According to preliminary calculations, Kyiv city budget will lose one third of its revenues, i.e. more than UAH 20 billion, because of the Russian aggression, according to the press service of mayor of the Ukrainian capital Vitali Klitschko.
He noted that today it is impossible to calculate this amount accurately because the war is still going on. “It is not quite correct to make monthly calculations because the budget is envisaged for one year. In general for 2022 we, according to preliminary calculations, will receive a third of the budget shortfall. That is more than UAH 20 billion. But, I emphasize, that these are preliminary estimates,” Klitschko said on the air of radio NV.
The mayor noted that at present the city’s economy is slowly coming back to life, businesses are coming back to work. Also, the percentage of payment for utility services provided is growing in the capital.
“For example, 55% of Kyiv citizens paid for utilities for March. And I am very grateful to them for that since these funds were spent for the necessary materials. They were spent on salaries to employees of enterprises, who, often risking their lives, provide the city with all services,” Klitschko said.
Chargé d’Affaires of the United States in Ukraine Christina Quinn said that she had returned to Kyiv.
“Just arrived in Kyiv! Glad to be back here on Victory in Europe Day. Glory to Ukraine! We are together with Ukraine,” the embassy tweeted on Sunday evening.
According to preliminary calculations, Kyiv city budget will lose one third of its revenues, i.e. more than UAH 20 billion, because of the Russian aggression, according to the press service of mayor of the Ukrainian capital Vitali Klitschko.
He noted that today it is impossible to calculate this amount accurately because the war is still going on. “It is not quite correct to make monthly calculations because the budget is envisaged for one year. In general for 2022 we, according to preliminary calculations, will receive a third of the budget shortfall. That is more than UAH 20 billion. But, I emphasize, that these are preliminary estimates,” Klitschko said on the air of radio NV.
The mayor noted that at present the city’s economy is slowly coming back to life, businesses are coming back to work. Also, the percentage of payment for utility services provided is growing in the capital.
“For example, 55% of Kyiv citizens paid for utilities for March. And I am very grateful to them for that since these funds were spent for the necessary materials. They were spent on salaries to employees of enterprises, who, often risking their lives, provide the city with all services,” said Klitschko.
Ukraine needs to unite the position of the Europeans today, because this will achieve greater success and victory in the battle with Russia, believes boxer, brother of the mayor of Kyiv Vladimir Klitschko.
“The leader of Germany’s largest opposition party, the Christian Democratic Union, Friedrich Merz, was in Kyiv today. He met with the top leadership of Ukraine, met with the mayor of the capital. He expressed support and assured of further assistance to our state. And we are grateful for this. I am convinced that Ukraine today critically needs reliable and powerful partners, with whom it is necessary to talk, develop cooperation, be grateful for something, convince of something,” Klitschko wrote on Facebook on Wednesday.
He noted that Germany was concerned that Ukraine refused to accept German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
“The non-diplomatic statements of the Ukrainian ambassador to the German chancellor are also adding fuel to the fire. Now is not the time for emotions and excessive eloquence! I am sure that President Zelensky must nevertheless take a politically balanced step and invite the President of Germany, Ukraine’s strategic partner state, to Kyiv. We we need to unite the position of the Europeans today – this is how we will achieve greater success for our country and victory in the battle with the Russian aggressor,” Klitschko summed up.
In April, the German publication Bild, citing its own sources, reported that German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier planned to come to Kyiv along with government delegations from other EU countries, but Zelensky allegedly did not want to meet him because of the close ties of the German leader with Russia.
Later, Steinmeier himself said that Kyiv considered his possible visit to Ukraine undesirable, adding that Polish President Andrzej Duda had proposed a joint trip to Ukraine in recent days in order to “give a strong signal of European solidarity with Ukraine.”
Against this background, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, according to the German edition Der Tagesspiegel, criticized Ukraine’s refusal to receive the German president on a visit, calling it “somewhat confusing” and urged not to underestimate the fact that Germany supplies Ukraine with anti-aircraft missiles and many other goods military purpose.
On April 13, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said that the Office of the President of Ukraine had not received a request from the Office of the President of Germany regarding the visit of German leader Frank-Walter Steinmeier to Ukraine.
At the same time, he stressed that in the conditions of war and the daily death of people in Ukraine, she has the right to afford “to receive and be in the circle of those leaders of countries who really support her.”
On Wednesday, May 4, the Swedish Embassy in Ukraine will resume its work in Kyiv, Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde said.
“On Wednesday, the Swedish Embassy will reopen in Kyiv. Thanks to Tobias Tyberg for the time and for your hard work, and Poland for temporarily hosting us. Sweden will continue to be with Ukraine and is glad that Sweden will return to Ukraine,” Linde wrote in Twitter on Monday.
The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Ukraine will resume work in Kyiv on May 5, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea has reported.
“Our embassy is preparing to resume its activities on May 5 and plans to carry out diplomatic affairs and protect foreign citizens in Kyiv in close cooperation with the government of Ukraine,” the Korean Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday.
As noted, Ambassador Kim Hyung Tae and some employees who have been working in a temporary office in Chernivtsi have already returned to Kyiv. The remaining staff in temporary offices in Chernivtsi and Romania are considering a plan for a phased return to Kyiv, while monitoring the local situation going forward.
