The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved the National Strategy for the Creation of Barrier-Free Space in Ukraine until 2030 in accordance with the decree of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and within the framework of the initiative of First Lady Olena Zelenska Without Barriers, according to a posting on the website of the head of state on Wednesday.
“It is important for me that the Cabinet of Ministers approved the first National Strategy for creating a barrier-free space in Ukraine. It seems to me that now it is very relevant. A demand for barrier-free space has formed in society, and only systemic actions are capable of breaking down barriers in society. Strategy is the first, but an important step,” Zelenska said.
As noted in the report, the National Strategy is the first comprehensive document in Ukraine that provides for the creation of a barrier-free space in all spheres of life and for all social groups, including people with disabilities, the elderly, youth, women, parents of young children and children with disabilities.
A wide range of experts, public and charitable organizations, and specialized specialists were involved in the creation of the National Strategy. It was developed by an interdepartmental working group under the Cabinet of Ministers, which included 11 ministers, MPs, representatives of the Office of the President of Ukraine, the National Institute for Strategic Studies, civil society and experts.
Also during the meeting, the government supported the proposal of the spouse of the head of state to create a Barrier-Free Council, which will monitor and control the implementation of this Strategy.
The Barrier Free Council is an advisory body under the Cabinet of Ministers, which will monitor the implementation of the planned activities, develop and implement programs, and report on the implementation of benchmarks. It will include representatives of the government, local government, civil society, experts and scientists.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked Prime Minister of Japan Yoshihide Suga and invited him to Kiev to celebrate the Independence Day of Ukraine.
“Glad to talk to Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. Grateful to Japan for supporting Ukraine’s territorial integrity. The support of G7 & in particular Japan, one of our key partners, is crucial. I’ll be glad to see you in Kyiv at the celebration of Ukraine’s IndependenceDay & at the Crimean Platform summit,” Zelensky wrote on Twitter on Wednesday.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (Parliament) adopted at first reading bill No. 5308, which proposes the issue of securities for UAH 20 billion for the implementation of the Affordable Mortgage president’s program.
The bill in the first reading was supported by 263 MPs. “The bill provides that the Ministry of Finance shall issue government domestic loan bonds… with the subsequent acquisition of shares in state ownership in exchange for the shares of the additional issue of Ukrainian Financial Housing Company to provide citizens with housing and resolve issues of financial and economic activities of the company in connection with the accession to the State Mortgage Institution,” one of the authors of the bill, a member of the Rada budget committee Lesia Zaburanna said from the rostrum of parliament.
Currently, the activities of the State Mortgage Institution are unprofitable, she added.
According to the lawmaker, the adoption of this bill will allow continuing the implementation of existing state programs and will allow in the short term providing about 8,000 mortgage loans for the purchase of housing. It would be possible to buy 12,000 apartments for subsequent transfer to financial leasing.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky will visit France on Friday, April 16, where he is to meet with President Emmanuel Macron, Le Figaro reported. It is noted that the visit is associated with an increase in tension in Ukraine due to the military buildup of the Russian Federation on its borders. The presidents of the two countries will meet during a working lunch at the Elysee Palace.
As reported, Zelensky may meet with French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss escalation in Donbas and reforms in Ukraine.
“The main purpose of the visit is to meet with Macron tête-à-tête,” French Ambassador to Ukraine Etienne de Poncins said in an interview with KyivPost.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky will pay a working visit to Turkey on April 10, the president’s press service has said.
“The head of state will meet with President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan,” the website of the head of state said.
The ninth meeting of the Turkey-Ukraine High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council will be held under the co-chairmanship of the presidents of the two states.
In addition, a number of bilateral documents are planned to be signed during the visit.
PRESIDENT ZELENSKY, RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN, TURKEY, VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY
A meeting between President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and President of the Republic of Lithuania Gitanas Nauseda, who will pay an official visit to Ukraine, will take place on Thursday, March 18, the press service of the President of Ukraine reported.
The official welcoming ceremony will begin at 11:00 at the Mariyinsky Palace.
The signing ceremony of the Ukrainian-Lithuanian bilateral documents is scheduled for 13:10, and at 13:25 the presidents of Ukraine and the Republic of Lithuania will meet with media representatives.
