UKRAINE CRISIS HORIZON (23 - 29 Nov 2020)

KEY EVENTS 1 Event 1 STUCK WITH CHALLENGES: WHAT ARE THE CHANCES FOR ECONOMIC RECOVERY? Energy/Pipelines 2020-11-23 2020 is a year of full-scale challenges for Ukraine, from the political and economic to the institutional and Russia Controlled Area constitutional. The year is not over yet and the risks for the year-end remain high. They are primarily related to the high fiscal gap that now confronts the government and possible tighter quarantine measures (or even lockdown), which would hamper economic development. 3DCFTAS 2 U.S. Missile USS Donald Cook Heads For 2020-11-23 An U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer has started a journey to the Black Sea for regular patrols as part of a NATO mission. 新华⽹ 3 Strengthening Ties Between NATO, Ukraine And Georgia 2020-11-24 A lively debate is currently underway within NATO regarding the direction of the transatlantic alliance over the coming decade. In order to be effective, this NATO 2030 conversation needs to include serious discussion of future ties with Ukraine and Georgia. The two former Soviet republics already feature among NATO’s six Enhanced Opportunities Partners, but closer cooperation has the potential to benefit all parties while contributing to a more secure international environment. ATLANTICCOUNCIL 4 Ukrainian Cabinet Extends Restrictions On Russian Goods Until The End Of 2021 2020-11-25 The Ukrainian cabinet has extended restrictions on Russian goods until the end of 2021. "[Hereby the cabinet rules] to extend, until December 31, 2021, the application of preferential rates of import duties established by the customs tariff of Ukraine (raised to the level of the rates of the WTO most favored nation treatment) on the import of goods originating from the Russian Federation," the explanatory note to the draft resolution says. TASS 5 Saakashvili Warns Ukrainian Economy Facing Collapse, Won’t Be Able To Pay Pensions In 2021 2020-11-25 The Ukrainian economy is facing an inevitable disaster. That's according to Mikhail Saakashvili, the former president of Georgia, who believes Kiev will soon have trouble fulfilling even the most basic social welfare payments. Saakashvili, who is the current head of Ukraine’s National Reform Council, told national TV that the country has a huge challenge looming right around the corner. RT 6 Ukraine Seems To Be Not Interested In New Swap Of Detainees — DPR Official 2020-11-25 The government of Ukraine seems to have little interest in holding another exchange of detained persons with the self- proclaimed people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk (DPR and LPR), envoys said. Trilateral Contact Group’s subgroups on security AI Powered Crisis Situation and economic issues, as well as on humanitarian and political matters, convened via a video linkup on Tuesday. TASS This product is prepared by a group of subject matter experts using a number of open 7 Ukraine Arrives At A New Anti-Corruption Crossroads sources with a hybrid methodology that merges both traditional methods and AI-powered, 2020-11-26 With Ukraine’s anti-corruption reforms finally beginning to produce results, the old elites have hit back. On October 27, data-driven approaches. the Constitutional Court of Ukraine declared unconstitutional the powers of the re-booted National Agency on Corruption Prevention to verify civil servants’ asset declarations. The ruling removes a vital link in the chain of anti-corruption institutions established Political Situation following the 2014 Revolution of Dignity and undermines Ukraine’s ability to investigate suspected illicit enrichment by officials. ATLANTICCOUNCIL Geopolitical Situation 8 Ukraine Is Back In The Focus Of Pro-Kremlin Media: Disinformation Review 2020-11-28 A chapter in the recent study by NATO StratCom COE lists and compares narratives that were pushed by the pro- Kremlin media in 2016 and 2018. One of these narratives, present in both years, is the claim that the idea of the Russian threat is Governence ridiculous. Fast forward two years and what do we see? EUROMAIDANPRESS 9 Nord Stream 2: Construction Of Disputed Pipeline To Restart In December Economic Situation 2020-11-29 The company behind the German-Russian pipeline announced plans to resume construction in early December, one year after work came to a halt. The US has strongly opposed Germany's attempts to push ahead with the project. DW Environment

Socio-cultural ASSESSMENT

Ukraine, a former Soviet republic, is among NATO’s six Enhanced Opportunities Partners. Participating in NATO-led international Military Situation missions, Ukraine has demonstrated that it is and will be a potential capability to make significant contributions to Euro-Atlantic security. When it comes to the security of Black Sea, Ukraine is indisputably one of the main actors. Due to strategic importance on Overall Black Sea and its journey to NATO full membership, Ukraine is one of the primary targets of Russian hybrid warfare. The relations between Ukraine and NATO seem in itself as a "win-win situation". From NATO's perspective, based on Ukraine experience in hybrid war with Russia, NATO can boost the security of alliance members and deter Russia’s aggressive behavior. As Russia keeps posing as the main long-term threat to the security of NATO and its partners, Ukraine can play an important role in identifying threats and formulating effective collective responses. Beyond the Horizon International Strategic Studies Group From Ukraine’s perspective, Ukraine may utilize the road towards NATO with a determined intention to proceed in “reform agenda”, www.behorizon.org © 2020 which would help providing stable and predictable democracies in homeland and in the region. In this context, joining NATO may purely and simply needs realistic short-term objectives. So, it is essential to find further integration possibilities to make NATO and Ukraine mutually desirable for each other.