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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)

10:02 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

21:58 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.

21:51 11.11.2016

20:43 11.11.2016

From the U.K. ambassador to Kyiv:

20:27 11.11.2016

17:51 11.11.2016

RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service has sent us a video bite from Saashkavili's presser in Kyiv today:

Saakashvili Launches 'New Force' In Ukraine

Mikheil Saakashvili announced he was launching a new force to clean up Ukrainian politics, four days after resigning as governor of the Odesa region. Saakashvili was president of Georgia, from 2008 to 2013, and came to Ukraine after its pro-Western "Maidan" revolution in 2014.

Saakashvili Launches 'New Force' In Ukraine
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16:37 11.11.2016

More possible Saakashvili and Trump ramifications:

16:36 11.11.2016

16:35 11.11.2016

16:34 11.11.2016

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