1. Russian Invasion of Ukraine The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (RNBO) reported at 12:30 PM Kyiv time that the intensity of shelling by Kremlin-backed terrorists has intensified. Russian-terrorist armies continue to use weapons prohibited by the Minsk agreements - mortars, artillery, tanks and Grads (truck-mounted multiple rocket launchers). The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported at 9:00 AM Kyiv time that in the last 24 hours, there were 101 violations of the Minsk II ceasefire agreement by Kremlin-backed terrorists. The RNBO reported that towards Mariupol, Russian-terrorist armies fired on Ukrainian positions at Hranitne and Shyrokyne. Shelling was heaviest near Donetsk - Kremlin-backed terrorists shelled Ukrainian positions near Horlivka, the Donetsk airport, Maryinka and Krasnohorivka. Towards Luhansk, Kremlin-backed terrorists shelled several Ukrainian positions, and attacked Ukrainian positions near Novoshkivske. The attacks were repelled. The RNBO reported that in the last 24 hours, no Ukrainian soldiers were killed and five were wounded.

2. Ministry of Finance: international creditors have refused to enter negotiations under standard confidentiality terms Ukraine's Ministry of Finance stated, "The Ministry of Finance regrets that for the last three months the members of the ad hoc Creditors Committee have consistently refused to enter direct negotiations with Ukraine under standard confidentiality terms. Concerns about the impact of receiving confidential information on their trading activities has been used as an excuse not to meet with the Ukrainian representatives, including Minister Jaresko, to negotiate the terms of a debt operation that meets the three targets in Ukraine's IMF program. In addition, and despite previous statements to the contrary, the proposal by the ad hoc Creditors Committee does not meet the three criteria agreed with the IMF. That proposal includes utilizing $8 billion from the international reserves of the National Bank of Ukraine for no consideration. This measure has been strongly rejected by the IMF in their statement of 12 June 2015. The Minister has repeatedly stated her desire to meet with the Committee and enter into direct negotiations. The Minister once again calls upon the Committee to seek a collaborative solution with the Ukrainian authorities as soon as possible. If the Committee enters into confidentiality agreements, the Minister remains ready to meet with the Committee without preconditions. The Minister looks forward to bridging the current differences and at last starting direct negotiations."

more

більше