The U.S. Department of Defense announced a new $125 million package for Ukraine’s Security Assistance Initiative that includes training, equipment and advisory efforts to help Ukraine’s forces preserve the country’s territorial integrity, secure its borders, and improve interoperability with NATO.
“The USAI package includes two additional armed Mark VI patrol boats to enhance Ukraine’s capacity to patrol and defend its territorial waters. To date, the U.S. has committed a total of eight Mark VI patrol boats,” the Defense Department said in a press release on Monday.
The Pentagon said that this action reaffirms the U.S. commitment to providing defensive lethal weapons to enable Ukraine to more effectively defend itself against Russian aggression.
“The package also includes capabilities to enhance the lethality, command and control, and situational awareness of Ukraine’s forces through the provision of additional counter-artillery radars and tactical equipment; continued support for a satellite imagery and analysis capability; and equipment to support military medical treatment and combat evacuation procedures,” the department said.
The Pentagon also said that the remaining $150 million in fiscal year 2021 USAI funds appropriated by Congress will be provided when the Defence Department, in coordination with the Department of State certifies that Ukraine has made sufficient progress on key defense reforms this year, as required by the National Defense Authorization Act.
“The Department encourages Ukraine to continue to enact reforms that strengthen civilian control of the military, promote increased transparency and accountability in defense industry and procurement, and modernize its defense sector in other key areas in line with NATO principles and standards,” the Defense Department said.
Since 2014, the United States has committed more than $2 billion in security assistance to Ukraine.
Volumes of cargo transportation in 2020, MLN tons.
Since March 1, Cyprus has included Ukraine in the list of countries of the “grey one,” entry from which is allowed only to citizens of Cyprus and family members, as well as residents and holders of special permits, the consular section of the Ukrainian Embassy in Cyprus said.
“Since March 1, 2021, the distribution of countries of the world by categories has been applied in Cyprus. As of March 1, Ukraine belongs to the ‘grey zone’ (categories will be reviewed weekly). Follow further changes,” the consular department said on Facebook on Monday.
According to the information of the embassy, entry from the countries of the “grey zone” is only allowed to citizens of Cyprus permanently residing in the Republic of Cyprus, their foreign spouses and minor children, residents of the Republic of Cyprus, persons who are allowed to enter in accordance with the Vienna Convention, regardless of their citizenship, who have have a special entry permit from the government of Cyprus; citizens who have received special permission from the Government of Cyprus to enter Cyprus.
Transit shipments of Russian gas through Ukraine have increased as temperatures in Europe have normalized, data from Gazprom, the Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine and European gas transport operators show.
Over the weekend, temperatures in Europe dropped from unusually warm double digits back to average figures for this time of year.
Gazprom pumped 106 million cubic meters of gas through Ukraine on February 27 (nominations for Sunday and Monday are the same), while from February 17 to 26 it pumped an average of 79 mcm per day, with a low of 66.2 mcm on February 20.
The Russian gas giant had booked a far larger amount of transit for February: 123.2 mcm per day, including 109 mcm under its long-term transit contract and an additional 14.2 mcm based on monthly booking.
The fishing regime in the Black Sea for 2021 entered into force on March 1.
According to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine on Monday, the approved fishing regime and the rules for catching aquatic living resources in the Black Sea for industrial fishing for this year have determined the tools and places of catch, the requirements for the fishing vessels and the conditions for the spawning prohibition.
According to the Ecology Ministry, the annual limits defining the amount and type of living aquatic resources allowed for catching are presented on the ministry’s website.
According to the documents, in the Black Sea this year, the limit for catching sprat is set at 20,000 tonnes, mullets – 920 tonnes, shrimp – 750 tonnes, grey mullets – 620 tonnes, Black Sea herring – 510 tonnes, and Black Sea turbot – 158 tonnes. The catch of gobies, redlip mullets, European anchovy, sprats, clams and rapa whelks is not limited.
In addition, the Ecology Ministry is currently working on the approval of fishing regimes in fishery water bodies of Ukraine, so that fishermen can start their activities as soon as possible.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, through a decision of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), set a clear two-month deadline for officials to bring their civil status in line with the law, MP Oleh Dunda (the Servant of the People party faction) believes. “There is a clear signal for the state apparatus: to finally decide which state interests it represents in power,” the parliamentarian said.
In his opinion, it will not work to hide one’s dual or triple citizenship, as well as to hope for a delay in the implementation of the NSDC decision.
“A bill on the settlement of dual citizenship has already been registered in the parliament, the theses of which were used by the NSDC when making its decision,” he says.
In addition, according to Dunda, an order to the Cabinet of Ministers to develop a regulatory framework for checking Ukrainians for dual citizenship within two months will only speed up this process.
To control dual citizenship in Ukraine, a special body will be created that will keep a register of all persons who have not only Ukrainian citizenship. In addition, it is planned to introduce a multi-level verification system.
“Such mechanisms will regulate and legalize dual citizenship in Ukraine. And most importantly, they will not allow people who do not take into account the interests of our country into power. State security should be in all spheres and at all levels,” Dunda said.
As reported, the NSDC instructed the Cabinet of Ministers to develop a legal basis for dual citizenship within two months.
At the end of January, MPs from the Servant of the People faction Oleh Dunda, Oleksandr Aliksiychuk, Dmytro Mykysha registered bill No. 4640 on amendments to certain laws of Ukraine concerning the legal provision of foreign citizenship (nationality) for citizens of Ukraine.
