Sanctions imposed by the European Commission in response to aggression from Russia and Belarus allow these countries to continue trade with the European Union, the press service of the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine reports.
The department points out that the order to leave the EU territory from April 16 for all trucks registered in Russia and Belarus contains many exceptions.
“In particular: natural gas and oil, including refined products, as well as titanium, aluminium, copper, nickel, palladium and iron ore; pharmaceutical, medical, agricultural and food products, including wheat and fertilizers; humanitarian cargo; separately provides for the possibility of making exceptions for Russian companies in the export and transfer of cultural property provided for temporary use,” the Ministry of Infrastructure comments.
The ministry called such sanctions inconsistent and reminded that due to the aggression of Russia and Belarus, not only the Ukrainian economy, but also the EU countries suffer.
“Currently, those goods that cannot be exported from Ukrainian ports will be delivered to the EU by road and rail. The costs of building new logistics routes will amount to billions … To receive these goods, EU member states must prepare their infrastructure for warehouses, customs points , the work of sanitary services,” explains MIU.
They also recalled that the introduction of the fifth package of sanctions by the European Commission took place against the backdrop of the massacres of civilian Ukrainians in Bucha and other cities, but the half-measures taken leave an opportunity for the EU to continue its usual business with the aggressor.
Infrastructure Minister Alexander Kubrakov, in turn, added that in this way the world repeats the mistakes of the twentieth century.
“I urge the world not to repeat the mistakes of the 20th century and instead of appeasing the aggressor, thinking about financial benefits, start fulfilling the promises made. This is the only way our common enemy loses,” he wrote on his Facebook page.
The number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Ukraine due to the war unleashed by Russia has reached 7.1 million, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on April 6, which previously estimated this figure at 6.5 -6.7 million
“More than a quarter of Ukraine’s population has been forced to leave their homes. To date, more than 4.3 million refugees have left Ukraine, making this the fastest growing refugee crisis since World War II,” the report on its website says.
According to the UN map, there are about 2.9 million IDPs in western Ukraine, 1.4 million in the central regions on the right bank of the Dnieper, 1.3 million to the northeast of Kyiv, south near Kiev and north of Odessa and Nikolaev – 357 thousand each and on the left bank of the Dnieper in Zaporozhye and Kherson regions – 857 thousand.
As of April 9, according to the Ministry of Social Policy, about 900,000 IDPs were officially registered in Ukraine.
UNHCR also reports that as of 13:00 Kyiv time on April 9, the number of people who left Ukraine since the beginning of the war has reached 4.5 million people.
The flow to leave is gradually slowing down: if in the first 19 days of the war 3 million people left Ukraine, then it took six days to increase by another half a million, then nine, and for the last half a million, eleven days.
The UNHCR specifies that 2.59 million went to Poland, 755.3 thousand to Romania and Moldova, 419.1 thousand to Hungary, 404.4 thousand to Russia, 314.5 thousand to Slovakia, and 19 to Belarus. .1 thousand
At the same time, these data do not take into account the return flow to the entrance. According to the data, in particular, of the Polish border agency, as of the morning of April 8, since the beginning of the war, 2.573 million people have crossed the Ukrainian-Polish border, while in the opposite direction – 516 thousand, or about 20% of those who left. This allows us to roughly estimate the number of refugees from Ukraine at 3.6 million, while the UN currently predicts it at 4 million.
The German company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann offered Ukraine to buy 100 Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzers, the German edition of Welt reports, citing its own sources in the Ukrainian government.
It is noted that the corresponding proposal of the company was redirected by Ukraine to the Federal Ministry of Economics of Germany.
“The cost of 100 howitzers, including training kit and spare parts, is 1.7 billion euros. We are talking about the Panzerhaubitze 2000. As an alternative, KMW also offers howitzers in an unmanned version on the Boxer armored personnel carrier for 1.2 billion euros. No comments from the manufacturer in not received in the near future,” the statement said.
It clarifies that tank-like howitzers are not usually found in the front ranks of an army, but follow, for example, main battle tanks for support from the background at longer ranges.
“For self-defense, a self-propelled howitzer can also attack the target directly, like a main battle tank with a horizontal barrel. After firing off the ammunition, howitzers usually change position so as not to become a target themselves,” the journalists of the publication emphasize.
They note that the Panzerhaubitze 2000 can fire at a distance of more than 30 kilometers. Their delivery to Ukraine, according to Ukrainian government sources with reference to the KMW proposal, will be carried out according to the ring scheme.
“The Bundeswehr will provide Kiev with 100 of its howitzers as soon as possible. The resulting gaps will then be filled by the military industry in the second stage,” the publication specifies.
They add that the first new howitzers can be delivered 30 months after the signing of the contract, that is, not earlier than in the second half of 2024.
“The full delivery will not be completed until 2027. The Ministry of Economy, which, according to the Ukrainian version, received the offer, did not wish to comment on the request and referred to the fundamental confidentiality of individual decisions on arms exports. Any such decision must be approved by the Federal Security Council,” the statement said. journalists.
$4.6 billion (EUR4.1 billion) grants and $5.5 billion (EUR5 billion) loans following the Stand Up for Ukraine fundraising campaign will be used to support 4.4 million Ukrainian refugees in European countries and 6.5 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Ukraine, according to Global Citizen, one of the organizers of the action.
According to his press release, the European Commission – $1.1 billion, Canada – $80 million, Belgium – $904 million, Croatia – $111 million, Czech Republic – $222 million, Estonia – $0, in particular, announced their commitments and donations. 11 million, Finland – $778 million, Ireland – $58 million, Italy – $400 million, Malta – $0.06 million, Slovakia – $595 million, Sweden – $333 million, Qatar – $5 million.
In addition, the Development Bank of the Council of Europe made a statement on loans in the amount of $1.1 billion, and the European Investment Bank – in the amount of $4.4 billion (they still require the approval of the board of directors).
In addition, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development confirmed that it will allocate $1.1 billion of a previously announced $2.25 billion package on March 9 specifically for projects in crisis-hit municipalities, the report said.
In a statement from the European Commission, it was previously specified that out of EUR9.1 billion, EUR1.8 billion are intended for internally displaced persons in Ukraine, and EUR7.3 billion for the accommodation of refugees in EU member states and neighboring countries.
Global Citizen points out that the Stand Up for Ukraine fundraising event was organized in partnership with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, with the participation of Polish President Andrzej Duda.
The release also states that companies such as Blue Bottle Coffee, Bridgewater Associates, Cisco, The Coca-Cola Company, Continental Development Corporation, Crush Music, CSL Behring, DocuSign, Farmamundi Foundation, Google, Nestlé, Nespresso have made new corporate commitments. , Twitter, Verizon, The Foundation at Sanofi, Seadream Family Foundation and Sun Life.
In addition, the event was supported by more than a hundred artists, athletes, lawyers and citizens from around the world: Adam Lambert, Aitana, Alec Benjamin, Alejandro Sanz, Alex Len, Alexandra Stan, Andy Cohen, Angélique Kidjo, Annie Lennox, Antytila , Arlo Parks, Ashlee Simpson Ross, Au/Ra, Barbra Streisand, Barenaked Ladies, Bastille, Becky Lynch, Billie Eilish, Billy Porter, Black Eyed Peas, Bobby Weir, Bridget Moynahan, Bruce Springsteen, Carole King, Celine Dion, Chris Isaak , Chris Tomlin, Connie Britton, Dave Matthews, Daymond John, Dead & Company, Drew McIntyre, Dwane Casey, Dylan Dunlap, Ellen DeGeneres, Ellie Goulding, Elton John and David Furnish.
They also include Evan Ross, Fall Out Boy, Finn Bälor, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, Gelila Assefa Puck, Gloria Steinem, Green Day, Herbert Grönemeyer, Hozier, Hugh Jackman and Deborra-lee Furness, Isha Sesay, Ivar and Erik, Jamala, Jenna Dewan, Jennifer Lopez, Jesse McCartney, Jewel, Jill Vedder, Jim Kyte, Johnny Orlando, Jon Bon Jovi, Jonas Brothers, Juanes, Julian Lennon, Kacey Musgraves, Katie Couric, Katy Perry, Kerry Washington, KD Lang, Lennon Stella, Leon Bridges, Lilly Singh, Liv Morgan, Lola Lennox, Luis Fonsi, Luke Steele, Madonna, MÅNESKIN, Megan Morant, Metallica.
Also on this list are Michael Bublé, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Miley Cyrus, Nicky Jam, Nigel Barker, Nikki A.S.H., Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Nuno Bettencourt, ONEREPUBLIC, Oprah Winfrey, Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, Padma Lakshmi, Panic! At The Disco, Pearl Jam, Pharrell Williams, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rita Ora, Rufus Wainwright, Sarsa, Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins, Shayna Baszler, Shinsuke Nakamura, SOFI TUKKER, Stevie Nicks, Sviatoslav “Svi ” Mykhailiuk, Tame Impala, Thalia, The Lumineers, Third Eye Blind, U2, Ukulele U, Usher, Vito Bambino, Weezer, Within Temptation, Young Leosia, Zucchero and 5 Seconds of Summer.
GRANTS, HELP, LOANS, STAND UP FOR UKRAINE, UKRAINIAN CITIZENS
During the first three months of 2022, Ukraine’s largest gambling company paid UAH 147 million in licenses, taxes, and fees to the state budget.
In the condition of Russia’s full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, the country needs more stable budget revenues than ever before. After the legalization of the gambling industry in Ukraine, it has the potential to become a new growth point for the country’s economy, and now legal gambling operators use the opportunity to fill in the State budget during the war.
Parimatch Ukraine (legal entity – Parimatch LLC) became the first officially licensed bookmaker in Ukraine in 2021. For two years of activity, the organizer of gambling paid UAH 262.8 million to the state budget of Ukraine: UAH 216 million paid for a license to carry out gambling activities, and UAH 46,8 million paid for an online casino license.
The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has declared recently that despite the war, the state budget must be filled and provide the necessary expenditures. Parimatch Ukraine, as a responsible business and leader in the gambling industry, continues to meet all its financial obligations on time. In particular, the company has already fully paid for operating licenses in 2022, as well as all necessary taxes to the state budget of the total amount of UAH 147 million.
We will continue to adhere to all financial obligations to the state and demonstrate what honest and responsible business is. We have adapted the company’s strategy and understand how to move forward and what our new goals are. Restoring the company’s economic condition and keeping jobs is the most important and urgent help to the country. After all, now we need stable financial revenues, and people need timely wages and a social assistance program, – Natalia Gilevych, CEO of Parimatch Ukraine said.
A successful business is impossible without a team, and the team needs more help in times of uncertainty and increased danger. During the first days of the war, Parimatch Ukraine focused on supporting colleagues by reconnecting with everyone, making sure they were safe, and evacuating them and their family members if needed.
We have revised the social assistance list, added the rent compensation to those who were forced to leave their homes, and travel compensation for those who moved around Ukraine or abroad. We also provided military ammunition for our colleagues who decided to join the Armed Forces and the Territorial Defense, – the company’s CEO added.
After solving the most pressing issues, the company launched psychological support and regular online meetings with psychologists, and daily yoga or stretching classes to restore physical condition.
Over the years, Parimatch Ukraine has become known as a company that has devoted much effort to the development of sports in Ukraine, it is the largest patron and sponsor that worked with top teams in the world as well as the most famous athletes. It is to be recalled, the Parimatch brand has announced that it is to withdraw its franchise from Russia. The decision has already been implemented at the legal and technical levels.
Dynamics of balance of payments of Ukraine (USD mln)
NBU
