Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Slovakia, Germany and Hungary have introduced permit-free travel for humanitarian cargo carriers to Ukraine, according to the Telegram channel of the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine.
The matter concerns the release of carriers from any additional conditions, in particular the need to obtain permits for international freight traffic. This is necessary for the prompt delivery of humanitarian cargo during martial law.
To cross the border with Lithuania, Latvia and Slovakia, you do not need to submit information about the carrier and vehicle.
“We thank our European partners for their support. The Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine continues to work with foreign partners in order to speed up the process of transporting humanitarian cargo in an extremely difficult period for Ukraine,” the ministry stressed.
CARRIERS, GERMANY, HUMANITARIAN AID, HUNGARY, LATVIA, LITHUANIA, POLAND, SLOVAKIA, TRAVEL
The State Border Guard Service says that about 93,000 people and almost 15,000 vehicles crossed the state border of Ukraine in the western section during the day on March 2.
“During the day on March 2, about 93,000 people and almost 15,000 vehicles crossed the state border of Ukraine in the western section. These indicators remained at the level of the previous day,” the press service of the State Border Guard Service said in a statement.
In particular, almost 79,000 people went to leave Ukraine for the EU and Moldova, of which almost 50,000 people crossed the border to Poland, remaining 29,000 left for Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Moldova.
At the same time, over the past 24 hours, almost 14,000 of our compatriots crossed the border to enter Ukraine, most of them men, which is 2,000 more than on March 1.
“We remind you that all checkpoints on the western border operate around the clock. The workload of checkpoints every three hours is covered on the page of the Western Regional Department of the State Border Guard Service,” the message says.
It is noted that at present one of the main tasks for border guards and customs officers is the execution of humanitarian aid for the Ukrainian population and our army.
The deficit of foreign trade in goods in January-February 2022 decreased by 1.15% to $0.59 billion compared to the same period in 2021, with exports growing by 37% to $11.57 billion, imports by almost 34.56%, to $12.17 billion, according to the State Customs Service.
According to the customs, the trade turnover of Ukraine in January-February grew by 36% compared to January-February 2021 and reached $23.74 billion.
According to the service, the deficit of foreign trade in goods in February fell by 16.5%, to $0.37 billion compared to February 2022, with an increase in exports by 22.5% to $5.54 billion, imports by almost 22%, to $5.91 billion.
Trade in February increased by 22.3% to $11.45 billion, according to data on the service’s website.
According to customs statistics for January-February 2022, Ukraine received the largest volume of trade during this time with China ($67.8 billion, export $24 billion, import $43.6 billion), Russia ($52.2 billion, export $17, 5 billion, import $34.6 billion), Poland ($39.6 billion, export $18.6 billion, import $21 billion).
As reported, in 2021, the deficit of foreign trade in goods amounted to $5.1 billion compared to $4.72 billion in 2020. Import of goods at the end of the year increased by 35.6% compared to 2020, to $73.3 billion, export by 38.3%, to $68.2 billion.
Moldova is applying for membership in the European Union, the country’s President Maia Sandu told a briefing in Chisinau on Thursday evening.
The application to the president of the European Council, French President Emmanuel Macron, will be filed in Brussels in the next few days, she said.
“This is the will our citizens expressed during elections. In the current complex situation we must act quickly and coherently so as to ensure a European, free and democratic future for our citizens,” Sandu said.
She signed the application in front of journalists. It was also signed by parliamentary speaker Igor Grosu and Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita.
The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) condemns the decisions of businesses and people in the current difficult situation to set prices for goods and services in foreign currencies, in particular in dollars or euros.
“Setting prices in Ukraine in foreign currency is illegal. Such actions are not only immoral in a war, but are also a direct violation of Ukrainian legislation,” the National Bank said in a statement on Thursday.
The NBU recalled that the hryvnia as a national currency is the only legal tender on the territory of Ukraine and must be accepted by all individuals and legal entities without any restrictions throughout the country and for all types of payments in accordance with Article 35 of the Law “On the National Bank of Ukraine”.
The regulator clarified that, in particular, he became aware of cases of setting prices for rental housing in euros in Ukraine, which violates the law.
The banking system of Ukraine remains stable and liquid, Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) Kyrylo Shevchenko has said.
“The banking system remains stable and liquid even under martial law. From the beginning of the war until February 28, the volume of household funds in the accounts of the largest banks increased, in particular due to the receipt of salaries,” he said in his video message on Thursday.
According to him, the outflow of deposits is hindered by the availability of noncash transactions and the limited work of banks in a number of regions.
“In addition, banks have a reserve of highly liquid assets to ensure all noncash settlements and settlements on deposits of the population, even in the current difficult conditions,” the governor of the National Bank said.
He said that additional support for banks is the conventional collateral, as well as blank refinancing introduced by the NBU for up to one year.
In addition, the NBU supports banks with cash without restrictions, Shevchenko said.
