Ukraine will relax coronavirus restrictions for the summertime, Health Minister Viktor Liashko said.
“That’s for the summertime. People are tired of quarantine, the pandemic. Whenever our epidemiological situation stabilities, we may reopen a bit, allow for certain relaxations. There is no surge, there are no massive infections, so we affirm a golden mean – the ability of the healthcare system to treat, and other economic issues,” Liashko said in an interview with the TSN Tyzhden weekly program on Sunday.
FOREIGN TRADE TURNOVER BY THE MOST IMPORTANT POSITIONS IN JAN-FEB 2021 (IMPORT)
Ukraine has initiated a special investigation into imports of sodium hypochlorite into Ukraine (according to foreign economic activity code 2828 90 00 00), regardless of the country of origin and export.
According to the report in the Uriadovy Kurier newspaper, the Interdepartmental Commission on International Trade adopted the corresponding decision on May 19, having considered the statement of JSC Dniproazot.
Based on the results of the consideration, the Commission found that the application contained sufficient substantiated evidence, on the basis of which it can be assumed that imports of sodium hypochlorite to Ukraine were carried out in such volumes and on such conditions that could cause significant harm to the national producer.
Within 30 days from the date of publication of this report, the Ministry of Economy registers the interested parties of the special investigation and considers the requirements for holding hearings.
According to the State Statistics Service, imports under a broader code (other hypochlorites) in the first quarter of 2021 amounted to almost 1,500 tonnes for $500,000, including from Italy – 90 tonnes for $160,000 and Russia – 75 tonnes for $120,000.
The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) calls on the Federal Government and the German Democratic Parties to immediately impose a moratorium on Nord Stream 2.
“The Russian natural gas pipeline, intended to bypass eastern Europe and directly connect in Germany, is scheduled to be completed this summer. It has faced significant European and international condemnation for being a political weapon of the Kremlin intended to use energy supply to control Ukraine and other Eastern European countries,” the UWC’s press service reported.
According to the UWC, a moratorium should be used to: clarify the strategic implications of Nord Stream 2 – particularly with respect to the security of Ukraine and of the EU’s eastern member states; undertake a detailed life cycle assessment of the project and have its climate impacts examined by an independent body; push forward with a common European energy policy; resolve the transatlantic differences relating to Nord Stream 2; and discuss principal issues of controversy between the EU and the Kremlin and reassess Nord Stream 2 in that light of this discussion.
The UWC is emphasizing that Nord Stream 2: undermines European cohesion and transatlantic relations; conflicts with the new European and German climate goals; threatens the already precarious security of Ukraine; and runs counter to the aim of a common EU external energy policy.
“A moratorium for Nord Stream 2 represents a chance to arrive at a common European position. It would deliver a clear message to Russia’s leadership that there are consequences for continuing violations of international law and for undermining the rules-based European order,” UWC President Paul Grod said.
“UWC calls on all Ukrainian and Eastern European communities together with all friends of Ukraine to join the appeal and urge their respective governments to support the moratorium on Nord Stream 2,” the Congress said.
JSC Ukrzaliznytsia is launching a Kiev-Vienna train since June, which will pass through the territory of Ukraine, Austria and Hungary, the Ukrzaliznytsia’s press service reported on Sunday.
The restoration of international railway traffic became possible with the assistance of the railway authorities of Austria and Hungary thanks to the stabilization of the situation with the coronavirus pandemic.
“The first train from Kiev to Vienna will start on June 1, so Ukrzaliznytsia passengers have a great opportunity to start their summer with a visit to Austria. In the future, the train will run daily according to the following schedule: it will depart from the Central Kiev Station at 02:07 pm, will pass through Budapest (arrival at 8:20 am) and arrive in Vienna at 11:21 am the next day. In the opposite direction (from June 2) the train will depart at 4:42 pm and arrive in Kiev at 5:22 pm the next day,” Ukrzaliznytsia said.
Tickets for the Kiev – Vienna train can be purchased at the international ticket offices of the stations.
“Passengers can find out up-to-date information on the rules for the entry of Ukrainian citizens into the territory of Austria and Hungary, as well as citizens of these countries in Ukraine, through the official sources of the embassies of Ukraine in Austria and Hungary and the embassies of these countries in Ukraine,” Ukrzaliznytsia said.
Ukraine will revise the indicators of the “green zone” in accordance with the updated EU indicators, said Minister of Health Viktor Liashko.
“We will change the indicators to reflect the indicators that are in effect in the EU. If we reach the indicators that are accepted in the EU and pass into the green zone, this will indicate that we will be able to visit EU countries even without vaccination passports. That is what we are striving for,” he told reporters on Saturday.
