Since 2015, Ukraine has received from the European Union, as well as from EU member states, about EUR 18 billion of assistance, which is many times higher than the amount of financial assistance provided to Kyiv by the United States in the form of loan guarantees in the amount of $1 billion, Special Adviser to the President of the European Commission on relations with Ukraine, former European Parliament deputy from Germany Elmar Brok said.
“The United States has given 1 billion on loan… The European Union has given 11 billion on loan in runs, another 3 billion has been given via international financial institutions [EUR], and alone Germany has given 1.4 billion [EUR]. So, let’s say altogether the European Union member states have given at least EUR 18 billion in the last five years. That is the real figures,” Brok said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine, commenting on accusations against the EU and, in particular, Germany and France that they are not providing enough assistance to Ukraine which was voiced during a telephone conversation between the presidents of Ukraine and the United States, Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump.
At the same time, the European politician emphasized that a substantial part of the EUR 18 billion provided to Ukraine by the European Union and its members are grants, while Washington does not provide anything to Kyiv for free.
Brok also recalled that in addition to the amount he mentioned, the European Union also provided other assistance to Ukraine, which is stated in the agreements between Kyiv and Brussels, such as the Association Agreement and the FTA and the visa-free regime between the parties.
“The United States has not given such agreements. Look, the EU gives twenty times more to Ukraine than the Americans,” the special adviser to the president of the European Commission said on relations with Ukraine.
The Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture has included the Winter Sport (Vinnytsia) and Chortkiv-West (Chortkiv, Ternopol region) industrial parks in the register of industrial parks. Including in the register of these parks is stipulated in ministry orders No. 151 of October 2 and No. 152 of October 3. Winter Sport was established on a land plot of 25 hectares, its operational life is 50 years. The priority activities in the park will be production of sports equipment for winter sports, equipment for scuba diving, as well as other components, placement of warehouse and administrative premises, as well as information technology enterprises.
According to preliminary calculations, up to 1,450 new jobs can be created in the park.
According to the state register, HEAD Vinnytsia LLC with a charter capital of UAH 10,000 was registered in October 2018. Some 100% of its shares belong to HEAD Ukraine, and the ultimate beneficiaries are three non-resident individuals.
Chortkiv-West was created on a land plot of 87.684 ha, the declared term of its operation is 30 years.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says that trade between Ukraine and Belarus should exceed $6 billion.
“Trade between our countries exceeds $5 billion. I agree with Alexander Grigoryevich [Lukashenko] that we could and should achieve six, eight – we don’t want to stop – billion dollars,” he said at the Second Forum of Regions of Ukraine and Belarus in Zhytomyr on Friday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has hailed the strengthening of Ukraine-Belarus relations at both central and regional levels, as well as that of ties between certain businesses in the two counties.
“A forum like this strengthens the partnership between our countries in all spheres. And, which is highly important, this is not only at the level of capitals – Kyiv and Minsk – but also at the level of our regions and individual businesses,” Zelensky said at the 2nd Forum of Regions of Ukraine and Belarus in Ukraine’s Zhytomyr on Friday.
Commercial contracts valued at $500 million have been signed during the forum, he said.
Nearly 25,000 Hasidim arrived to Ukraine to celebrate Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) 5780, which is celebrated from September 29 through the evening of October 1 this year, according the Jewish calendar.
As a press service of the State Border Guard Service reported on Saturday, for the last 24 hours border guards registered arrival of 5,687 Hasidic pilgrims, who were seeking for entry to Ukraine.
Overall, border guards at the checkpoints in Kyiv, Odesa, Vinnytsia and on the borders with Poland, Slovakia and Romania have already documented the arrival of 24,782 pilgrims in the prescribed manner.
Since the beginning of the arrival of Hasidim from September 6, State Border Service officials refused entry to eight Israeli citizens due to the lack of necessary documents and a ban on entry to Ukraine during a previous visit.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Vadym Prystaiko and State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka Ravinatha Aryasinha, during the 74th session of the UN General Assembly, signed an agreement on visa waiver of citizens who use diplomatic, service or official passports.
“Prystaiko and Aryasinha have signed an agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka on visa waiver for citizens who use diplomatic, service or official passports,” the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine reported on Friday.
The parties discussed topical issues on the agenda of relations between the two countries, emphasizing the importance of intensifying political dialogue and enhancing interaction within international organizations. Issues of protection of interests of citizens of Ukraine and Sri Lanka were separately discussed.
