High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell has announced an additional EUR500 million for Ukraine, he said this at a press conference following a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday.
He said he was pleased to announce that they had reached a political agreement on an additional EUR500 million within the European peacebuilding opportunities. He added they would continue to support Ukraine economically, financially, with humanitarian aid, and support the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
According to Borrell, all member states remain extremely united in supporting Ukraine diplomatically in the international arena, will continue to isolate Russia, call for accountability for war crimes, for violations of international and humanitarian law.
He also said that the EU regards what is happening in Ukraine as large-scale war crimes committed by the Russian armed forces against the Ukrainian people. And this will not remain unpunished. Therefore, they welcome the commission established by the UN Human Rights Council. They welcome the investigation (into these crimes) by the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, the high representative said.
In this regard, he stated that the ministers call on Russia to comply with the decision of the International Court of Justice, according to which it must stop the invasion of Ukraine. Borrell also assured that the EU is ready for further restrictive measures, in coordination with their partners, in order to continue to put pressure on Russia.
More than 75,000 people crossed the state border of Ukraine to the EU and Moldova on March 15, which is about 5% more than the day before, the State Border Guard Service said on Wednesday. “The indicators show that over the past two days, passenger traffic has a tendency to slightly increase. There are no queues of pedestrians and vehicles in almost all directions. The exceptions are the Krakovets checkpoints, as well as Uzhgorod and Tysa, where there are slight accumulations of cars and buses,” the statement said.
According to it, as before, 65-69% of those who left the country in the west first cross the Ukrainian-Polish border.
At the same time, the State Border Guard Service notes a steady flow of people entering Ukraine, the number of which on March 15 amounted to 16,000, including citizens of Ukraine – more than 13,000. “The vast majority are men who are ready to defend the country. Since the beginning of open armed aggression, about 273,000 of our countrymen have returned to Ukraine,” the service said.
The State Border Guard Service recalled that all checkpoints on the western border (except Dzvinkove) operate around the clock.
It also said that over the past day, more than 800 vehicles with humanitarian cargo were registered at the western borders.
According to the UNHCR, as of 13:00 on March 15, a total of 3.06 million people have left Ukraine since the beginning of the war, of which Poland received 1.86 million, Romania and Moldova – 555,300, Hungary – 272,900, and Slovakia – 221,000.
The Ukrainian Hotel & Resort Association (UHRA) is working to provide opportunities for Ukrainian hoteliers to be employed during forced emigration.
As UHRA President Iryna Sedletska said on Facebook, it is primarily about Poland and Romania.
“In Romania, due to friendly relations with the President of Federația Industriei Hoteliere din Româniaei Calin Ile, we managed to agree on priority assistance to refugees from Ukraine in finding work in hotels in Romania, as well as other areas of the Romanian economy, using the resource https://jobs4ukr.com/jobs With the start of preparations for the summer tourist season, hotels in the Constanta region (a resort region on the Black Sea) will agree with FIHR member hotels on the priority consideration of Ukrainians as job candidates,” Sedletska said.
Reportedly, Anastasia Romanenko has been appointed coordinator and regional representative of the UHRA in Romania on all issues of Ukrainian-Romanian cooperation on the placement of Ukrainian refugees in Romanian hotels and other premises, temporary employment and other support for members.
The approved fourth package of sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine situation was published in the Official Journal of the European Union and entered into force on Tuesday.
“This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union,” the journal said.
As previously reported, renewed EU sanctions on Russia include a ban on investment in Russia’s energy sector, but exceptions are made for the peaceful nuclear industry and transportation of energy resources to the EU.
UNESCO will analyze the educational opportunities for temporarily evacuated citizens of Ukraine in the countries of the European Union, the press service of the Ministry of Education and Science said, citing UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education Stefania Giannini.
“Ms. Stefania noted that UNESCO, within the framework of the mandate, will analyze what opportunities for education for temporarily evacuated citizens of Ukraine the EU countries can provide, especially for applicants for higher education. Giannini said that universities in some countries are already actively supporting students and academic staff and are ready to help them in the process of learning and activities,” the press service of the ministry said.
She also testified to the absolute support of the people of Ukraine and noted that UNESCO is ready to provide expert assistance in order to expand and strengthen our system of distance education.
The European Union has transferred the first EUR300 million to Ukraine from a EUR1.2 billion macro-financial assistance package, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Twitter on Friday.
“Putin’s war exerts brutal military and economic pressure on the brave people of Ukraine. Europe stands firmly by their side. Today we disbursed EUR300 million in emergency Macro-Financial Assistance to Ukraine. This is the first payment of a EUR1.2 billion package. So more will come,” she said.
As reported, the decision to provide macro-financial assistance was made by the European Parliament and the European Council on February 24, 2022 and agreed by the European Commission on March 1.
The assistance is divided into two equal tranches: the first is provided without any conditions, and the second after Kyiv fulfills a number of agreements with the EU.
