Eurovision, shelling of the Polish consulate and other Ukrainian troubles

At the end of March, there were events that could upset any patriotic (nationalist) citizen of Ukraine or a person living outside of this country, but sympathizing with the course chosen by the leadership that came after the Maidan, for comprehensive integration into the European cultural and economic space. Other emotions, apart from frustration, these facts can not cause people with these political views. Each of the events - this is a real "zrada", that is, betrayal, and the word is used in Ukraine recently more often.

general review

Problems on Ukraine piled a lot. It is possible that all the heroic efforts to bring the capital to the festive (as far as possible) kind of will be in vain and, as in the old joke, will have to go "like a fool with a clean neck," and "Eurovision" will not. Poland closed its consulates, and, in general, by Ukrainian standards, because of a trifle. You think, someone from the grenade launcher shot. In addition, it's probably Russian agents. The IMF tranche again delays, and the visa is postponed. The London High Court suddenly made a decision on "Yanukovych's debt" not in favor of Kiev. Well, other troubles. Now more.

"Eurovision" in Kiev in question

Another day ago it seemed that the issue with the international song contest was solved definitively and irrevocably, and exactly as the nationalist-minded part of the society wanted. Not only does Ukraine triumph, so Russia is also embarrassed. Singer Samoylova in Kiev will not be allowed to go to Crimea, and the European Broadcasting Union seems to have taken an understanding to ban her from entering the country for three whole years, and suddenly on 29 March, a statement was made by Ingrid Deltenre , The head of the EBU. This is an actual ultimatum. If before the end of next week (April 9, probably), no decision is taken on the participation of a Russian representative in the contest, then Ukraine can be removed from it (an interview with Blick, Switzerland). The EBU management believes that Kyiv tries to use Eurovision for information of political accounts, creating an atmosphere of hostility alien to the very nature of the musical holiday. In general, this way: either Samoilova will perform, or in Kiev no one will sing because of the total cancellation of the event. Let Poroshenko and Groisman choose. Time has gone.

Polish diplomatic missions are closed

UNIAN agency on March 29 reported the suspension of the work of all five consular institutions of Poland in Kiev, Kharkov, Odessa, Vinnitsa and Lutsk. This information was confirmed by the official website of the Consulate General. The reason for this step was the night shelling of the building of the representation of the RP in Lutsk on the street. Dubnovskaya, 22B. Presumably, a RPG-26 grenade launcher was used to inflict a fire attack. Victims, fortunately, no, but Polish diplomats do not want to wait for their appearance. The Ambassador of Ukraine A. Deshchitsa was summoned to the Foreign Ministry to give explanations. In the Security Service already put forward a version that does not differ in originality, as, indeed, plausibility. According to the assumption of the security service, the shot was fired by "Russian saboteurs", this is their handwriting. Poroshenko has already promised to punish the guilty (112.ua) and talked to the Polish president. Taking into account the peculiarities of the historical Ukrainian-Polish disputes, the activity shown recently by nationalists and the availability of weapons brought from the ATU, the version of the Security Service looks very doubtful. Probably, in Warsaw it was not taken seriously.

Again the tranche delay

The fourth tranche of the International Monetary Fund, which has already been repeatedly announced by the top leaders of Ukraine to be a fait accompli, transferred at the last moment from March 20 to April 7, will not be considered on that day. The IMF Board of Directors did not include it in the agenda. Earlier there were explanations of the Minister of Social Policy Andrei Reva, who once again convinced the public of the need to study the effect of the blockade on the financial indicators of the Ukrainian economy, which allegedly also Kiev was extremely interested. It is not known whether the fund was engaged in such studies, or the situation seems obvious without it. In any case, the result is extremely deplorable. The hope for the receipt of $ 5.4 billion is still very hypothetical.

The decision of the High Court of London on the "debt of Yanukovych"

On March 29, it became known about the decision of the High Court of London to consider the claim of the Russian Federation to Ukraine in the so-called accelerated procedure. Translated from an international legal to an ordinary language, this means that the numerous arguments of the firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, representing the interests of Kiev in arbitration, Judge William Blair rejected as insolvent. The essence of the motivation for Ukraine's refusal to pay by Eurobonds is that Russia allegedly almost forcibly forced the then leadership to take this money (three billion), and then lit the war in the Donbass and annexed the Crimea. Kiev refused to pay immediately, and after some reflection, that is, in fact, "Yanukovych's debt" recognized. The daily penalty under the agreement is $ 683 thousand. On March 20, the debt totaled $ 3.137 billion (portal "Country"). The statement of the Minister of Finance of Ukraine, Alexander Danilyuk, made after the meeting of the government that the alleged court decision has already been suspended, raises doubts. In London, it usually does not fuss.

On the ban on money transfers to Ukraine

The Federation Council's approval of the ban on sending money to Ukraine through international payment systems is difficult to name as a betrayal. First, if in Kiev believe that Russia is an aggressor and an enemy, then it would be naive to expect some kind of friendly solutions, and secondly, this measure is reciprocal. Sanctions against banks and payment systems of Sberbank, Golden Crown, Unistream, Leader, Anelik RU and others, Ukraine introduced the first and at the same time made life harder for its own citizens working in Russia and sending money to their families. However, it is impossible to assert that they are deprived of all means of transferring funds. Some channels have remained, but they require the opening of a bank account for their use. In January of this year, more than half a billion dollars have been withdrawn from the Russian Federation to Ukraine "Zarobitch".

And again, visa-free travel

On March 27, Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of Ukraine K. Eliseev reported on the possible postponement of the date of adoption of a decision on a visa-free regime with the European Union "for a couple of weeks." The submission of information was sustained in optimistic intonations. We waited longer, a whole year (and someone, perhaps, more than three years), so that you can wait a little longer. The path is already close to completion, and this is recognized not only by partners, but also by skeptics. If no special force majeure happens, then in the summer it will be possible to travel to Europe without any visas. Now only France objects, but it is understandable: there are elections on the nose. And in general, and in the European Union understand that it's time to give a visa, and then you can lose confidence. Promise, promise ...

The departure of Russian business

This situation is difficult to give an unambiguous assessment. It is possible that this is a victory, but when investments leave the country, it usually gets worse. On March 29, a statement was made by the president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation Sergey Katyrin, which contains a council for businessmen to curtail business activity in Ukraine. In favor of such a decision, say the constant sanctions pressure and outrage of radical groups, the economy does not understand anything. There is practically no hope for possible improvements in the foreseeable future.