Rubizhne cardboard and packaging mill (Luhansk region), a leading Ukrainian manufacturer of cardboard packaging, in January-July 2021, taking into account the products of the subsidiary Trypilsky packing plant (Kyiv region), produced 157 million square meters of corrugated boxes, which is 13.7% more year-over-year.
According to the statistical data of the UkrPapir association provided to Interfax-Ukraine, Rubizhne cardboard and packaging mill slowed down the increase in the output of these products compared to the same period in 2020 (in January-June 2021 it was 17.1%, in January-May some 11.8%) and consolidated its leadership in Ukraine.
During this period, the mills in quantity terms increased the production of components for corrugated board (cardboard and corrugated paper) by 14.1%, to 138,330 tonnes.
At the same time, the total volume of commercial products of the two plants in monetary terms increased by 40.6%, to UAH 3.068 billion.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky held a meeting with Prime Minister of Sweden Stefan Löfven, at which he thanked him for participating in the inaugural summit of the Crimean Platform and for sustainable support of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. Zelensky received an invitation to visit Sweden.
According to the press service of the head of state, Löfven said that the summit of this initiative is a powerful signal of the need to de-occupy Crimea both from the outside and for the Ukrainian society.
Zelensky expressed his sincere gratitude to the Swedish side for assistance in organizing an exposition of values important for Ukrainian statehood – the original Constitution of the Hetman Pylyp Orlyk of 1710 and the Hetman’s mace, which are now exhibited in Sofia Kyivska.
The Head of State and the Swedish Prime Minister discussed further interaction on the agenda of Ukraine’s relations with the EU and prospects for cooperation within the framework of NATO’s Enhanced Opportunities Partnership.
Security policy issues related to the implementation of the Nord Stream 2 project by Russia have become separate topics for a substantive dialogue.
The parties also discussed the tense situation on the borders of Belarus with neighboring countries due to the growth of the flow of illegal migrants and the Russian exercises “West-2021”, which worsen the security in the region.
The President of Ukraine informed his interlocutor about the situation in Donbas and thanked the Swedish side for the projects implemented by the defense departments, in particular in the field of mine clearance.
In addition, Zelensky, during a discussion of the possibilities of filling bilateral relations with specific projects, invited the Swedish side to take part in the creation of a network of waste processing plants in Ukraine.
The Prime Minister of Sweden noted the progress of Ukraine in the implementation of important reforms.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky announced the introduction of a new Ukrainian holiday – the Day of Ukrainian Statehood.
“We are starting to celebrate the Day of Ukrainian Statehood. We consider its starting point the year of the establishment of Kyiv – the capital of Kyivan Rus – Ukraine, which is for a reason called the place where everything begins,” Zelensky said during a speech at the parade in honor of the 30th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence.
“We will celebrate the birth of our statehood on the day of our statehood flourishing – on the day of the baptism of Kyivan Rus – Ukraine,” he said, adding that “he signs a corresponding decree today, on August 24.”
The President also said that “Ukraine is starting the process of returning to their native land outstanding Ukrainians who lived for Ukraine, fought for Ukraine and were not buried in Ukraine.”
President of the European Council Charles Michel has arrived in Ukraine to take part in the celebrations on the occasion of the Independence Day of Ukraine, as well as in the Crimea Platform summit.
“On behalf of the Government of Ukraine my warmest welcome to President of the European Council Charles Michel arriving to join the celebration of the 30th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence and the Crimea Platform summit,” Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna said on Twitter.
Another plane has departed from the airport of Kabul (Afghanistan) with more than 100 Ukrainian citizens on board.
The relevant statement was made by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba during the inaugural summit of the Crimea Platform in Kyiv on Monday.
“Now, while we are discussing the issue of Crimea, another Ukrainian plane took off from Kabul. There are more than 100 Ukrainian citizens on board,” Kuleba said.
On the morning of August 22, the Ukrainian military transport aircraft Il-76MD of the Ukrainian Air Force, which took off from the Afghan airport of Kabul the day before, arrived in Boryspil. On board there were 83 passengers, of whom 31 were citizens of Ukraine.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal believes that Ukraine has fulfilled the conditions necessary for the disbursement of the second tranche of macro-financial assistance from the European Union, the press service of the Cabinet of Ministers said on Sunday.
“Indeed, an important step in supporting us will be the allocation of the second tranche of macro-financial assistance before the completion of the current program in September this year. Ukraine has met all the conditions for receiving it,” Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal said during a meeting with Executive Vice President of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis.
According to the Prime Minister, Ukraine has increased the transparency and efficiency of medical procurement, continued pursuing the reform of tax and customs services, and resumed the competitive procedure for selection for civil service positions.
Shmyhal also noted that the government has taken important steps to improve the anti-corruption infrastructure. Also, the Bureau of Economic Security was created, the functioning of the natural gas market was improved, and the reform of the corporate governance system of state-owned enterprises continues.
For his part, the Executive Vice President of the European Commission noted that the European Union has mobilized unprecedented financial and technical assistance for Ukraine. And the provision of the first tranche of macro-financial assistance in the amount of EUR 600 million in 2020 had been a sign of solidarity between the EU and Ukraine.
“Ukraine has made significant efforts towards implementation of the EU macro-financial assistance conditions and based on the preliminary analysis we can consider conditions as broadly met,” Valdis Dombrovskis said.
In addition, the Prime Minister noted that Ukraine had ensured the implementation of structural “beacons” and within the framework of joint stand-by arrangement with the IMF, which are necessary for the first revision of the program.
