Lavrov: Obama 'admin' admits lack of prospects of restoring Ukrainian solvency.

Lavrov: Obama 'admin' admits lack of prospects of restoring Ukrainian solvency.  (RBTH).

By having refused to guarantee Ukraine's debt as part of Russia's proposal to restructure it, the United States effectively admitted the absence of prospects of restoring its solvency, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with Interfax.

"We were ready to restructure Ukraine's $3 billion debt at much more advantageous terms than those asked of us by the IMF [International Monetary Fund]. But these terms, which extend the repayment not by one but three years and in equal installments, were certainly tied to these payments by Ukraine being guaranteed by the EU, the U.S. and the IMF or a first-class international bank. We were denied it. By officially rejecting the proposed scheme, the United States thereby subscribed to not seeing any prospects of Ukraine restoring its solvency," Lavrov said.


"This reform, which they are now trying to implement, designed to suit Ukraine only, could plant a time bomb under all other IMF programs," Lavrov said.

"Essentially, this reform boils down to the following: since Ukraine is politically important - and it is only important because it is opposed to Russia - the IMF is ready to do for Ukraine everything it has not done for anyone else, and the situation that should 100 percent mean a default will be seen as a situation enabling the IMF to finance Ukraine," the minister said.

The IMF Executive Board is meeting on Tuesday to consider changes to the IMF policy with respect to countries with a debt to official creditors.

The IMF's current lending policy rules out the possibility of providing financing for a member state which has a debt to an official creditor. Removing this restriction will enable the IMF to continue disbursements to Ukraine under the current extended-financing program, even if Kyiv defaults on its debt to Russia for the $3 billion Eurobonds issued in 2013. Hmmm.......NEXT... IMF about to create 'Greek situation in Ukraine'?

Russia's gas pipelines to Europe by 2018.

Russia's gas pipelines to Europe by 2018. (TASS).

Russian Iskander-M missile systems to be deployed in Kaliningrad region till 2018.

Iskander missile range.

Russian Iskander-M missile systems to be deployed in Kaliningrad region till 2018. (Tass).

Russian Ground Forces’ guided missile brigade stationed in the westernmost Kaliningrad region will be reequipped with the Iskander-M ballistic missile systems till 2018, Maj Gen Mikhail Matveyevsky, commander of the army’s missile forces and artillery, said on Saturday.

When asked by the Russian News Service radio station whether the brigade in the Kaliningrad region would be reequipped with the missile complexes, Matveyevsky replied: "There are no doubts about it."

"The Ground Forces’ guided missile brigades are being rearmed with this complex, according to the schedule," he said. Hmmm.....'Flexibility' seems only Russia is flexing their muscles.

Russian Dep PM Rogozin to open a new Border crossing point on the border with Ukraine'.

Russian Dep PM Rogozin to open a new Border crossing point on the border with Ukraine'. (RAI).[GoogleTranslate].

Constant multi-point Graivoron in Belgorod region has a design capacity of 500 vehicles per day, including 300 cars, 150 trucks and 50 buses.

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, on Saturday, May 16, will hold a grand opening of the automobile checkpoint on the border with Ukraine, in the village Graivoron Belgorod region, RIA Novosti reported Rosgranitsa.

This information was confirmed in the office of Deputy Prime Minister.

As reported in an interview with RIA Novosti head Rosgranitsa Konstantin Busygin, permanent multilateral Graivoron checkpoint in Belgorod region has a design capacity of 500 vehicles per day, including 300 cars, 150 trucks and 50 buses.

The agency's interlocutor explained that the work checkpoint began on April 14, 2015, but the grand opening is scheduled for May 16 with the participation of Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin.

In addition, according to Busygin, the invitation to take part in the opening through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was sent to the authorities of Ukraine, but it remained unanswered.

The multilateral automobile checkpoint was set Graivoron intergovernmental agreement between Russia and Ukraine, February 8, 1995. In Rosgranitsa explained that since 1995 funds for its improvement were not allocated.

"The crossing point for border, customs and other controls used modular building, no parking for Inspection and loading and unloading operations, detained vehicles required special equipment," - told RIA Novosti in the Federal Agency.

Reconstruction of the crossing point was made Rosgranitsa under the Federal Target Program "State Border of the Russian Federation (2012-2020 years)" and in terms stipulated by the project and the state contract for 20 months.

It is equipped with modern technical means of border, customs and other controls, the latest security systems and communications. To meet the needs of the checkpoint built a gas boiler, diesel power, and made an autonomous system of water intake. Hmmmm......If anyone believes this 'Disinformatia', i've got a bridge for sale.

'CHANGE' - Moscow wants U.S. to take back nukes stationed in Europe.

'CHANGE' - Moscow wants U.S. to take back nukes stationed in Europe. (RBTH).

Russia's envoy to NATO insisted on Friday that American nuclear weapons stationed in Europe go back to the United States, which "would be a serious contribution to strategic stability and security in Europe."

For the process of nuclear arms control and reduction to be successful, nuclear powers that have nuclear weapons deployed outside their borders must return them to their own territory the way Russia has done, Alexander Grushko said from Brussels during a Moscow-Brussels videoconference.

Moscow "can see no objective reason today for any tactical nuclear weapons to stay in Europe," he said.

Video - Russian battle robots armed with machine-guns, cannons and anti-tank missile launchers being field tested.

'Flexibility' - Russian Ground Forces to hold drills with Indian, Mongolian, Chinese, Belarusian troops this year.

'Flexibility' - Russian Ground Forces to hold drills with Indian, Mongolian, Chinese, Belarusian troops this year. (RBTH).

The Russian Armed Forces' Ground Forces will hold joint military peacekeeping and anti-terror exercises with troops from India, Mongolia, China and Belarus in the second half of 2015.

"In the second half of 2015, the Ground Forces units and formations are expected to take part in five joint military peacekeeping and anti-terror drills with army units from India, Mongolia, China and the Republic of Belarus, as well as with the armed forces of the CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization) member states," according to the documents prepared for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, focused on the development of the Russian Armed Forces.

A total of 18 inter-service drills involving Ground Forces, Air Force, Navy units, armed forces branches and specialist troops are expected to be held before the end of 2015.

"The main event during the summer training period will be a joint command post exercise with central military-command offices, command post crisis-resolution and peacekeeping drills supervised by the Ground Forces commander-in-chief," according to the documents.

In addition, in 2015 the Ground Forces will conduct over 150 tactical and specialist tactical drills with various armed forces branches and specialist troops, as well as field and map command post exercises. Hmmm.......'Practices make perfect' 

Former Amb of Ukraine to Belarus Bezsmertnyi: Gomel and Vitebsk regions have already distributed leaflets that they are "native Russian land".

Former Amb of Ukraine to Belarus Bezsmertnyi: Gomel and Vitebsk regions have already distributed leaflets that they are "native Russian land". (Gordonua). [GoogleTranslate].

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko in an interview with Bloomberg said that Belarus will never be a part of Russia, and the Kremlin has threatened the most severe reaction to the attempted military invasion of the country.

Why Belarusian president brought up this topic for the public, what lies behind it, and what can be further developments? All these questions correspondent "Gordon" said Ambassador of Ukraine to Belarus in 2010-2011 Roman Bezsmertnyi.

His position is clear. And whether the current Russian leadership plans for the annexation of Belarus? Especially because the Kremlin has long been talk of the seizure of the Baltic states and threaten Finland, Poland.

- If the spring and autumn of this year, Putin will not be able to explode the situation in Latvia, where it is also possible developments on the "Donbass" scenario, I do not rule out that he may come to Belarus and take Vitebsk and Gomel regions. And this need to think very seriously by the Belarusians, as they missed the moment when you could still get the Eurasian train. This could have been done a year ago, yet they are not completely "swallowed the" bait with EurAsEC.

- And how many are now in the territory of Belarus is the Russian troops?

- Now there are two radar base and several air bases that host five squadrons of aircraft.

- As far as we know, this year want to open another Russian airbase with modern aircraft?

- And they keep doing it, because Belarus does not have its base maintenance of aircraft, left over from the Soviet Union.

- What is the current state of the Belarusian army?

- I can say briefly: the parade have something to show. But I am afraid that it is only "show". If the Ukrainian army to the conflict in the Donbas had tripled stamp to everything fell apart, there is enough only two.

- That is the word Lukashenka: "We will fight against the Europeans, Americans, Russians, anyone, if they set a goal to win this piece of land" - this is just bravado?

- Yes, because that can tell people, long considered to be a dictator in the West, so light-yourself option Gaddafi? Just this.

- How the West react to a possible attack on Putin Belarus, given its long-standing aversion to Lukashenka?

- Just as in the Ukrainian conflict. Will statements conviction concern. It's not in the country, and the principle of territorial integrity. Especially, that Belarus is one of the countries - founders of the United Nations.

Ukrainian Min of Finance: 'West should provide more then 40 billion dollars, bankruptcy will cost more'.

Ukrainian Min of Finance: 'West should provide more then 40 billion dollars, bankruptcy will cost more'. (vz.ru) [GoogleTranslate].

One of the largest Ukrainian state-owned banks - Ukreximbank - threatens to default.

The only way out of this situation - the consent of holders of notes in the amount of $ 750 million to extend the maturity of these securities. This period, according to The Sunday Times, expires at the end of this month. Material edition leads InoTV .

The author notes that last week, the international rating agency Fitch downgraded the credit rating of Ukreximbank to "C", while noting that a default on external debt of the bank "is now inevitable."

Recently, the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine appealed to the creditors of the bank with a request to extend the maturity of the securities, which was announced on the background of the negotiations between Kiev and "holders of bonds of the City and Wall Street" about the huge Ukrainian debt.

Head of the Ukrainian Ministry of Finance Natalya Yaresko urged creditors to "forgive" Ukraine more than 15 billion debt. According to The Sunday Times, itself a default Ukreksimbanka not lead to a breach of Kiev any loan agreements. But here's the response to the request of creditors Yaresko will be an indicator of a vector will be given a large-scale negotiations on the restructuring of the Ukrainian debt.

The publication stresses that the holders of Eurobonds, led by US investment fund Franklin Templeton  are «furious" from the announced before the start of negotiations "insistence" Natalia Yaresko that creditors will have to write off a portion of the external debt of Ukraine. 

The head of the Ukrainian Ministry of Finance stressed that the question of its restructuring should be resolved before the end of May, so that Ukraine was not out of the program IMF assistance.

Recall that in late March Yaresko stated that the West should provide additional financial assistance to Ukraine in addition to the package of 40 billion dollars, as the country is bankrupt will cost more. 

"I firmly believe that" Seven "and to be honest, as the" Group of Twenty "now have a responsibility to provide financial assistance to Ukraine on a larger scale," - stated Yaresko.

Earlier on Sunday celebrated the Agence France-Presse, Ukraine rocked by a series of crises, because of which she threatened decades of dependence on external assistance.

March 12 The International Monetary Fund has sent Ukraine the first tranche of financial assistance in the amount of $ 5 billion in total this year it will be allocated 10 billion. The money would not be used for social needs , they will go to pay off the national debt.

Meanwhile, prices for electricity, gas, heat and hot water rose to the population of Ukraine on April 1. According to the agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the International Monetary Fund, the average price of gas for the population increased by 285%.

Tariffs on light for the population of Ukraine also will be increased by 3.5 times in two years. In addition, water tariffs for the population will increase to 4-100% from May 1, due to the rising cost of electricity.

The International Monetary Fund believes that the decline in the economy of Ukraine in 2015 will amount to 5.5%. In addition, the IMF experts believe that in 2015 Ukrainian exports fell against the general deterioration of trade.