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A Ukrainian serviceman stands guard in the city of Schastye in the Luhansk region late last month.
A Ukrainian serviceman stands guard in the city of Schastye in the Luhansk region late last month.

Live Blog: Ukraine In Crisis (Archive)

Final News Summary For September 1, 2017

-- EDITOR'S NOTE: We have started a new Ukraine Live Blog as of September 2, 2017. Find it here.

-- Ukraine says it will introduce new border-crossing rules from next year, affecting citizens of “countries that pose risks for Ukraine.”

-- The Association Agreement strengthening ties between Ukraine and the European Union entered into force on September 1, marking an end to four years of political drama surrounding the accord.

-- The trial of Crimean journalist Mykola Semena will resume later this month after the first hearing in weeks produced little progress toward a resolution of the politically charged case.

*NOTE: Times are stated according to local time in Kyiv (GMT +3)

11:10 13.11.2016

11:09 13.11.2016

17:58 12.11.2016

Barring any major developments that ends the live blogging for today.

16:47 12.11.2016

16:46 12.11.2016

Putin speaking earlier:

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said his country’s armed forces “are not threatening anyone” but are necessary “to effectively provide for the security of our own country and people.”

Putin made the comments on November 12 during a visit to a defense contractor in Yaroslavl.

The president noted that Russia’s military has “increased many times over” the number of drills it conducts, including snap drills, “which for some reason from time to time worries our counterparts.”

“When they have drills, we do not worry,” Putin said. “But for some reason they begin worrying at once. They as so nervous.”

There has been a sharp increase in the number of interactions between Russian and NATO military forces in recent months. On November 10, the Russian Navy said it forced a Dutch submarine that was allegedly near its naval task force in the eastern Mediterranean Sea to withdraw.

“Such clumsy attempts to dangerously maneuver within the immediate proximity of a group of Russian vessels could lead to grave navigation accidents,” a Russian Defense Ministry official said.

NATO countered that it is monitoring the flotilla in a “measured and responsible way.”

Bases on reporting by TASS, Interfax, and Reuters

11:28 12.11.2016

09:46 12.11.2016

09:04 12.11.2016

In case you missed it....

09:02 12.11.2016

Main news from overnight:

Fitch Ratings upgraded Ukraine's debt rating to B- from CCC on November 11, citing easing financial pressures following Kyiv's receipt of loans from the International Monetary Fund.

Fitch said it expects solid growth to return to Ukraine next year, now that the IMF released $1 billion of loans in September after a long delay due to concerns about Kyiv's implementation of reforms against corruption.

"Macroeconomic stability has improved...as reflected by rapidly declining inflation, slower currency depreciation, and a mild growth recovery," Fitch said.

Ukraine suffered a deep recession last year amidst its battle against Russia-backed separatists in the country's east, with its economy contracting by 9.9 percent.

Fitch said it expects growth to accelerate to 2.5 percent in 2017 and 3 percent in 2018, from a projected 1.1 percent this year.

Inflation is expected to average 14.9 percent in 2016, down from 48.5 percent in 2015, and the central bank is working on implementing an inflation-targeting policy to cut interest rates to 5 percent by 2019.

However, "political risks remain significant," Fitch said, and the rating assumes that the conflict with separatists does not escalate.

Based on reporting by AFP and TASS

20:58 11.11.2016

We are now closing the live blog for today, but we'll be back with all the latest developments tomorrow morning. Until then, you can catch up with all our other Ukraine coverage here.

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