The State Customs Service will simplify the issuance of EUR.1 certificates for the export of goods for the period of martial law, the agency reported on its Telegram channel.
“For the period of martial law … the head of the State Customs Service instructed the heads of customs, under their personal responsibility, to ensure a simplified procedure for issuing certificates for the transport of EUR. relevant request from the customs administration of an EU country,” the agency said on Thursday.
Such certificates exempt from duties the import of goods into the EU, recalled the customs.
If there are any problematic issues regarding the issuance of these certificates, exporters can contact the relevant customs officers at (096) 133-22-79.
Ukraine has applied to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for support in covering the financial gap to keep the economy functioning in the amount of $5 billion per month for the next three months, and the IMF will assist in raising these funds, said Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva .
“The first priority is to provide support to fill this financial gap in Ukraine over the next three months,” she said at a press conference in Washington on Wednesday.
“Let me emphasize that this $5 billion is for keeping the economy functioning, not for Ukraine’s recovery needs, which will be huge,” Georgieva added.
She noted that the Fund has worked very closely with the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine regarding these estimates provided by them and there is some uncertainty about this amount, but, according to the IMF, it does not go beyond the likely needs of the country.
“What we are doing is working with our partners to ensure that this kind of support is mobilized through various channels and further work on detailing specific needs and how those needs can best be met,” the IMF chief said.
Georgieva recalled that the Fund has created and will administer a special administrative account to send money from donor countries to help Ukraine. “We already have one contribution to this effect and others can contribute. We look forward to it,” added the Managing Director.
She noted that such large funding for Ukraine is important for obvious reasons: most of the economy is not working, the Fund predicts about a 35% decline in GDP this year. “And so filling this financial gap is best done by relying on grant funding, and this is what we want to see in order to raise funds for Ukraine in search of financial support,” said Georgieva.
According to her, the IMF is already discussing a follow-up program for Ukraine.
“Of course, we have very high uncertainty right now, but it should not prevent us from starting work on a support package for Ukraine in the future,” Georgieva stressed.
She clarified that this program, which the Fund can begin to structure for the future, will not be submitted to the board of directors while hostilities are still ongoing. “Because it is unfair to expect the Ukrainian authorities to develop a massive package of reforms. They are doing the right thing now, focusing on what matters most at the moment, namely keeping the economy functioning, and they are doing a really good job,” said the head of the IMF , expressing admiration for the work of the Ukrainian economic bloc consisting of the Ministry of Finance and the National Bank to maintain macroeconomic and financial stability in the country at war.
As reported, on March 9, the IMF approved Ukraine’s request for $1.4 billion in emergency financing under the Rapid Financing Facility (RFI) and transferred the money to the country the next day.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov, in a phone conversation with Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz, discussed the threats to Ukraine, the right to self-defense and the importance of humanitarian assistance from Israel.
“Had a phone conversation with Minister of Defence of Israel Benny Gantz. We discussed existential threats to Ukraine and the right to self-defense. Among other things, the importance of humanitarian aid from Israel’s side has been discussed. Thank you for the support!” Reznikov said on his Twitter.
Since the beginning of Russia’s armed invasion of Ukraine, 93 enterprises have moved to Lviv region, the press service of the Lviv regional military administration reports.
“In general, we have processed more than 400 applications for relocation. Of the 93 enterprises that have already moved, 38 have started work,” Orest Filts, the head of the investment policy department at the administration, said.
According to him, representatives of food, chemical, furniture, light industry and woodworking moved to Lviv region. As Filts noted, among them is Gemini Espresso, a natural coffee company, and MatrolLux, a manufacturer of mattresses, upholstered and cabinet furniture.
According to him, two more machine-building enterprises are planning to start work soon – Wind Farms of Ukraine LLC, which is part of Kramatorsk Heavy Machine Tool Plant, and Pozhmashina, the only manufacturer of specialized firefighting equipment in Ukraine.
According to the estimates of the Lviv regional administration, more than 2,500 jobs will be created at the displaced enterprises.
The Trust Fund for Solidarity with Ukraine will start operating on May 5, President of the European Council Charles Michel has said.
“We are determined to do everything we can in order to support Ukraine, because we want the victory of Ukraine, and that’s why we use all the possible tools in our hands. Of course, the financial support is very important. We have the occasion with the president to do more in details. That is why, we have decided it a few weeks ago, after talk held by phone with the president, to launch this Trust Fund for Solidarity with Ukraine. In the following days, it will be May 5, it will be the starting point, with an international donor conference. It will be organized together with Poland, Sweden and with the support of the European Commission, all member countries, and also with the support of many international actors,” Michel said at a press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Wednesday.
He said the EU is also working closely with international organizations such as the IMF, the World Bank and others to ensure that the EU can mobilize funds in support so that Ukraine can pay social allocations.
The European Commission will provide an opinion on Ukraine’s possibility of obtaining the status of a candidate member of the EU by the end of June, after which the European Council will be able to start a discussion on this issue, President of the European Council Charles Michel said.
“We will have the opinion of the Commission by the end of June. And it will be my responsibility to assess when I can put this issue on the agenda of the European Council, to make sure that we have a political discussion, a dialogue, to make progress on this path. But I I want to say that I feel very strong support to make sure that we can provide concrete support to Ukraine in your choice to follow the path to the EU in your future,” Michel said at a press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Wednesday.
He stressed that Ukraine demonstrates adherence to democratic principles and freedoms every day.
“You are fighting not only for the future of the children of Ukraine. We know that you are fighting for European fundamental principles and values,” Michel stressed.
