A document was signed on the margins of the Munich Security Forum, fixing the intention to create a joint venture between Ukroboronprom JSC and Thales International SAS, Ukrainian Minister for Strategic Industries German Smetanin said on Saturday.
“Ukroboronprom JSC and Thales International SAS have agreed to establish a joint venture, and have fixed these agreements on paper. The newly created enterprise will specialize in the creation of advanced technological solutions to enhance air defense, radars, REB means, tactical communications and optoelectronic systems,” he wrote in a Telegram channel.
As Smetanin noted, the Ukrainian defense industry has already cooperated with Thales for a long time. “I am glad that this cooperation is deepening to the creation of a JV. Thank you French partners for the support of our defense industry and the courage to work in Ukraine,” – added the Minister.
Earlier it was reported that the Minister of defense of Ukraine Rustem Umerov during a working visit to Brussels held a meeting with representatives of the company Thales Belgium, which since the beginning of the full-scale invasion “provides Ukraine with important support”.
According to the company’s website, Thales Group has developed its industrial and technological capabilities across Europe and has a broad portfolio of solutions including defense and security, aerospace, space, and digital identity and security. Thales also maintains a permanent presence in Brussels to serve the European institutions and NATO.
Shareholders of IC “VUSO” (Kyiv) at the meeting on February 12 decided to allocate UAH 44.959 mln of undistributed profit for 2023 to dividends, the company reported in the information disclosure system of the National Commission on Securities and Stock Market. As reported, the rest of the profit for 2023 in the amount of UAH 16.106 million is planned to be left undistributed. The total net profit of the company for 2023 amounted to UAH 61.065 mln.
Payment of dividends will be made in full directly to shareholders in the order established by the legislation within six months from the date of adoption of the relevant decision by the general meeting of shareholders.
IC “VUSO” was founded in 2001. The company holds 50 licenses: 34 – for voluntary and 16 – for compulsory types of insurance, is represented in all regions of Ukraine. It is a member of the Motor (Transport) Insurance Bureau of Ukraine (MTSBU), the League of Insurance Organizations of Ukraine, and also a member of the Nuclear Insurance Pool.
The State Migration Service of Ukraine clarified that military-duty citizens of Ukraine, who submitted documents for execution until April 25, 2024 in the State Enterprise “Document”, will be able to receive manufactured passports abroad without presenting any additional documents.
“Male citizens of Ukraine aged 18-60 years old, who have submitted documents for passport production until April 25, 2024 in SE “Document”, will be able to receive manufactured passports abroad, without presenting any additional documents. Relevant messages indicating the date, time and place of issuance will be sent in the order of priority of document submission,” the statement reads.
According to the SMS, it transmits information about such persons to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, and they automatically become on the military registration without passing the military medical commission.
As reported, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Ihor Klymenko said that today the mandatory condition for registration and obtaining passports by Ukrainian male citizens aged 18-60 years, who are abroad, remains “the presence of military registration documents”.
issuance of passports, Migration Service, military conscripts abroad
Saudi Arabia has supported the idea of holding a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin on its territory and reaffirmed its ongoing efforts to achieve a lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine, the press service of the Saudi Foreign Ministry reported.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia highly appreciates the telephone conversation held between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 12, as well as the announcement of the possibility of holding a summit between their esteemed two presidents in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” the statement said.
The ministry added that the Kingdom welcomes the summit in Saudi Arabia and reaffirms its ongoing efforts to achieve a lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine.
It is noted that on March 3, 2022, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the KSA Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, during telephone conversations with Putin and Zelensky, “expressed the Kingdom’s readiness to provide its mediation services to achieve a political settlement of the crisis.”
“Over the past three years, the Kingdom has continued these efforts, in particular by organizing numerous meetings on this issue,” the Foreign Ministry added.
In January-June 2024, Ukrzaliznytsia (UZ) increased its revenue by 19.51% compared to the same period in 2023 to UAH 53.9 billion, while decreasing its profit by 33.2% to UAH 3.17 billion, according to its interim condensed consolidated unaudited financial statements as of June 30, 2024.
According to the report for 6 months. 2024 on the official website of UZ, revenues from freight transportation in January-June increased by 17.8% to UAH 43.01 billion. At the same time, revenues from passenger and baggage transportation grew even more significantly by 22.15% to UAH 5.35 billion.
At the same time, UZ personnel costs in January-June 2024 increased by 24.75% to UAH 24.72 billion compared to the same period in 2023. Electricity costs increased by 56.2% to UAH 7.78 billion. In contrast, fuel costs decreased by 14.92% to UAH 4.62 billion.
Net foreign exchange loss increased 26.2 times to UAH 2.87 billion in the period under review.
Profit before tax decreased by 35.7% to UAH 3.25 billion.
As of June 30, 2024, UZ was involved in litigation with the Ukrainian fiscal authorities regarding the accrual of additional tax liabilities for income tax, VAT and other taxes in the amount of UAH 1.1 billion, including additional fines and penalties. As of June 30, 2024, the group’s potential loss from third-party claims in other litigation and arbitration proceedings amounted to UAH 1.3 billion, compared to UAH 1.63 billion in 2023, the report says.
The UZ group includes the parent company JSC Ukrainian Railways, PJSC Dnipropetrovs’k Diesel Locomotive Repair Plant, PJSC Zaporizhzhya Electric Locomotive Repair Plant, PJSC Lviv Locomotive Repair Plant, PJSC Kyiv Electric Car Repair Plant, PrJSC “Korosten Reinforced Concrete Sleepers Plant”, PrJSC “Hnivan Special Reinforced Concrete Plant”, PrJSC “Kyiv Electrotechnical Plant ‘Transsignal’, LLC ‘UZ Cargo Wagon’, LLC ‘Zbut Energy Ltd’ (together with subsidiaries), 65.62% of PrJSC ‘Tast-Garantia’, 50.004% of PrJSC IC ‘Inter-Poly’ Ukraine, 100% of UZ Cargo Poland sp. z.o.o Poland.
As of February 10, Ukraine exported 78 thsd tonnes of soybeans, its reserves are estimated at 3.4 mln tonnes, which is significantly higher than the previous season, when they amounted to 2.6-2.7 mln tonnes, according to the analytical cooperative “Pusk”, created within the framework of the All-Ukrainian Agrarian Council (AAC).
According to analysts, the situation indicates the need to intensify sales in February-April, as in May-June traders will focus on the new harvest of grain and rapeseed.
“We have enough soybeans, and it is too early to worry. However, the demand may decrease closer to spring, which will affect prices. Therefore, it is important to take this factor into account and plan sales accordingly,” they said.
The experts reminded that the situation on the global market also affects Ukrainian exports. In Brazil, harvesting is delayed due to high soybean moisture, which leads to significant losses in the fields. This could change global balances and support prices. In addition, the market is waiting for the updated USDA report, which may adjust the forecasts for production in South America.
“If the crop losses in Brazil and Argentina are confirmed, this could be an additional factor in price growth. Already, the seasonal model shows that in late February and early March we may see the level of $400-405 per ton on a CPT basis, and potentially even $410-415 per ton,” analysts predict.
According to their information, the prices for soybeans on the domestic market of Ukraine are currently stable and amount to $388-393 per ton in ports, 17 500-17 700 UAH/ton at processors.
At the same time, the main restraining factor is the weak soybean meal market, which is why processors cannot actively compete with exporters.
In the coming months, according to analysts, some traders may try to increase margins, especially in May-June, when the focus will shift to the new harvest. “We have already seen similar situations in the market, so it is important to be prepared for possible price fluctuations,” Pusk summarized.
