Ukrainian world heavyweight champion according to the WBA, WBO, WBC and IBO, Oleksandr Usyk, and British boxer Tyson Fury held their first press conference before the rematch for the world heavyweight title, the meeting took place in London on Wednesday, October 23, reports Suspilne Sport.
Usyk appeared in front of the audience in the image of “Hitman” from the popular media franchise. He took the stage with a briefcase containing posters of his fight against Fury – the Briton signed them at the request of his opponent.
When asked about his motivation before the rematch, the Ukrainian explained: “Only my regimen, my concentration is my motivation. That’s enough”.
Fury, for his part, reminded that the Briton has won all the rematches in his career so far. The former WBC champion hopes to be composed in the second fight with Usyk and rehabilitate himself for his debut defeat.
It is reported that the second fight between Usyk and Fury will take place on December 21 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Three major heavyweight titles will be at stake: the WBC, WBA, and WBO versions.
A map of international partnerships of Ukrainian cities and towns was presented at the International Conference on Ukraine’s Recovery, which is taking place in Germany on June 11-12, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
“During the International Conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine presented a map of international partnerships of Ukrainian cities and towns. The database was prepared by the Association of Ukrainian Cities together with the Council of European Municipalities and Regions,” he wrote in his Telegram channel on Wednesday.
Klitschko noted that now only a third of Ukrainian communities have partners in other countries, of which 200 – among municipalities in Germany.
“Today at the conference discussed the further development of such cooperation. Because, as our partners emphasize, it is the cooperation of cities, strengthening local self-government is key to strengthening European democracy. And also – for the future reconstruction of Ukraine,” – wrote Klitschko.
https://interfax.com.ua/news/regions/993178.html
More than 2,000 people from over 60 countries will participate in the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC-2024), which Germany and Ukraine will co-host on June 11 and 12 in Berlin, the German Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Economic Cooperation and Development said in a press release on Friday.
“Together with numerous partners from politics, business, civil society and municipalities, we want to use the Ukraine Recovery Conference to do everything we can to support Ukraine on its path of reform and recovery. Our common message is clear: we stand firmly by Ukraine’s side and support it with all our strength – as long as it needs us,” German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock was quoted as saying in the release.
She noted that Ukraine is defending the free European way of life with great determination, and Germany and the EU, for their part, continue to provide Ukraine with all-round support: economic, humanitarian and political, as well as supplying much-needed weapons.
“We are doing everything possible so that Ukraine can soon have a seat at the negotiating table in the European Union,” the German foreign minister added.
German Development Minister Svenja Schulze emphasized that even in the current wartime, Ukraine needs to constantly rebuild homes, water pipes, hospitals and power grids.
“Surrendering is not an option. People want to continue living in their country, and for that they need electricity, water and a roof over their heads. The reconstruction conference in Berlin is a strong message of solidarity. Partners from around the world are joining forces to support Ukraine’s reconstruction,” the minister said.
According to her, this task is too big to be solved by governments alone, so companies, civil society and municipalities have been invited to the conference.
It is specified that more than 2,000 conference participants represent approximately equal parts of three groups: governments and international organizations; businesses and civil society; and municipalities and regions. In particular, more than 600 representatives of Ukrainian, German and international companies from such sectors as energy, healthcare, logistics and armament, as well as representatives of municipalities and civil society will present their work in the framework of URC-2024.
“The goal of the conference is to bring together this wide range of activities and target them to address Ukraine’s short- and long-term recovery needs,” Schulze summarized.
The release announces the launch at the upcoming conference of a new initiative for skilled workers, a skills alliance for Ukraine, and an alliance for SMEs, as well as a host of other cooperative agreements.
It is pointed out that for the first time at the Ukraine Recovery Conference, Germany, as co-organizer, is focusing on social and community recovery in areas such as education, health, and municipal and regional recovery.
“To ensure Ukraine’s early accession to the EU, the focus is also on the necessary reforms in Ukraine. In some 30 panels, participants will address this wide range of topics under the motto “United in Defense. United in Recovery. Stronger Together,” the release noted.
According to the currently available program, the conference will be attended, in particular, by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, foreign ministers of Germany, Italy, Great Britain, France, Poland and the U.S. special envoy for Ukraine’s recovery, as well as heads of leading international financial organizations.
The Ukraine Reconstruction Conference in Berlin is the third reconstruction conference to be held since Russia’s full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine began in 2022. In July 2022 in Lugano, Switzerland, conference participants agreed on guiding principles for Ukraine’s recovery: the recovery process should be reform-oriented, transparent, democratic and sustainable. The 2023 Ukraine Recovery Conference in London focused on mobilizing the private sector. In 2025, Italy will co-host the recovery conference with Ukraine.
On the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue summit, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the heads of leading Singaporean investment companies, the press service of the Ukrainian president reports.
“The event was attended by the heads of Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC, Temasek Holdings, Wilmar International, the Singapore Business Federation, Blackstone Singapore, telecommunications operator SingTel, Universal Success Enterprises, and construction company Meinhardt Group,” the statement said.
During the meeting, Zelensky emphasized that the Ukrainian economy, even in difficult conditions of war, finds ways to develop and grow, adapting to new circumstances.
In addition, Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to Singaporean businessmen who continue to work in Ukraine and keep their jobs.
The President also emphasized that there is great potential for further development of Ukrainian-Singaporean trade cooperation, especially in the field of technology and innovation.
Zelenskyy also reaffirmed Ukraine’s commitment to creating additional attractive incentives for investors.
“The Head of State invited Singaporean investors to take part in a joint conference with the EU on the restoration, reform and modernization of the Ukrainian economy to be held in Berlin. A program for mobilizing international financial support, implementing long-term projects and creating attractive conditions for investing in Ukraine’s economy will be presented there,” the statement said.
Perlyna Resort Hotel Complex (40 Poleva St., Sokyrna village, Cherkasy region)
May 15
Arrival, accommodation and pre-registration
Optional departure to Kaniv and climbing the Chernecha (Tarasova) mountain
May 16th
8:30-9:30
Registration, welcome coffee
9:30-9:45
Opening of the conference: greetings from the organizers, Cherkasy Regional Military Administration, general partner of the conference
9:45-11:20
Panel discussion “Challenges of 2024 for the state and agri-food business and ways to solve them”
Moderator: Olena Kovaleva
Taras Vysotskyi, agrarian policy expert of the IPSA project
First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine – Oleksandr Krasnolutskyi
First Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine – Yuriy Vaskov
Deputy Minister of Development of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure (pending confirmation) – Viktor Sheremeta
First Vice President of the Association of Farmers and Private Landowners of Ukraine – Andriy Tabalov
Chairman of the Supervisory Board of PJSC Cherkasy Bakery
11:20-11:40
Coffee break
11:40-13:00
Panel discussion “Sustainability of value chains in the bread industry”
Moderator: Oleksandr Taranenko
First Vice President of the UBA, Deputy General Director of Bread Investments LLC (TM “Tsar Khlib”, “Teremno”, CHANTA) – Nadiya Bigun
Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine – Arsen Zhumadilov
Director General of the State Logistics Operator – Yaroslav Zheleznyak
First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Finance, Taxation and Customs Policy – Oleh Hetman
Coordinator of expert groups of the Economic Expert Platform – Natalia Petrivska
Executive Director of the Ukrainian Food Retail Alliance – Vladyslav Averchenko
General Director of Concern Khlibprom PJSC (TM Agrola, Vinnytsiakhlib, Bandinelli, Grill & Bakery, etc.)
13:00-13:50
Lunch
13:50-15:00
Panel discussion “Do consumers’ desires and producers’ capabilities coincide?”
Moderator: Oleksandr Varavka
Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Alviva Group (Kyivkhlib, Kyivmlyn, Stolychnyi Mlyn) – Maryna Zabarylo
Director of Consumer Panel Services GfK Ukraine – Oleksiy Starikov
Commercial Director of Firma Strilets LLC (TM Zodiac) – Dmytro Zhygunov
Professor, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Head of the Department of Grain Processing Technologies, OtU
15:00-15:20
Coffee break
15:20-17:30
Panel discussion “Alternative raw materials, innovative technologies, innovative products”
Moderator: Boris Shestopalov
Co-owner of HD-Group and GFS Group (TM Khlibodar, Zaporizhmlyn, Pervyi Khlib, EveryDay) – Sergiy Sots
Dean of the Faculty of Grain Technology and Grain Business, Odesa National Technological University, PhD – Sergiy Tonkonog
Representative of Astra Group
Representative of USAID-Agro
Representatives of enterprises and companies
18:00-21:00
Friendly dinner from the general partner – Formula Smaku group of companies
May 17
9:30-11:30
Panel discussion “How to increase exports of Ukrainian value-added products?”
Moderator: Rodion Rybchynskyi
Director of the Union “Millers of Ukraine” – Igor Novitsky
General Director of First Mill LLC – Oleksandr Yasynskyi
Commercial Director of Terra LLC – Viktor Zhabchyk
Co-owner and director of VILIS PE (TM VILIS, ChiBi, Makarella, Italino, Viverelli)
Representative of AGA Partners Law firm
11:30-12:00
Coffee break
12:00-17:00
Offsite session (parallel sessions, lunch will be provided at each session)
Location 1.
CherkasyElevatorMash LLC – specialized session “New products based on extrusion. Demonstration of equipment and products”
Location 2.
Cherkasy Bread LLC – specialized session “What is more profitable to invest in today – technology or marketing?”
Location 3.
“Bo Khlib – specialized session “Is it possible to make money on a bread franchise?”
* The program is subject to change
Interfax-Ukraine and open4business – information partner
Switzerland intends to hold a high-level conference on a settlement in Ukraine in mid-June, Bloomberg reported on Monday, citing sources.
“The conference may take place on June 16-17, but it is not yet clear how many countries will participate,” the agency informs, noting that it could be 80-100 countries, representing mainly the “global South.”
According to the agency’s interlocutors, the key issue is China’s participation, which will allow Switzerland to “ensure the credibility of the initiative.”
A representative of the Swiss Foreign Ministry noted that the date and venue of the conference are still unknown. The agency’s sources said it could be held in the Swiss city of Lucerne.
“In addition to the positions of Ukraine, Russia and Europe, it is important to hear the opinion of the “global South”, which will play a key role in the possible inclusion of Russia in this process. That is why we maintain close contacts with China, India, Brazil, South Africa and Saudi Arabia,” the Swiss Foreign Ministry spokesman added.
Bloomberg notes that several countries insist on Russia’s participation in the conference, but Kyiv wants to reach an agreement on key principles that “will form the basis for a future agreement” before engaging Moscow in the dialogue.
