Third round of mutual military withdrawals completed in Donbas
The Ukrainian military reported on Nov. 11 that the third (and for now final) round of disengagement of Ukrainian and Russian-backed forces has been completed near Petrivske in Donetsk Oblast.
Both Ukrainian and Russian forces are required to withdraw one kilometer from the frontline, a precondition for a new Normandy Four summit among Ukrainian, Russian, French and German leadership that President Zelensky hopes will negotiate a comprehensive roadmap to peace in the region.
The demilitarized zones will be patrolled by Ukrainian police and National Guard units. Minesweeping will initiate in the demilitarized area at noon on Nov. 12.
Oleksiy Perevezentsev named Zelensky’s new Cabinet of Ministers representative
The former state secretary for Ukraine’s ministry of economic development and trade replaces Andriy Gerus, who will keep his role as the head of the parliamentary energy and utilities committee.
Perevezentsev is a controversial figure who has been accused of corporate raiding and preventing free market reforms, especially at Naftogaz, the national oil and gas company of Ukraine, which he sat on the board of beginning in 2013.
Gerus’s was fired after an embarrassing Nov. 7 video showed the lawmaker being physically confronted by Oleh Lyashko, the leader of the Radical Party, at Kyiv’s airport over Gerus’s decision to open Ukraine’s energy market to Russian imports. Gerus denies a connection between the two events.
Ukraine’s reputation slump
The Kyiv International Economic Forum on Nov. 8-9 featured an analysis from the Reputation Institute, which ranked Ukraine 64th of 73 countries for 2019, three spots lower than in 2017. Speakers attributed the poor performance to low effectiveness in government and a low number of respondents (one in four) who said they would visit Ukraine.
Economy Minister Tymofiy Mylovanov said the government is focused on boosting the country’s reputation by improving the investment climate, particularly hoping to spur agricultural growth through large-scale privatization, trade and export promotion and labor market reform. During a Nov. 11 address, President Zelensky called for a nationwide referendum on opening farmland sales to foreigners.
The first lady’s Vogue cover
Vogue Ukraine published images of the magazine’s upcoming cover featuring Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska (also featured in our photo of the day). The December issue hits newsstands on Nov. 18 and will include a story about Zelenska’s life in her new role.
Other news you need to know
AP: After push from Perry, backers got huge gas deal in Ukraine
Reuters: Kremlin eyes four-way Ukraine summit this year
The Hill: Ukraine says it expects same amount of US aid in 2020 ‘if not larger’
UNAIN: In address to nation, Zelensky calls for referendum on land purchase by foreigners
Washington Post: What did Trump want from Ukraine – and what exactly did he do?
Opinions
Halya Coynash: Victory for Ukraine means Russia must answer to UN court
From the Archives
Kyiv Post 25th Anniversary Series: On Nov. 9, President Volodymyr Zelensky ordered the Cabinet of Ministers to write a new law to regulate Ukraine’s mass media in an effort to combat the spread of false information in Ukraine. Take a look at our issue from June 27, 2013, which includes a cover story describing how oligarchs and pro-Russian forces have used Ukrainian TV stations to spread propaganda and increase their political presence in the country.
