Ukraine will participate in the joint application of Spain and Portugal to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, reports The Times on Tuesday.
Under the move, which is believed to have been sanctioned by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the national governments of Spain and Portugal, the country will host one of the tournament’s groups.
The new partnership is to be officially announced by the football leaders of Spain and Portugal during a press conference at UEFA headquarters on Wednesday.
The proposal uses the idea that football can restore hope and peace. While security guarantees will be needed, by 2030 the Russian invasion is expected to end and the country’s recovery is well under way.
Spain soon intends to return the embassy to Kyiv, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Monday.
“Soon we will reopen the Spanish embassy in Kyiv,” he said in an interview with the Antena 3 TV channel.
Ukraine International Airlines (UIA, Kyiv) has received an official message from insurance companies about the termination of aircraft insurance for flights in Ukraine’s airspace.
“Due to the foreign policy situation, Ukraine International Airlines has received an official notification from insurance companies to terminate the insurance of aircraft for flights in the airspace of Ukraine. In this regard, UIA, at the request of lessors, sends five Boeing 737-800 aircraft to Spain while retaining other aircraft in the company’s fleet. In addition, two aircraft of the airline are sent for scheduled engine maintenance in Belgrade,” the airline said in the official statement on Monday.
UIA also reported that negotiations are underway with insurance companies, the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine and the State Aviation Service. The airline hopes for mutual understanding.
Earlier, on February 13, a working meeting was held at the Ministry of Infrastructure with the participation of the leadership of the President’s Office, the State Aviation Service of Ukraine, the state-owned enterprise UkSATSE, Boryspil International Airport and Ukrainian airlines on the situation in the air transportation market. As a result of the meeting, a solution was worked out to prevent further aggravation of the situation.
As a source of Interfax-Ukraine notes, Azur Air Ukraine and Windrose were not present at the meeting and did not request assistance with the insurance situation.
Then, also on February 13, the Cabinet of Ministers decided to allocate UAH 16.6 billion from the state budget’s reserve fund to the Ministry of Infrastructure to ensure the safety of aircraft flights in the country’s airspace. The allocated funds cover insured events for at least 23 aircraft.
According to information available to Interfax-Ukraine, SkyUp airline has submitted seven Boeing 737-800 aircraft to the list, Bees Airline – four of the same aircraft. Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) has submitted a list of 12 aircraft: four Embraer ERJ 190-100, six Boeing 737-800 and two Boeing 737-900ER.
The Verkhovna Rada Budget Committee on the evening of February 13 agreed on the redistribution of UAH 16.6 billion of state budget expenditures by reducing expenditures under the public debt service budget program to finance an additional state mechanism for flight safety insurance in Ukraine.
Nova Poshta Global, a member of the Nova Poshta group of companies, has begun delivering goods from online stores in Spain and France, you can now order them through the NP Shopping website, the company’s press service said.
“Our customers got direct access to some of the best products in terms of quality and range. Spain is a country of shopping for your favorite brands, where you can buy products from the first collections much cheaper than ours. And in French online stores it’s easy to find exclusive goods and please yourself what you can’t find in our stores, or buy a third cheaper than in Ukraine. Our goal is for everyone to be able to buy goods around the world as easily and with pleasure as in Ukrainian stores,” Olha Volodina, the deputy director for products development and marketing of Nova Poshta Global, said.
The company notes that the cost of delivery of the order depends on the weight of the package: 0-1 kg – from $5, 1-5 kg – from $4; 5-30 kg – from $3.5.
Currently, online stores from nine countries are already available for ordering through the NP Shopping website: the United States, Italy, Turkey, China, UK, Germany, Poland, France and Spain.
Nova Poshta Global has been providing international express delivery services since 2015. In 2021, the company delivered over 9.3 million international parcels, up 32% from 2020 volumes.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain José Manuel Albares Bueno will pay a visit to Ukraine on February 8-9 at the invitation of Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
According to the press service of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, the ministers will hold talks, the key topics of which will be support and containment of the Russian Federation from further aggression. The parties will also discuss the increase in trade and investment between Ukraine and Spain.
On Wednesday, February 9 at 10:20, the ministers will hold a joint online press conference.
Spain will open for citizens of Ukraine on July 27 in accordance with the recommendations of the EU Council, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said.
“Spain will open for Ukrainians from July 27 in accordance with the decision of the EU Council. Visa-free travel returns. Freedom of travel for Ukrainians is among the priorities of the Foreign Ministry,” Kuleba wrote on his page in Twiiter on Saturday.
The minister said that upon entering the country, it is necessary to present a certificate of complete vaccination or a fresh negative test for COVID-19.