Image is from the Britannica article on CECOT, known as the Terrorism Confinement Center in English.
This megathread’s topic is inspired by our lovely news regular, @Frogmanfromlake@hexbear.net, who talks often about the conditions inside El Salvador and gives nuanced and informative takes.
As the Trump administration continues to make foreign policy blunders that would make even the staunchest anti-imperialist accelerationist blush - and we are barely three months in! - it’s interesting to compare and contrast his policies of incompetent imperialist and domestic management to the dictators in other countries.
Bukele is somewhat unique among fascists, in that he seems to not hide - and seems to even admit to - his evil, self-describing as the world’s “coolest dictator”. El Salvador has no particular shortage of prominent fascists in their history, but one major example is Maximiliano Martínez, who led the country over much of the 1930s and the early 1940s. He was responsible the deaths of many thousands of communists and indigneous people, and yet joined World War 2 on the side of the Allies and against the Nazis.
The comparisons between Martínez and Bukele - and, indeed, between Bukele and Trump - in terms of their impact on minority groups are slowly growing as world attention is being drawn to the country. The recent meeting between Bukele and Trump has shifted a spotlight onto El Salvador’s crime policy; the internal conditions of El Salvador’s prisons are genuinely monstrous. One gets a similar feeling as when reading descriptions of the conditions of Holocaust victims in German concentration camps. Trump has made statements to the effect that he want a similar crime crackdown inside the United States, and I certainly believe that he wants this (ICE is already just kidnapping people off the streets into vans), but his administration has been so chaotic and mismanaged that it’s difficult to determine whether this will be an interest he rapidly drops in favor of some other hair-brained scheme.
Last week’s thread is here. The Imperialism Reading Group is here.
Please check out the RedAtlas!
The bulletins site is here. Currently not used.
The RSS feed is here. Also currently not used.
Israel-Palestine Conflict
Sources on the fighting in Palestine against Israel. In general, CW for footage of battles, explosions, dead people, and so on:
UNRWA reports on Israel’s destruction and siege of Gaza and the West Bank.
English-language Palestinian Marxist-Leninist twitter account. Alt here.
English-language twitter account that collates news.
Arab-language twitter account with videos and images of fighting.
English-language (with some Arab retweets) Twitter account based in Lebanon. - Telegram is @IbnRiad.
English-language Palestinian Twitter account which reports on news from the Resistance Axis. - Telegram is @EyesOnSouth.
English-language Twitter account in the same group as the previous two. - Telegram here.
English-language PalestineResist telegram channel.
More telegram channels here for those interested.
Russia-Ukraine Conflict
Examples of Ukrainian Nazis and fascists
Examples of racism/euro-centrism during the Russia-Ukraine conflict
Sources:
Defense Politics Asia’s youtube channel and their map. Their youtube channel has substantially diminished in quality but the map is still useful.
Moon of Alabama, which tends to have interesting analysis. Avoid the comment section.
Understanding War and the Saker: reactionary sources that have occasional insights on the war.
Alexander Mercouris, who does daily videos on the conflict. While he is a reactionary and surrounds himself with likeminded people, his daily update videos are relatively brainworm-free and good if you don’t want to follow Russian telegram channels to get news. He also co-hosts The Duran, which is more explicitly conservative, racist, sexist, transphobic, anti-communist, etc when guests are invited on, but is just about tolerable when it’s just the two of them if you want a little more analysis.
Simplicius, who publishes on Substack. Like others, his political analysis should be soundly ignored, but his knowledge of weaponry and military strategy is generally quite good.
On the ground: Patrick Lancaster, an independent and very good journalist reporting in the warzone on the separatists’ side.
Unedited videos of Russian/Ukrainian press conferences and speeches.
Pro-Russian Telegram Channels:
Again, CW for anti-LGBT and racist, sexist, etc speech, as well as combat footage.
https://t.me/aleksandr_skif ~ DPR’s former Defense Minister and Colonel in the DPR’s forces. Russian language.
https://t.me/Slavyangrad ~ A few different pro-Russian people gather frequent content for this channel (~100 posts per day), some socialist, but all socially reactionary. If you can only tolerate using one Russian telegram channel, I would recommend this one.
https://t.me/s/levigodman ~ Does daily update posts.
https://t.me/patricklancasternewstoday ~ Patrick Lancaster’s telegram channel.
https://t.me/gonzowarr ~ A big Russian commentator.
https://t.me/rybar ~ One of, if not the, biggest Russian telegram channels focussing on the war out there. Actually quite balanced, maybe even pessimistic about Russia. Produces interesting and useful maps.
https://t.me/epoddubny ~ Russian language.
https://t.me/boris_rozhin ~ Russian language.
https://t.me/mod_russia_en ~ Russian Ministry of Defense. Does daily, if rather bland updates on the number of Ukrainians killed, etc. The figures appear to be approximately accurate; if you want, reduce all numbers by 25% as a ‘propaganda tax’, if you don’t believe them. Does not cover everything, for obvious reasons, and virtually never details Russian losses.
https://t.me/UkraineHumanRightsAbuses ~ Pro-Russian, documents abuses that Ukraine commits.
Pro-Ukraine Telegram Channels:
Almost every Western media outlet.
https://discord.gg/projectowl ~ Pro-Ukrainian OSINT Discord.
https://t.me/ice_inii ~ Alleged Ukrainian account with a rather cynical take on the entire thing.
Decided to waste my time on Reddit and saw a thread from Liberal hive Fauxmoi frothing over John Cena apologizing to Chinese netiziens over referring to Taiwan as an independent country. The narrative has shifted to the CPC making him do it.
I forget sometimes just how rabid Americans can get over celebrities being friendly with countries they’re told to hate.I’ve met American boomers who still refer to Jane Fonda as Hanoi Jane.
In case anyone’s wondering why I only share or post satellite imagery or geolocations after any bombings have already happened, and am very strict about OPSEC (even to the point of not reposting posts from resistance figures or media with poor OPSEC), this is why. US CENTCOM has been using social media OSINT (twitter, telegram, WhatsApp, etc) for targeting information, resulting in innocent people dying.
Remember, this is war, not a circus or videogame. Innocent people just like me and you are dying. Don’t post, repost or share incriminating stuff, even if a popular resistance figure posts say, a selfie of themselves next to a US daytime bombing while it’s happening (Yes, this actually happened, no, I will not share it). Don’t post satellite imagery of “potential military sites”. Unfortunately many people online in OSINT communities do not understand this, they either don’t realise war is real or they don’t consider those on the other side of the world as human.
Ultimately the responsibility is on those doing the bombings (the US Navy in this case), and a group’s OPSEC is their own responsibility, and not the responsibility or fault of random twitter accounts, but still, don’t play any part in the death of innocent people. There’s a reason why Ansarallah in Yemen have put in place a strict official media and social media censorship campaign, which I have posted about before.
Also if the Commiejones moderator on hexbear is still around, thank you for enforcing OPSEC when you were around.
If anyone’s wondering, the data I use for the daily Yemen posts comes from the Ansarallah/Houthi owned and ran Al Masirah TV.
US airstrikes continue on Yemen for the 50th night in a row. The following governorates were hit by airstrikes:
Hodeidah:
- 2 airstrikes on Kamaran Island.
- 1 airstrike on As Salif District, near Ras Isa Fuel Port.
- 2 airstrikes on Ras Isa Fuel Port.
Ma’rib:
- 6 airstrikes on Medghal District.
- 5 airstrikes on Majzar District.
- 3 airstrikes on Majzar District in a second round.
- 2 airstrikes on Baraqish area in the Majzar district in a third round.
- 3 airstrikes on Majzar District in a fourth round.
Saada:
- 3 airstrikes on Sahar District.
- 8 airstrikes on the Takhiya area in the Majz District.
Al-Jawf:
- 2 airstrikes on Al-Mahzamat area.
- 10 airstrikes on Al-Hazm district.
Very intense rounds of airstrikes tonight, almost 50 total. None on Sana’a though.
Warning for potential graphic imagery during ongoing airstrikes:
I hope to get a post out tomorrow on “frankenSAMs” using air to air infrared guided missiles converted to a surface to air role, passive infrared detection systems and unmanned surface vessels, and why 5th generation aircraft capabilities combined with weapons that use multiple forms of guidance to track moving targets are important for modern air forces, in the context of Ukraine and Yemen, given recent events (Ukraine shot down a Russian Su-30 over the Black Sea). No promises though.
Happy May Day comrades!
Some May Day reporting from Finland. The local reactionary nazis held a gathering in the city of Tampere today. Their gathering was fully protected by the cops who violently arrested 15 counter-protesters and used a growd control rifle on them.
The local bougie newspaper report about this here, you can see some of the nazis protected by the cops. They’ve essentially built a little pen for the fash and during their pathetic unjoyous little march they protected them from all sides.
The national news piece here.
A short video about the cops shooting a counter-protester who is throwing back a torch the fash threw in the crowd. This video will expire in two days.
The counter-protesters threw eggs and torches toward the fash and in general tried to make their cop protected little march fail.
This picture of one of the counter-protesters goes extremely hard:
Prior to the WFP’s announcement of suspending services in Gaza due to all of their food having been depleted, the amounts were rationed to a quarter of what was originally intended and even that provided supplies for only a million people. There are also over 3,000 aid trucks sitting outside Rafah, with tens of millions of kilograms of food already rotting. This was one of many points brought up during the “Open Rafah Now” demonstrations outside the Egyptian embassy in Pretoria earlier today.
A full video that was livestreamed by Salaamedia will be posted for archival/preservation purposes on TankieTube later (assuming YouTube doesn’t vaporize the saved broadcast before I get home from work). Link will be provided here once uploaded.
We the people of Johannesburg do not merely just stand with or support Hamas; We are Hamas
Death to ameriKKKa, Death to isnotreal
US airstrikes continue on Yemen for the 49th night in a row. The following governorates have been hit by airstrikes:
Hodeidah:
- 4 airstrikes on the Ras Isa Fuel Port.
- Multiple rounds of airstrikes on Al Salif District on the surroundings of Ras Isa Fuel Port.
Al-Jawf:
- 8 airstrikes on the Khab and Al Sha’af Districts.
Sana’a:
- Airstrikes on the capital.
- 1 airstrike on Bani Hushaysh District.
Amran:
- 3 airstrikes on Harf Sufyan District.
Warning for potential graphic imagery during ongoing airstrikes:
Two statements by the Yemeni Armed Forces on two separate ballistic missile launches on Israel yesterday. The “Palestine-2” missile appears to have been intercepted by THAAD last minute in the terminal phase, debris/shrapnel ended up landing near the airbase, causing a large fire. The other non MaRV ballistic missile was intercepted at high altitude.
Another ballistic missile launched from Yemen minutes ago.
Sachs also refered Carney as “one of his best student”. I wonder how Carney is going to further “reform” Canada economically.
Also, never let you guard down on someone Jeffrey Sachs roots for.
Some final remarks from Portugal’s power firm REN, which goes on on to say that, “due to the complexity of the phenomenon and the need to rebalance electricity flows internationally, it is estimated that full normalisation of the network could take up to a week”.
It says that “due to extreme temperature variations in the interior or Spain, there were anomalous oscillations in the very high voltage lines (400 KV), a phenomenon known as ‘induced atmospheric vibration’”.
“These oscillations caused synchronisation failures between the electrical systems, leading to successive disturbances across the interconnected European network.”
does anyone have more information on the extreme temperature variations? I did a little spot checking of spanish cities and the temperatures all seem to be in the low 70s right now, coastal or interior.
Bear in the mind that this is the Portuguese energy company saying the issue was temperature swings in Spain, not a Spanish power company
Love how the powers that be just jumped immediately to assuming it was some kind of cyberattack. Obviously without any real evidence. Very healthy society.
You mean decades of systematic continent-spanning austerity managed by neoliberals with a total aversion to managing any single aspect of their strategic infrastructure… has consequences???
There’s a very gruesome video of the aftermath of a recent “israeli” massacre carried out against the Gazans, it’s very bad and little kids were struck by them. When I saw it I said to myself that this is the worst I’ve seen so far, but then I remembered I’ve said that last week, and the week prior and so on. I fear we are becoming too used to this, we definitely reached an almost complete normalization of the relentless killings.
“Israel” is consistently breaching over and over again the limits of violence, each week they become more and more savage and murderous. And now they suffer no backlash for it.
This is it then. Gazans will be taken out one by one by the zionists. It has been decided by those who can stop this madness, this ridiculous bloodshed, that this will be the fate of Gaza, to be killed either by starvation, water deprivation, unbearable sanitary conditions, bombs, bullets or by their own hand. Let it be known that the image of that little girl today, just sitting there not being really sure what’s going on to her, is but a small preview of what’s to come to, honestly, all of us if “Israel” is not stopped and thoroughly dismantled. In her, I saw the future of millions.
May zionism suffer a terrible death. May everyone who defend and support this genocide be thrown into the darkest pits of hell and rot there, forever. May Gaza and Palestine win and “israel” die. The future of Gaza and Palestine is now entirely on the hands of it’s Resistance, glory to them.
25·18 days agothe image of that little girl today
I havent seen it, do you have a link?
I’m very sorry I don’t have the courage to go back to it.
I am not sure if I have found what you were talking about, nor do I have the need to anymore. I fully understand.
deleted by creator
US and UK airstrikes continue on Yemen for the 48th day and night in a row. The following governorates have been hit by nighttime airstrikes:
Sana’a:
- 2 airstrikes on the Attan area in Bani Matar District.
- 1 airstrike on the Asr area in Al Wahda District.
- 1 airstrike on Hamdan District.
- Airstrikes on Sana’a city centre itself.
Al-Jawf:
- 4 airstrikes on Khab and Al-Sha’af district.
Saada
- 5 airstrikes on the outskirts of Saada city.
- 3 airstrikes on Kitaf District.
Al Mahwit and Amran Governorates:
- Unkown amount of airstrikes and locations.
The following governorates were hit by daytime airstrikes:
Al-Jawf:
- Multiple rounds of airstrikes on Khab and Al-Sha’af district
A ballistic missile was fired from Yemen towards Israel, the first in about a week. It seems to have been intercepted at high altitude and videos/photos of debris re-entering the atmosphere over central Israel are now circulating, along with the launch of the missile from Yemen. I will not be sharing the latter for OPSEC reasons, even if prominent resistance or pro Ansarallah/Houthi journalists in Yemen are posting it.
Best video of missile debris re-entering the atmosphere over central Israel
Warning for potential graphic imagery during ongoing airstrikes:
As for the US Navy strategy in Yemen, while a more permanent corridor to directly bomb Yemen with stand in weapons like JDAMs and Paveways for non stealth 4.5 generation aircraft like F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, and the UK’s Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4s, is open from the west and the Red Sea side, a more permanent corridor is not yet open from the east, F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft onboard the USS Carl Vinson in the Gulf of Aden are still using plenty of stand off munitions to minimise risk and stay out of range of Ansarallah/Houthi air defencea. The majority of aircraft carrying stand in weapons like JDAMs from the Carl Vinson are the F-35C 5th generation stealth fighter aircraft. Only a small amount F/A-18E/F aircraft from the Carl Vinson are carrying stand in weapons. Before people get their hopes up, I think similar to how the US Navy eventually opened the corridor from the east for large amounts of stand in bombings with 4th generation non stealth aircraft, they will eventually open a corridor from the west, it’s just that the campaign from the east hasn’t gone on long enough to do so, the USS Carl Vinson has only arrived recently. I also think that Ansarallah has reinforced their air defence systems in other areas to try prevent any more corridors from opening up.
F/A-18Es from the USS Carl Vinson, armed with two AGM-84K SLAM-ER ATA subsonic cruise missiles, maximum range: 270km/170 mi.
US and UK airstrikes continue on Yemen for the 47th night in a row. The following governorates have been hit by airstrikes:
Hodeidah:
- An airstrike on Al-Hawak district.
Saada:
- Three airstikes on Kitaf wa Al Boqe’e District
Warning for potential graphic imagery during ongoing airstrikes:
Latest statement by the Yemeni Armed Forces:
All drone attacks today, but the main focus of today’s statement was on recalling the previous attack from two days ago that led to an F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter jet, and tow vehicle, falling overboard during evasive maneuvers by the USS Harry Truman aircraft carrier. I commented on that here.
US, and UK airstrikes now, continue on Yemen for the 46th night in a row. For the first time in this phase of the air campaign against Yemen, the UK has carried out airstrikes. The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) have already been carrying out refueling support operations out of Cyprus, and with assets from Operation Shader (anti ISIS air patrol on the Iraq and Syrian border) for US airstrikes during the past 46 days, but this is the first time they have carried out airstrikes during this 46 day period. The airstrikes were carried out by RAF Eurofighter Typhoon GR4 4.5 generation aircraft out of Cyprus, with laser guided Paveway stand-in bombs in Sana’a, so the corridor to directly bomb Sana’a with stand-in weapons from fighter aircraft is still open. This is likely being done in preparation for the UK Royal Navy’s (RN) HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier joining the US Navy in the Red Sea in the next few days. The HMS Prince of Wales has F-35B 5th generation stealth Vertical/Short Takeoff and Landing (V/STOL) fighter aircraft. Expect a lot more UK RAF and RN airstrikes on Yemen over the coming weeks. The F-35 platform (in B and C variants) is seeing a lot of combat now in strike missions.
Airstrikes hit the following governorates in Yemen:
Saada:
- 4 airstrikes on Sahar District.
Sana’a:
- Multiple intense waves of US and UK airstrikes on the capital city, Sana’a, fighter jets audible.
- An airstrike on Wadi Al-Hayd area, southeast of the capital.
- Multiple airstrikes on Al Husn, Hamdan, Bani Hushaysh, and Bani Matar Districts.
Al Bayda:
- Multiple airstikes on As Sawadiyah District.
Al Jawf:
- Multiple airstrikes on Al Hazm District
Hodeidah:
- No airstrikes reported, but fighter jets audible.
Warning for potential graphic imagery during ongoing airstrikes:
The US Army has just canceled their bloated assault gun “M10 Booker”, one year after entering limited production. After eight years of development they finally realized that 42 tons is an excessive weight for convenient air transport. For comparison, the M1128 Stryker MGS it was meant to replace, the Chinese ZTL-11, and the Russian Sprut-SD all weigh around 20 tons.
On the loss of an F/A-18E Super Hornet aircraft and a tow truck/tractor during an evasive turn by the USS Harry Truman aircraft carrier during an Ansarallah/Houthi attack (as confirmed by US sources), here’s the statement from the Yemeni Armed Forces on the attack (this statement was released before the news of the loss of the F-18).
This is the first time that an Anti Ship Ballistic Missile (ASBM) has been fired at US Navy warships in over 20 days from what I recall (there was one launch at a supply ship, not a warship, during this time with a ballistic missile). This, along with the statement about “fleeing north” afterwards, suggests that the USS Harry Truman aircraft carrier tried to get closer to Yemen, including coming within ASBM range. During this, it came under attack, including by ASBMs and evidently there was some big error that led to the F-18 going overboard while evading this attack.
I don’t think that the Harry Truman will try get closer to Yemen again anytime soon, and will continue to stay between Jeddah and Yanbu, between 700km-1000km away from Yemen. ASBMs, by all evidence of the current US Navy campaign, seem to be a “game changer” weapon in area denial capabilities. Even without landing a single hit so far, these weapons have been very effective in area denial against US Carrier Strike Groups (CSGs). While their not magic wands that erase CSGs, they can keep them further away (area denial). Ansarallah/the Houthis were the first ever military force to use ASBMs in warfare, and have been highly innovative with these locally manufactured, Iranian designed, weapons. The CSGs don’t dare to come within 700km of Yemen (Zulfiqar Basir ASBM range). This is the first time they’ve tried to in three weeks, and it resulted in a fighter jet going overboard during evasive maneuvers. It’s no wonder that the US Army wants ASBMs, and other longer range ballistic missiles, now.
Overall this was a very expensive “test” by the US Navy in my opinion, they wanted to see if Yemeni ASBM capability remained intact after over 40 days of airstrikes, reduced amount of Yemeni missile attacks, and over 20 days without without an ASBM being fired, so they sailed closer to Yemen to find out. It turns out that yes, Yemeni ASBM capability was (and is) still very much intact, and an F-18 and tow truck have been lost as a result of evading a Yemeni attack.
unconfirmed reports that the tow truck had a bumper sticker which read “IF YOU CAN READ THIS, THE PLANE FELL OFF”
the tow truck fell off, too, so it’s going to be difficult for our elite news team to follow up on the reports
With regards to the US-Ukraine natural resources extraction deal (referred to as the “minerals deal” in Western media):
After reading the statement by Ukraine’s Minister of the Economy Yulia Svyrydenko, and comparing this statement to the draft proposal for the natural resources extraction deal from February 26 2025, it appears if Ukraine has just signed the February 26th agreement with little to no changes. A complete capitulation for Ukraine, Zelenskyy’s temper tantrum in the White House accomplished nothing. Ukraine ended up signing onto basically the same agreement that was presented to Zelenskyy at the White House, just now months later at the last second, on the last day of April. (According to the leaked 100 day peace plan, work towards ending the war is to begin after April, so this was the last possible time for Ukraine to sign the natural resource extraction deal).
Full text of February 26th draft proposal
Comparison of the two, click here to expand
For clarity, I’ll put Svyrydenko’s statements in quotation marks, and the 26 February agreement outside of them, like so:
Svyrydenko’s statementa
26 February agreement.
Let’s look at it:
- Full ownership and control remain with Ukraine. All resources on our territory and in territorial waters belong to Ukraine. It is the Ukrainian state that determines what and where to extract. Subsoil remains under Ukrainian ownership — this is clearly established in the Agreement.
That was never up for debate, it’s actually a part of the agreement. In fact, for the agreement to work, the Ukrainian government has to own (directly or indirectly) the resource extraction projects and manage them: The Fund will collect and reinvest revenues contributed to the Fund, minus expenses incurred by the Fund, and will earn income from the future monetization of all relevant Ukrainian Government-owned natural resource assets (whether owned directly or indirectly by the Ukrainian Government).
- Equal partnership. The Fund is structured on a 50/50 basis. It will be jointly managed by Ukraine and the United States. Neither side will hold a dominant vote — a reflection of equal partnership between our two nations.
The February 26th agreement already states this, jointly managed fund, Ukraine 50%, and USA share the maximum amount permissible under US laws: The Fund will be jointly managed by representatives of the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the United States of America… The maximum percentage of ownership of the Fund’s equity and financial interests to be held by the Government of the United States of America and the decision-making authority of the representatives of the Government of the United States of America will be to the extent permissible under applicable United States laws…The Government of Ukraine will contribute to the Fund 50 percent of all revenues earned from the future monetization of all relevant Ukrainian Government-owned natural resource assets.
- National assets are protected. The Agreement does not alter privatization processes or the management of state-owned companies — they will remain Ukrainian. Companies such as Ukrnafta and Energoatom will stay in state ownership.
Again, this was already stated, current Ukrainian projects are not included: For the avoidance of doubt, such future sources of revenues do not include the current sources of revenues which are already part of the general budget revenues of Ukraine.
- No debt. The Agreement includes no provisions regarding any Ukrainian debt obligations to the United States. Its implementation allows both countries to expand their economic potential through equal cooperation and investment.
Debt obligations (such as the $500 billion clause or 2021 GDP match clause) were already removed prior to the 26 February agreement, at a cost to other areas. Also on co-operation and investment: The Fund, in its sole discretion, may credit or return to the Government of Ukraine actual expenses incurred by the newly developed projects from which the Fund receives revenues.
- The Agreement complies with the Constitution and maintains Ukraine’s European integration course. It is consistent with national legislation and does not conflict with any of Ukraine’s international obligations. Importantly, the Agreement sends a signal to global partners that long-term cooperation with Ukraine — over decades — is not only possible but reliable.
Word for word what is written in the 26 February agreement: In drafting the Fund Agreement, the Participants will strive to avoid conflicts with Ukraine’s obligations under its accession to the European Union or its obligations under arrangements with international financial institutions and other official creditors.
- The Fund will be financed exclusively from NEW licenses. Specifically, 50% of the revenues from new licenses in the field of critical materials, oil, and gas — generated after the Fund is created — will be directed to it. Revenues from existing projects or those already accounted for in the budget will not be included. The Agreement also outlines future strategic cooperation.
A rehash of point 3, and also already part of the February 26th agreement: The Government of Ukraine will contribute to the Fund 50 percent of all revenues earned from the future monetization of all relevant Ukrainian Government-owned natural resource assets (whether owned directly or indirectly by the Ukrainian Government), defined as deposits of minerals, hydrocarbons, oil, natural gas, and other extractable materials, and other infrastructure relevant to natural resource assets (such as liquified natural gas terminals and port infrastructure) as agreed by both Participants, as may be further described in the Fund Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, such future sources of revenues do not include the current sources of revenues which are already part of the general budget revenues of Ukraine. Timeline, scope and sustainability of contributions will be further defined in the Fund Agreement.
- Legislative changes will be limited and targeted. Only amendments to the Budget Code are required for the Fund to operate. The Agreement itself will be submitted to the Verkhovna Rada for ratification.
The Fund agreement shall be ratified by the Parliament of Ukraine according to the Law of Ukraine “On International Treaties of Ukraine.”… Contact persons responsible for preparing the Fund Agreement on the basis of this Bilateral Agreement are: from the Government of the United States of America: the Department of the Treasury; from the Government of Ukraine: Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Economy.
- The United States will help attract additional investment and technology. The Fund is supported by the U.S. government through the DFC agency. This will assist us in attracting investments and technologies from U.S., EU, and other international partners that support Ukraine’s fight against the Russian aggressor. Technology transfer and development are a key part of the Agreement — because Ukraine needs not only capital, but also innovation
The Government of the United States of America and the Government of Ukraine intend that the investment process will lead to opportunities for distribution of additional funds and greater reinvestment, to ensure the sufficient supply of capital for the reconstruction of Ukraine as set out in the Fund Agreement… Further contributions may be comprised of funds, financial instruments, and other tangible and intangible assets critical for the reconstruction of Ukraine…The Fund Agreement will include appropriate representations and warranties, including those necessary to ensure that any obligations the Government of Ukraine may have to third parties, or such obligations that it may undertake in the future, do not sell, convey, transfer pledge, or otherwise encumber the Government of Ukraine’s contributions to the Fund or the assets from which such contributions are derived, or the Fund’s disposition of funds…The Fund Agreement will pay particular attention to the control mechanisms that make it impossible to weaken, violate or circumvent sanctions and other restrictive measures.
- The Agreement provides tax guarantees. Fund revenues and contributions will not be taxed in either the United States or Ukraine, ensuring maximum effectiveness of the investment process.
That’s not a good thing if it’s only revenue… Also: Neither Participant will sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any portion of its interest in the Fund without the prior written consent of the other Participant… The Fund will collect and reinvest revenues contributed to the Fund, minus expenses incurred by the Fund… The Fund, in its sole discretion, may credit or return to the Government of Ukraine actual expenses incurred by the newly developed projects from which the Fund receives revenues.
I guess sole discretion of the fund decided on tax free.
The United States will contribute to the Fund. In addition to direct financial contributions, it may also provide NEW assistance — for example, air defense systems for Ukraine.
To promote the safety, security and prosperity of Ukraine…Further contributions may be comprised of funds, financial instruments, and other tangible and intangible assets critical for the reconstruction of Ukraine.
