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BLOOMBERG/
Russia warned the EU that it may cut off oil supplies to Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic because of a dispute with Ukraine over transit fees.
The Ukraine wants an increase in the transit fees Russia pays-- by 15 percent to 20 percent next year and move to a “pump or pay” agreement.
Showing posts with label Ukraine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ukraine. Show all posts
30 October 2009
UKRAINE: U.S.Consultants Advise Prime Minister In Presidential Campaign.
GLOBAL POST/
According to the latest opinion poll Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko still trails her rival Viktor Yanukovich by 11 percentage points — 26.8 to 15.6 percent though her campaign is advised by the American political consulting firm "AKPD Message and Media," which helped Barack Obama win the White House.
According to the latest opinion poll Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko still trails her rival Viktor Yanukovich by 11 percentage points — 26.8 to 15.6 percent though her campaign is advised by the American political consulting firm "AKPD Message and Media," which helped Barack Obama win the White House.
25 October 2009
IMF Demands Ukraine Cancel Wage/Pension Law To Receive Further Aid.
BLOOMBERG/
The IMF is still waiting for the Ukraine to veto a wage and pension law, before releasing the next portion of a $16.4 billion loan.
It had been due to receive $3.4 billion, the fourth payment from the loan. “The mission is now awaiting endorsement of the agreed policy package, including assurances that the wage and pension law approved by Ukraine’s parliament, which is at odds with the objectives of the authorities’ program, will be vetoed,” the IMF said.
The IMF is still waiting for the Ukraine to veto a wage and pension law, before releasing the next portion of a $16.4 billion loan.
It had been due to receive $3.4 billion, the fourth payment from the loan. “The mission is now awaiting endorsement of the agreed policy package, including assurances that the wage and pension law approved by Ukraine’s parliament, which is at odds with the objectives of the authorities’ program, will be vetoed,” the IMF said.
15 October 2009
The IMF Hits Political Turbulence In Eastern Europe.
AP/
The IMF still faces political opposition in Eastern Europe though it has somewhat repaired its reputation as a austere authority.
The IMF increased its fiscal flexibility and started a no-strings loan program for countries considered relatively good risks. Mexico and Poland benefited from this new flexible credit line.
The IMF still faces political opposition in Eastern Europe though it has somewhat repaired its reputation as a austere authority.
The IMF increased its fiscal flexibility and started a no-strings loan program for countries considered relatively good risks. Mexico and Poland benefited from this new flexible credit line.
28 September 2009
Ukrainian Sand Artist Wins Country's Talent Show And YouTube Attention.
BBC/ With Video/
Kseniya Simonova, a Ukrainian artist who draws pictures in sand, won that country's TV talent with her depictions of the nation's painful wartime past. Her performance has more than three million hits on YouTube.
Kseniya Simonova, a Ukrainian artist who draws pictures in sand, won that country's TV talent with her depictions of the nation's painful wartime past. Her performance has more than three million hits on YouTube.
Drought Threatens Ukraine's Winter Wheat.
BLOOMBERG/
“Sowing conditions are bad, the soil and the air is dry,” said the head of agriculture. As much as 65 percent of the land scheduled to be sown is too dry.
Bad weather damaged Ukrainian crops in 2006 and 2007, prompting the government to impose restrictions on exports. Winter crops are planted in September and reaped the following summer. Winter wheat accounts for most of Ukraine’s winter grain and makes up about half of the total annual harvest.
“The situation is very much like we had in 2005 and is even worse in some areas.”
“Sowing conditions are bad, the soil and the air is dry,” said the head of agriculture. As much as 65 percent of the land scheduled to be sown is too dry.
Bad weather damaged Ukrainian crops in 2006 and 2007, prompting the government to impose restrictions on exports. Winter crops are planted in September and reaped the following summer. Winter wheat accounts for most of Ukraine’s winter grain and makes up about half of the total annual harvest.
“The situation is very much like we had in 2005 and is even worse in some areas.”
20 September 2009
Ukraine's Crisis Over IMF Loans.
AFP/
Ukraine's economy is fragile with rumors that the IMF may suspend $3.8 billion in credit.
The IMF may not release the November instalment of its $16.4-billion loan...perhaps not until 2010...because of the government's lackluster control of the budget deficit and inflation.
Ukraine's economy is fragile with rumors that the IMF may suspend $3.8 billion in credit.
The IMF may not release the November instalment of its $16.4-billion loan...perhaps not until 2010...because of the government's lackluster control of the budget deficit and inflation.
14 September 2009
Tensions between Ukraine And Russia Increase Before Election.
WASHINGTON POST/
"Russia has redoubled its efforts to portray Ukraine as a hostile neighbor, lodging a barrage of complaints against its policies and plunging relations between the two countries to their lowest point since the fall of the Soviet Union.
The vilification campaign has puzzled and alarmed analysts here as well as in Washington and Moscow. Many say Russia is trying to tilt the electoral field even further in its favor. But because that seems unnecessary, some are also asking whether Russian leaders might be laying the groundwork for a more serious confrontation with Ukraine, just a year after a brief war with another pro-Western neighbor, Georgia."
"Russia has redoubled its efforts to portray Ukraine as a hostile neighbor, lodging a barrage of complaints against its policies and plunging relations between the two countries to their lowest point since the fall of the Soviet Union.
The vilification campaign has puzzled and alarmed analysts here as well as in Washington and Moscow. Many say Russia is trying to tilt the electoral field even further in its favor. But because that seems unnecessary, some are also asking whether Russian leaders might be laying the groundwork for a more serious confrontation with Ukraine, just a year after a brief war with another pro-Western neighbor, Georgia."
Ukraine Denies Adoption For Elton John.
KYIVPOST/
The Ukrainian government says that Elton John can't adopt a 14-month-old Ukrainian child because he is too old and doesn't have a traditional marriage.
The Ukrainian government says that Elton John can't adopt a 14-month-old Ukrainian child because he is too old and doesn't have a traditional marriage.
13 September 2009
Elton John Wants To Adopt A Ukrainian Baby.
AP/
Singer Elton John and longtime partner David Furnish are interested in trying to adopt a Ukrainian toddler named Lev they met during an orphanage tour there.
John said bureaucratic hurdles may make adoption of a Ukrainian child impossible because of the lack of a formal adoption protocol between England and the Ukraine.
Singer Elton John and longtime partner David Furnish are interested in trying to adopt a Ukrainian toddler named Lev they met during an orphanage tour there.
John said bureaucratic hurdles may make adoption of a Ukrainian child impossible because of the lack of a formal adoption protocol between England and the Ukraine.
Russia Lacks A Unified Foreign Policy Towards Neighbors.
GLOBALPOST.COM/
"Though Putin and Medvedev appear united on the main issue of projecting Russian power abroad, they seem nevertheless at odds as to how to achieve this, and at times slip into direct competition with one another."
"Though Putin and Medvedev appear united on the main issue of projecting Russian power abroad, they seem nevertheless at odds as to how to achieve this, and at times slip into direct competition with one another."
11 September 2009
The Happy State Of Polish-Ukrainian Relations.
THE ECONOMIST.COM.
"For 20 years Polish and Ukrainian leaders have worked hard to accentuate their countries’ shared history and common tragedy, rather than stoke disagreements for political ends."
"For 20 years Polish and Ukrainian leaders have worked hard to accentuate their countries’ shared history and common tragedy, rather than stoke disagreements for political ends."
09 September 2009
Ukraine's Economy Paralyzed By Politics.
WSJOURNAL.
With a presidential election set for January, potential candidates are fighting over economic policy.
While a $10.6 billion bailout from the IMF saved Ukraine from near-default this spring, its Parliament is paralyzed as the opposition opposes Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and demands a social spending increase.
With a presidential election set for January, potential candidates are fighting over economic policy.
While a $10.6 billion bailout from the IMF saved Ukraine from near-default this spring, its Parliament is paralyzed as the opposition opposes Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and demands a social spending increase.
Concern Growing In EU/NATO Over Russia's Treatment Of Neighbors.
KYIVPOST.
A recent survey reports that "Moscow's behavior toward its neighbors (Ukraine and Georgia) is of growing concern among the NATO allies."
"The most worried were the Dutch (78%) and the Americans (78%, with 35% very concerned). The least troubled were the Bulgarians (40%). But in all countries, apart from in Poland, more people were worried in 2009 than in 2008," according to the findings.
A recent survey reports that "Moscow's behavior toward its neighbors (Ukraine and Georgia) is of growing concern among the NATO allies."
"The most worried were the Dutch (78%) and the Americans (78%, with 35% very concerned). The least troubled were the Bulgarians (40%). But in all countries, apart from in Poland, more people were worried in 2009 than in 2008," according to the findings.
28 August 2009
Increasing Tensions Between The Ukraine And Russia.
NYTIMES.
Relations between the two countries are troubled with tensions in danger of bursting into open conflict.
Relations between the two countries are troubled with tensions in danger of bursting into open conflict.
25 August 2009
Land Grabbing In The Ukraine For Food, Water And Power.
BBC.UK
"The world is getting hungrier and the old "wheat basket" of Eastern Europe is offering new opportunity.
But it is not Ukrainian money and know-how which is driving this agricultural revolution. It is foreign governments and companies.
The Libyans are negotiating for land here, as are the Russians and others.
Many governments are looking to secure land overseas as a way to ensure the food supply to their country does not fail."
"The world is getting hungrier and the old "wheat basket" of Eastern Europe is offering new opportunity.
But it is not Ukrainian money and know-how which is driving this agricultural revolution. It is foreign governments and companies.
The Libyans are negotiating for land here, as are the Russians and others.
Many governments are looking to secure land overseas as a way to ensure the food supply to their country does not fail."
24 August 2009
15 August 2009
The Unpredictable Mayor Of Kiev.
NYTIMES.
Leonid Chernovetsky is Kiev's unpredictable mayor.
"When Parliament members said he was acting bizarely and needed a psychiatric exam, he went to a stadium where he jogged for the cameras before yanking off his shirt and doing pull-ups. He swam laps and flexed his muscles like Charles Atlas. Then he held a news conference — in his tiny bathing suit."
Leonid Chernovetsky is Kiev's unpredictable mayor.
"When Parliament members said he was acting bizarely and needed a psychiatric exam, he went to a stadium where he jogged for the cameras before yanking off his shirt and doing pull-ups. He swam laps and flexed his muscles like Charles Atlas. Then he held a news conference — in his tiny bathing suit."
23 July 2009
US VP Biden Calls Ukraine Women "World's Most Beautiful."
From the NY Daily News.
Leave it to Joe, to piss-off dozens of nations...and millions of women.
What was he thinking?
BTW...I prefer latinas,eg my Cuban wife but Iranian and Indian women are also strikingly beautiful.
Leave it to Joe, to piss-off dozens of nations...and millions of women.
What was he thinking?
BTW...I prefer latinas,eg my Cuban wife but Iranian and Indian women are also strikingly beautiful.
15 July 2009
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