01:22Germany: 'US want to compete together with Russia over Ukraine' - Kerry
The US wants Ukraine to serve as a bridge between Europe and Russia, while at the same time serving as a place for economic competition with Russia, US Secretary of State John Kerry said as he met with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on a visit to Berlin to mark next month's 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, Wednesday. Kerry also stated that he does not wish to see a Cold War replicated and spoke of his opposition to walls of division, like the Berlin Wall.
Ukraine has been effectively split since the Maidan movement ousted President Viktor Yanukovych in February. The Kiev government have since committed to an association agreement with the European Union and signed up for International Monetary Fund (IMF) loans that commit the Ukrainian government to structural adjustment policies. The IMF predict in the short-term that Ukraine's GDP will constrict by 6.5 percent, with some predicting that its economy could shrink by 10 percent. The reform package has required Ukraine to cut social income support, freeze the minimum wage and cut public sector wages.
01:22The US wants Ukraine to serve as a bridge between Europe and Russia, while at the same time serving as a place for economic competition with Russia, US Secretary of State John Kerry said as he met with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on a visit to Berlin to mark next month's 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, Wednesday. Kerry also stated that he does not wish to see a Cold War replicated and spoke of his opposition to walls of division, like the Berlin Wall.
Ukraine has been effectively split since the Maidan movement ousted President Viktor Yanukovych in February. The Kiev government have since committed to an association agreement with the European Union and signed up for International Monetary Fund (IMF) loans that commit the Ukrainian government to structural adjustment policies. The IMF predict in the short-term that Ukraine's GDP will constrict by 6.5 percent, with some predicting that its economy could shrink by 10 percent. The reform package has required Ukraine to cut social income support, freeze the minimum wage and cut public sector wages.