The German government calls for an investigation into the crimes of the Russian military and tougher sanctions against the Russian Federation, reports DW. “We must investigate these crimes of the Russian military with all severity,” said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday, after the publication of evidence of war crimes committed by Russian invaders in the Kiev region. He noted that “criminals and those who gave them orders must be consistently held accountable.” Scholz also appealed to Moscow with a call to “finally agree to a ceasefire and stop hostilities.” At the same time, the German cabinet calls for tougher sanctions against the Russian Federation. “(…) We will tighten sanctions against Russia and support Ukraine even more strongly in its defense,” German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock tweeted. The head of the Ministry of Economy and Vice-Chancellor of Germany, Robert Habek, also supports the tightening of sanctions against the Russian Federation. “This terrible war crime cannot go unanswered (the crimes of the Russian military in the Kiev region – IF),” he said in an interview with the German publication Bild. He also noted that “increased punitive measures against Russia are already under development” with partners in the EU.
Engineering and construction company Rauta has developed master plans for the construction of prefabricated camps for internally displaced persons, which provide for the construction of houses from sandwich panels.
“The concept of camps for migrants is based on the highest possible speed of construction, comfortable layouts and increased energy efficiency. The unification of production processes and ease of installation make it possible to ensure mass construction of camps in any region of Ukraine in a matter of months,” Andriy Ozeichuk, Director of Rauta, who was quoted by the press company service, said.
According to him, the master plans take into account various needs and funding opportunities. At the same time, houses made of sandwich panels can be effectively operated for several decades. Terms of implementation of small towns are 3-12 months, depending on building area.
In addition, if the need for settlements disappears over time, houses can be dismantled and moved to another location, as well as repurposed to perform new functions: recreation centers, administrative centers, outpatient clinics, small retail or office buildings, etc. Sandwich panels can also be efficiently disposed of.
Engineering and construction company Rauta is engaged in the design of buildings, supply, installation and maintenance of frames, sandwich panels, facades, prefabricated buildings, etc. The company acts as an exclusive supplier of products of the Finnish concern Ruuki to Ukraine.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz promised that EU countries would impose new sanctions on Russia.
“In the coming days, we will take new measures,” he said on Sunday in Berlin.
According to him, the Russian president and those who support him will “feel the consequences” of these sanctions.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky believes that the issue of the de-occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea should be resolved in a diplomatic format after the cessation of hostilities, possibly in ten years. “We do not trade our territory. Therefore, issues of territorial integrity and sovereignty are out of the question. There are complex issues regarding the temporarily occupied territories. There are fundamental difficulties that we are ready to remove from the agenda, such as the issue of Crimea. We are ready to talk about the Crimean issue. The issue of the de-occupation of Crimea should be resolved in a diplomatic format, perhaps in ten years,” the head of state said in an interview for Fox News. He stressed that on a global scale, this issue “should be resolved, for example, as follows: cessation of the war, and then diplomatic steps.”
Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk is disappointed with the positions of Moldova and Georgia on neutrality in the issue of imposing sanctions against the Russian Federation. “I once thought that what unites Ukraine most of all with Georgia and Moldova is that our countries are territorially “bitten” by the Russian Federation. But today’s position of official Tbilisi and Chisinau regarding their neutrality in imposing sanctions against Russia has disappointed me,” Stefanchuk wrote. He stressed that friends are known in trouble, “but it’s good that our peoples have a different opinion.”
Ukraine in March 2022 exported 5.97 million tons of goods worth $2.7 billion, which is 2.2 times less than in February in terms of quantity and half in value, while imports of goods to Ukraine in March amounted to 5 million tons $5.9 billion, which is more than three times less than in February. “Ukraine’s export volume in March amounted to 5.97 million tons worth $2.7 billion. While in February, the state exported 13.1 million tons of goods worth $5.3 billion. The main export items are ores, corn, ferroalloys and oil “, the Ministry of Economy said in a release on Sunday. The export of metals and agricultural products was particularly affected, however, the volume of exports of a number of goods with deep processing remained practically unchanged compared to the pre-war period, the Ministry of Economy added. The Ministry notes a significant reduction in metal exports. In particular, the export of flat products fell by almost 10 times – from 437 thousand tons in February to 47 thousand tons in March. “For some metallurgy positions, exports were not made at all. This is primarily due to the physical destruction of metallurgical facilities and the stoppage of production,” the ministry commented. In March, Ukraine exported 1.1 million tons of corn, 309 thousand tons of wheat, 118 thousand tons of sunflower oil, 40 thousand tons of soybeans. This is four times less than in February, according to the data of the Ministry of Economy. “At the same time, for many items of goods with deep processing, the volume of exports remained at the level of the previous month and even increased. These are, for example, cable products, the export of which amounted to $111 million ($130 million in February) or wood facing sheets – $32 million against $26 million in February,” the Economy Ministry said. Due to the Russian invasion, Ukrainian imports suffered significant losses: if in February the state imported 5 million tons of goods worth $5.9 billion, then in March – 1.6 million tons worth $1.8 billion, the report says. Currently, the most important imports to Ukraine are gas, oil, oil products and coal. “The enemy is deliberately undermining the economy of our state by blocking domestic exports. The traditional route for the export of export goods was the Black Sea ports, blocked today by Russia. In addition, the occupiers are attacking metallurgical enterprises and agricultural infrastructure in order to prevent the restoration of our capabilities in the future. All this threatens not only Ukraine, but also the whole world, because our state was the guarantor of food security in a number of countries in Africa and the Middle East,” the press service of the Ministry of the First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine – Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yulia Sviridenko quotes. To counter this, Ukraine is increasing the capacity of rail, road and river transport on the western border of Ukraine, attracting manufacturers, traders, transport companies, Sviridenko noted. “The remnants of basic agricultural crops in Ukraine are enough to ensure exports. In addition, the start of the sowing campaign inspires restrained optimism for the future harvest,” the head of the ministry said.
