskykh who is also a singer and composer. Tayanna has also collaborated with Ukrainian video directorAlan Badoiev and has released an EP, Tayanna Portraits.

Rozhden was born and grew up in Odesa, and began his musical career at just 14 years old. His first genre was hip hop and in 2014 he recorded and released his debut album, The Truth. His entry for 2017, Saturn, was written exclusively for the Eurovision Song Contest.

Ukraine made its debut at the 2003 Eurovision Song Contest with the song Hasta la Vista performed by Oleksandr Ponomariov, finishing in 14th place. The next year Ruslana with her song Wild Dances took Europe by storm scoring the first victory for Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest.Jamala won the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest for Ukraine earlier this year with the song 1944, providing the country with its second victory in the competition.

From sand artists to drag acts, Ukraine has sent a variety of musical styles and performers to the Eurovision Song Contest over the years. Check out our video below which features the ten most successful Ukrainian entries in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Excerpt from:
Time to fly the Ukrainian flag in May - Eurovision.tv

By Jay 02.25.2017#World News Email Share Tweet

The situation here in Ukraine is one that is all too familiar with the promise of a new ceasefire that bears no weight.

I think the problem is that when we think of the word ceasefire in the west, we think no shooting, period. Well, here in Ukraine its a word that is used very loosely. Its something to use to stall the west or even fool the Ukrainian population. Maybe even fool the western governments into thinking that the war down here is coming to a halt, that just maybe it can be solved diplomatically. Whatever the reason for this word being used in terms of this war in Ukraine the reality of it is this: it means nothing here and the fighting will continue regardless of how many western governments meet and try to solve this conflict.

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Filed Under: World News Tagged With: Ceasefire, NATO, Russia, seperatists, sofrep, the West, Ukraine

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Jay Former British Army Reconnaissance operator currently working in the private security industry. Hobbies are tactical shooting, in-fact all things tactical & of course traveling to strange and often unfriendly places.

Originally posted here:
SOFREP in Ukraine, boots on the ground update - SOFREP (press release) (subscription)