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.
More than 500 foreign doctors are ready to provide medical assistance to victims in Ukraine.
According to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, more than 500 foreign medical workers have already registered through the registration form published on the website of the ministry.
Among them are doctors, nurses and paramedics from the countries of the European Union, the UK, Switzerland, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Israel, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Jordan, Brazil.
Registration remains open.
The Ministry of Health expresses gratitude for the offer to provide foreign medical assistance to Ukraine.
The flow of citizens crossing the border of Ukraine with the EU countries and Moldova is decreasing, adviser to the Minister of Internal Affairs Volodymyr Denysenko said.
“The flow of citizens at the border of Ukraine with the EU countries and Moldova continues to decrease. The level of workload at checkpoints has also decreased significantly,” Denysenko said in a video message distributed on Thursday.
According to him, over the past 12 hours, the number of cars waiting to cross the border has decreased from approximately 3,900 to 1,425 cars, and the queue of pedestrians is 30-50 people.
Among the busiest, Denysenko noted, were checkpoints Shehyni and Krakovets.
