Page 19 - UKRRptFeb24

● Domestic Politics
Ukrainians criticize historic UK security agreement as weak, but encouraging. A new bilateral security agreement between Kyiv and London is getting mixed grades in Ukraine.
Ukrainian journalists meet G7 ambassadors amid concerns about press freedom. Ambassadors of the Group of Seven (G7) countries met with prominent Ukrainian journalists amid concerns about decreasing press freedom in Ukraine, the G7 Ambassadors' Support Group in Ukraine reported on Jan. 29.
Ukrainians have been showing increasing disillusionment with propaganda broadcast in state-funded shows, such as Telemarathon United News, which includes networks that represented 60% of Ukraine’s total prewar audience, according to NYT. Volodymyr Zelenskyy has described this show as a “weapon,” while concerns about government influence were also raised after several channels run by the Ukrainian president’s political opponents were barred from joining Telemarathon, according to NYT. Many viewers said that as the threat of a Russian takeover receded, the program’s patriotic overtones became increasingly exaggerated, according to NYT. Reflecting the discontent with Telemarathon’s content, views of the show have shrunk from 40% of Ukraine’s total views in March 2022 to 10% .
Will the mechanism for the confiscation of Russian assets start soon? The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba, announced progress regarding the confiscation of Russian assets for Ukraine’s benefit and expressed hope that in 2024, the legal framework will be approved. The head of the Foreign Ministry pointed out that the US and the EU have already worked out how to use the Russian Federation’s sovereign assets, and some countries have already adopted their own decisions that create a mechanism for transferring money to Ukraine. "Therefore, we are already in the second phase, when all efforts must be combined into a single legal framework. That is, uniform rules must be created for the countries of the EU, for the countries of the G7," he explained. When asked when we can expect approval of this legal framework, Kuleba answered: "2024".
Controversial judge's son wanted on murder charges. The suspect's father was a judge of the Kyiv District Administrative Court (OASK), which has been involved in major corruption scandals. President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a bill on the court's dissolution in December 2022.
UN: 40% of Ukraine's population will need humanitarian aid in 2024. More than 14.6 million people, or 40% of the population in Ukraine, will need humanitarian assistance this year, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on Jan. 9.
Kremlin using coal subsidies to force Russian passports on residents in occupied Kherson Oblast. Moscow-installed illegal occupation authorities in Kherson Oblast are offering coal subsidies for heating purposes, but only to those residents who became Russian citizens, the Ukrainian military's National Resistance Center reported.
Government withdraws controversial mobilisation bill from parliament
19 UKRAINE Country Report February 2024 www.intellinews.com