Ukrainian businessman Ihor Kolomoisky has proposed to increase the iron ore production royalty from 8.8% to 75%. “… If you export raw materials [from the country], then give back at least 75% from $80 per tonne – this is $60, and keep $20,” Kolomoisky said in an interview with the Censor.net ezine.
According to the businessman, these current royalty rates stimulate the export of raw materials.
“However, there is a second option – don’t sell ore right away!.. Produce steel – you have capacities, and instead of loading enterprises you reduce capacities, because now it is easier for you to sell ore, and not engage in production,” Kolomoisky said.
In addition, he stated the need for nationalization of the largest enterprises and the development of mineral resources.
“For the salvation of Ukraine, the universal nationalization of large state-forming enterprises plus the nationalization of the deposit development, that is, in several sectors, we need state capitalism,” the businessman said.
Lawyers are working on a possibility of waiving Ukraine’s debts to the Russian Federation or Russian companies as part of the execution of decisions of international courts in lawsuits won by Ukraine and Ukrainian companies from Russia regarding the loss caused to Ukraine in Crimea, one of the initiators of the litigations and former owner of PrivatBank Ihor Kolomoisky has said.
“Lawyers are working now to ensure that Ukraine’s debt, for which Ukraine is suing… there are billions of dollars in obligations to the Russian Federation, or, for example, $110 million for Tatneft, perhaps after a victory in the courts it will be possible to legally waive them. It is not an easy task, but it is being implemented,” he said in an interview with the Censor.net ezine.
According to him, an alternative to such debt repayment is the work of seizing Russian assets abroad.
Kolomoisky recalled that he was the first to sue the Russian Federation because of the damage suffered as a result of the annexation of Crimea, but now such disputes in international courts are initiated by Rinat Akhmetov’s companies, state-owned PrivatBank and Oschadbank.
On Thursday, August 29, at 13.00, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency will host a press conference entitled “Kherson Oil Transshipment Complex: ARMA Should Hold Transparent and Legal Tender.” Participants: Yaroslav Kovalevsky, the acting director of state enterprise Petroleum Supply Enterprise, Andriy Hevko, the adviser to Fincord Intelligence law firm LLC (8/5a Reitarska Street). Registration of journalists requires press accreditation.
The State Automobile Roads Agency of Ukraine (Ukravtodor) plans in 2019 to purchase nearly 200,000 tonnes of salt in 2019 for preparing the roads for winter, Ukravtodor acting head of Slawomir Nowak said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
“We are preparing [for winter], held first conferences over this issue. Purchase of salt volumes is under control, 41,000 tonnes have already been stored up. In general, we plan to purchase about 200,000 tonnes of salt this year. It would be enough to sustain winter facing no problems,” he said.
Novak noted that this week a meeting between Ukravtodor and the state-owned enterprise Artyomsol (Donetsk region) is to take place, during which it is planned to “settle a number of problematic issues.”
In addition, the head of the agency said that Ukravtodor has already prepared more than 2,700 of machinery items and devices for winter.
“For temporary parking of vehicles during bad weather we plan to use more than 800 sites right of way, near and at road service facilities. In addition, more than 7,000 linear meters of passive means of cleaning snow will be installed on public roads of national importance,” he said.
According to Nowak, by November 1, 2019 Ukravtodor plans to complete the full range of measures to prepare the road facilities for the autumn-winter period 2019-2020.
Artyomsol is the largest enterprise for production and sale of table salt (NaCl) in Central and Eastern Europe. Its production facilities are located in Soledar (Donetsk region).
Washington is ready to join the peace process in Ukraine, Assistant to the U.S. President for National Security Affairs John Bolton has stated.
The United States is set to join such efforts in any way possible because what is going on in Ukraine and in Crimea should not be regarded as a purely European dispute, Bolton told a press briefing in Kyiv on Wednesday, adding that the North Atlantic Alliance, or NATO, was established in light of the fact that the U.S. had been involved in two world wars, and NATO was to maintain peace.
Bolton also recalled that Germany and France were planning to organize a Normandy format meeting.
However, to take part in such meetings, one should get prepared and be guided by experience and all the positive things from previous meetings, because if there were no positive points during previous meetings, then it hardly makes sense to hold another such meeting, Bolton said.
On September, 7 and 8 a sight worth princes will take place in the «Kyivan Rus Park» – the Horseback Archers Tournament. A rich show-program with the horse-trick performances, museums, master-classes, walks on a horseback, games with the guests – this and even more will make the weekend really thrilling for everyone!
The entry ticket price:
• for adults (full price) – 190 UAH.,
• for pensioners and students – 150 UAH.,
• for schoolchildren – 60 UAH.,
• for preschool children – for free,
Ancient Kyiv opens at 10:00. The program starts at 13:30.
Ancient Kyiv in the «Kyivan Rus Park» is located in Kyiv region, Obukhiv district, the vill. Kopachiv.
Route taxis leave from Kyiv from the «Vydybitchi» metro station.
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».
