What Ukraine's authorities decided before 18 March 2018

What had Kyiv and its partners settled in the days before 18 March 2018? The reports from 13 to 16 March point to a military command reshuffle, a change at the central bank, new protections for servicemen and a fresh round of US sanctions on Russian nationals.

A new command structure

On 16 March 2018, President Petro Poroshenko appointed Serhiy Nayev as commander of the Joint Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The body was created to replace the ATO Staff.

Change at the National Bank

On 15 March 2018, the Verkhovna Rada dismissed Valeriia Hontareva as head of the National Bank of Ukraine and appointed Yakiv Smolii in her place.

Support for servicemen and veterans

Two measures concerned military personnel and veterans. On 13 March 2018, the Rada passed law No. 7161, amending the law on the rehabilitation of disabled persons in Ukraine to establish a disability group for participants in the anti-terrorist operation (ATO).

On 15 March 2018, Mr Poroshenko signed amendments to the law on the social and legal protection of servicemen and their families. The changes were aimed at removing what was described as social unfairness in granting servicemen the right to cash compensation for renting housing.

Sanctions from Washington

Also on 15 March 2018, the Trump administration imposed financial sanctions on 19 Russian nationals under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. Twelve of them were among those indicted in the Special Counsel investigation. The act, signed into law by President Donald Trump on 2 August 2017, imposed sanctions on Iran, North Korea and Russia. It had passed the Senate 98–2 on 27 July 2017, after clearing the House 419–3.

Taken together, the decisions of 13 to 16 March 2018 covered military leadership, financial oversight and welfare for those who served in the east, while Washington widened its sanctions on Russian individuals.