Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has voiced the main tasks for diplomats for the next year, in particular, negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU and preparations for the NATO summit.
“There are specific tasks for you and me for the next year. I will outline some of them that we have to implement to make next year a really winning year for all of us. So, the beginning of negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU. Preparing for the planned NATO summit and ensuring concrete results of that summit for Ukraine, which we all know about,” Zelensky said at the Ukrainian ambassadors’ conference on Friday.
He noted that all ambassadors will be presented with updated defense and security needs, and called for constant work to ensure those needs are met.
“Ukrainian energy and our country’s needs to recover from Russian strikes, Fast Recovery Plan – please work as closely as possible with the government, with the Office, international organizations and partner states to ensure that all these arrangements are provided with concrete content and result,” the president said.
Zelensky also called for strong new sanctions packages against Russia for next year.
“The terrorist state must feel real pressure, and it is your actions – the actions of our diplomatic corps – that must be aimed at. Court for the crime of aggression and the responsibility of war criminals – work so that the countries of your stay support us,” the head of state stressed.
In addition, he noted the need to block Russian assets associated not only with state representatives, but also with Russian business supporting the war.
“All these funds will be used for the reconstruction of Ukraine. Do everything so that the countries where you work, help to build an appropriate compensatory effective mechanism,” he said.
Zelensky called on diplomats to facilitate the return of Ukrainians to their homeland so that all their rights and legitimate interests in host countries are satisfied.
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A logistical operation to send military and military-technical aid to Ukraine began Friday, Dec. 23, according to the Bulgarian Defense Ministry’s press service.
“Starting today, a logistic operation will be carried out in which the aid approved by the National Assembly will be sent to Ukraine,” said Deputy Defense Minister Ekaterina Gramatikova.
In turn, the country’s defense chief Admiral Emil Eftimov said that the course of negotiations or the provision of military assistance must remain confidential.
“Learned conclusions about the course of hostilities in Ukraine – not only on the basis of the tactics and equipment used, but also the logistics system, the state and capabilities of the DIC in both our country and NATO and EU allies. On this basis, we proposed a certain set of weapons and equipment,” he said.
The Cabinet of Ministers has allocated new grants to small businesses totaling 400.5 million UAH, of which about 164.7 million UAH for the creation or development of gardens, berry growing, viticulture and greenhouse farming, the website of the Ministry of Economy reported on Friday.
“Today the government has allocated additional funds for the development of small businesses in agriculture, construction, transport, education, science, etc. This support involves the creation of more than 2 thousand jobs,” the ministry quotes First Deputy Prime Minister – Economy Minister Yulia Sviridenko.
According to the ministry, 92.83 million UAH will be used for horticulture, viticulture and berry growing, 71.9 million UAH – for the creation or development of greenhouses, and 204.4 million UAH of grant funds will be provided for the establishment or development of their own business.
In addition, 62.5 mln UAH of the allocated amount of grant funds will be given to entrepreneurs in agriculture, forestry and fisheries, processing industry, water supply, construction, transport, scientific and technical activities, education, health, art and sports.
As it was reported, eRabota project includes six grant programs aimed at stimulating entrepreneurial activity. These are, in particular, programs of micro grants for starting or developing one’s own business, grants for creating and developing processing enterprises, establishing orchards and vineyards, greenhouse farming, support for IT start-ups and start-ups in IT sphere.
Both current entrepreneurs and people with no business experience can apply for a grant. Applications are accepted through the Diya Portal.
The Danish government and the Folketing (parliament) are donating an additional DKK300 million ($42.7 million) to a fund responsible for purchasing weapons and equipment for Ukraine, the Danish Defense Ministry said on its website Thursday.
“Ukraine’s fight for freedom is also ours and Europe’s fight for freedom. Therefore, the government together with the parties in the Danish parliament decided to donate an additional 300 million Danish kroner. kroner to Ukraine. The government will continue to support Ukrainians both financially, militarily and humanitarianly,” Defense Minister Jakob Ellemann-Jensen said.
According to the report, the Danish government held consultations in Folketinget on Thursday regarding the donation of about 300 million more kroner to strengthen support for Ukraine. The funds come from the National Compromise Reserve and are to be transferred to the International Fund for Ukraine (IFU), an international initiative that emerged at a donation conference in Copenhagen in August.
“On Monday, I had the honor of meeting with President Zelensky virtually, where he stressed the continuing need for support from the outside world. That’s why I’m glad that Denmark can make another major contribution to Ukraine’s fight for freedom,” Ellemann-Jensen said.
Official rate of the NBU as of December 22: 5.21 UAH/DKK; 36.57 UAH/USD.
Moldova’s National Commission for Emergency Situations has simplified the rules of entry into the country for Ukrainians, the Moldovan newspaper Newsmaker has reported.
It is said that the simplification will affect the entry procedure for the Ukrainians, who will now be able to enter Moldova through the Moldovan-Romanian border and Chisinau airport on the basis of ID-card, internal passport and other identity documents.
The decision of the National Commission comes in addition to the February 24 decision on the entry procedure for Ukrainian citizens, which allowed Ukrainians entering Moldova from Ukraine to enter the country under a simplified procedure.
It is specified that Ukrainians will also be able to leave Moldova for Ukraine based on the same documents.
