British Secretary of State Liz Truss will make her first visit to Ukraine on Thursday, February 17, at the invitation of Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
“The visit of the head of the British Foreign Office is aimed at deepening the strategic partnership between Ukraine and the United Kingdom, coordinating further actions to strengthen security on the European continent,” the press service of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said.
Kuleba and Truss will hold talks on joint measures to deter the Russian Federation from further aggression, practical support for Ukraine from the UK in strengthening its defense capability.
“The heads of foreign affairs agencies will discuss a wide range of issues of the strategic partnership between Ukraine and the UK in the field of security, including cybersecurity, as well as in the areas of trade and investment,” the report says.
Kuleba and Truss will hold a joint press conference online.
Ukraine has reported 33,330 new cases of COVID-19, in addition to 27,441 recoveries and 259 deaths in the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian Health Ministry said on Thursday.
“Over the past day, Ukraine has recorded 33,330 new cases of COVID-19, including 2,837 children and 961 medical workers, while 66,082 people have been vaccinated, among them 18,504 who received the first dose, 28,948 who received the second dose, 606 who received an additional dose, and 18,024 who received a booster shot. In the past 24 hours, 3,284 people have been hospitalized, 259 have died, and 27,441 have recovered,” the ministry said on Telegram.
There were 31,513 new cases of COVID-19 in Ukraine the day before.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Ukraine has seen a total of 4,637,260 COVID-19 cases, including 3,866,755 recoveries and 103,824 deaths.
As many as 15,613,689 people have been vaccinated for COVID-19 in Ukraine to date.
On the night of February 16-17, the Maran Excellence ship with 160,000 tonnes of Colombian coal for the needs of PJSC Centrenergo moored in the port of Pivdenny, unloading is underway at a deep-sea berth, the press service of the generating company reported.
“One of the largest bulk carriers (capesize), with a deadweight (maximum allowable load) of more than 180,000 tonnes, delivered 160,000 tonnes of high-quality Colombian coal to Ukraine for the needs of the Centrenergo generation,” the company said on its website on Thursday .
It notes that such a significant consignment of coal was delivered to Centrenergo for the first time by sea in accordance with contracts concluded with international traders.
“Despite the difficult situation that has developed in the Black Sea due to the training of the Russian Federation, the vessel successfully passed through a safe additional corridor to the Ukrainian port and arrived at its destination according to the schedule,” the generating company stressed.
Until the end of February this year, Centrenergo expects the next two ships with a total volume of coal of 214,000 tonnes.
The company assured that the replenishment of stocks at warehouses of thermal power plants due to the diversification of coal sources and the support of the Ministry of Energy and the State Property Fund of Ukraine will allow confidently going through the heating season and ensuring the reliable operation of the Ukrainian power system during peak hours.
On February, 19 and 20 in Ancient Kyiv in the Principality of Kyivan Rus («Kyivan Rus Park») there will be the demonstration of the unique ancient horse breeds. The presentation will take place during the interactive entertaining program «Sky horses». The acquaintance with horses of ancient breeds, horse master-classes, ancient Slavic amusements, hot drinks, tasty dishes from fire and much more will be waiting for the guests… And all of this in the real medieval city!
Having entered the gates of the Principality, the visitors will travel back in time a thousand years ago and find themselves in the capital of Kyivan Rus. The guests will get into the historical center of medieval Kyiv of the Xth century within the boundaries of the Detinets of Kyiv and Predhraddya.
Only in Ancient Kyiv you can see such masterpieces of medieval architecture as: the monumental defensive structure «Zaborola» (about 300 meters long), the Mickle`s Gate (21 meters high), the princely terems and tribunes, watchtowers, the estates of Kyiv residents of the X-XII centuries and much more. The unique Christian church of the Хth century, the wooden Basyl`s church, is reconstructed here.
On the territory of Ancient Kyiv, the guests will visit historical expositions of siege technique, shipbuilding and even medieval torture.
On February, 19 and 20, the inhabitants of the Principality will cordially meet dear guests at the entrance gate and will not let get bored for a minute. They have prepared an unusual entertaining program in which the main role is assigned to horses of rare ancient breeds.
The experienced horse breeders will introduce the guests to horses of rare ancient breeds and tell about their features, origin and what prominent historical figures owned the representatives of one or other breed. At an open master-class on training and horse care, the visitors will learn how to treat these animals so that they are not only healthy and obedient, but also become true friends.
Everyone will be able to approach the horses, palm them, arrange a bright photo session and even ride on horseback or in a carriage.
Ancient horse martial arts, traditional for Ukraine, come to life in Ancient Kyiv: trick riding and horseback archery. Everyone can master the ancient martial art of horseback archery by enrolling in the «Prince Volodymyr» school of horseback archery. It is very simple to become its student: you need to contact the organizers in Ancient Kyiv or call (050) 385-06-14 and (050) 385-20-35. Already from the first lesson, you will begin to comprehend the art of controlling a horse and accurate bow shooting. Join the fighting traditions of our ancestors!
Also the guests will be invited to take part in merry Slavic amusements: active games, dance master-classes, flash mobs and round dances.
In Ancient Kyiv, everyone will find something to his liking. Walking along the ancient streets, you can learn many new and interesting things about the life of our ancestors. Here you can see the signs with inscriptions in Old Church Slavonic, try to read and understand them. By visiting the fortune teller and tasting fragrant herbal tea, you can touch the ancient secret knowledge. In the medieval shooting range you can learn how to toss knives and axes and shoot a bow, in the Princely costume room – put on the costumes of the Kyivan Rus times and on the mint – mint a coin «for luck». In the medieval shop you can choose exclusive handmade souvenirs for memory. The fans of extreme sports will enjoy the high-speed slide «Zmiy Gorynych» and the rope descent «Politaylo».
You can warm up and eat in the warm, colorful Princely tavern. Here the guests can enjoy hot drinks and dishes prepared on open fire, both according to medieval and modern recipes.
If you wish to prolongate your romantic journey to the Middle Ages for one more day, you can stay for the night in comfortable rooms (by previous booking).
The program may change.
Visiting Ancient Kyiv takes place in compliance with the requirements of the quarantine regime.
Ancient Kyiv is located in a 45-minutes` drive from modern Kyiv – Kyiv region, Obukhiv district, vill. Zastugna (near the vill. Kopachiv).
You can get by your own car or by public transport. The schedule of route taxis check on the «Obukhivtrans» website or on the «Kyivan Rus Park» website in the «Contacts» section.
The best way by your own car is through the city of Obukhiv.
The ticket price: a full adult ticket – 230 Uah. (a special price instead of 250 Uah.), for pensioners and students – 150 Uah., for schoolchildren – 100 Uah., for preschool children – for free.
Details on the website www.parkkyivrus.com
The Interfax subscribers can save money with the “openbusiness-20” promo code for a 20%-discount for a full price adult ticket to the Principality of Kyivan Rus:
– by previous order by tel.: +38 044 461-99-37, +38 050 385-20-35
– or at the cash desk at the entrance to the «Kyivan Rus Park».
The Verkhovna Rada has adopted, taking into account presidential amendments, the law on virtual assets, which refers this market to the regulation of the National Securities and Stock Market Commission and the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU). Head of the National Securities and Stock Market Commission Ruslan Magomedov noted that the president proposed to attribute this market to existing regulators, since the sources of covering the costs of creating a new body have not been determined.
“Therefore, the President proposes to refer the activities and regulation of the virtual assets market to the competence of the already existing financial regulators – the National Securities and Stock Market Commission and the National Bank of Ukraine,” Magomedov said, speaking from the rostrum of the parliament.
The law, subject to presidential amendments, classifies services related to the circulation of virtual assets as financial services. As noted by the main scientific and expert department of the Verkhovna Rada apparatus, the document, taking into account the presidential proposals, involves cooperation between the two regulators of such services, but it is not indicated by the provisions of which legislative act they will be guided in matters of cooperation and coordination in this area – this law or the law on financial services and state regulation of the financial services market.
On February 17, 2022, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted a law on ratification of the agreement between Ukraine and the European Union on the Common Aviation Area.
Some 311 deputies voted for the ratification of the agreement on Thursday.
The purpose of the agreement is the gradual creation of a Common Aviation Area between Ukraine and the EU and its Member States, based, in particular, on identical rules in the field of flight safety, aviation security, air traffic management, environmental protection, consumer protection, computer reservation systems, as well as on identical rules regarding social aspects.
To this end, the agreement establishes mandatory rules, technical requirements, administrative procedures, basic operational standards and implementation standards applied between the parties.
Common Aviation Area operates on the basis of free access to the air transportation market and on equal terms of competition.
Ukraine is taking the necessary measures to incorporate into the legal system of Ukraine and implement the requirements and standards of the acts of the European Union.
The parties cooperate, among other things, in order to achieve convergence of certification systems in the areas of primary certification and maintaining airworthiness.
Upon request, the Parties shall provide each other with all necessary assistance to prevent acts of illegal seizure of civil aircraft and other illegal acts directed against the safety of such aircraft, their passengers and crew, airports and air navigation facilities, as well as any other threat to the safety of civil aviation.
The Parties recognize the importance of environmental protection in the development and implementation of aviation policy.
As reported, on October 12, 2021, Ukraine and the European Union signed the Common Aviation Area Agreement. On June 28, 2021, the EU Council approved the signing of the Common Aviation Area Agreement with Ukraine, as well as with three other countries – Armenia, Tunisia and Qatar.
The process of harmonization of the Ukrainian aviation space with the EU was started in 1999. On December 12, 2006, the EU Council authorized the European Commission to start relevant negotiations with Ukraine. In October 2013, the text of the Agreement was agreed upon by the parties, but due to foreign policy conditions, its signing was postponed indefinitely.
