Ukraine and Poland will create a joint logistics venture designed to dramatically increase the volume of rail transportation of Ukrainian exports to the EU and to world markets through Europe, Ukrzaliznytsia said on Saturday evening. The corresponding memorandum was signed on that day by the prime ministers of the two countries Denis Szmigal and Mateusz Morawiecki in Krakow.
Ukrzaliznytsia noted that the creation of such a joint venture is the answer of the railway workers to the challenges posed by Russia’s aggression to both countries. In particular, we are talking about the need to expand railroads for goods that cannot be delivered through ports blocked by the Russians and part of the railway network of Ukraine, which today no longer has links with Russia and Belarus.
“We started preparing the concept of a joint venture with our Polish colleagues as early as a week after the start of the war. Combining the experience and knowledge of Ukrzaliznytsia managers and Polish colleagues will allow us to formulate unique logistics proposals for the European and world market, which refuses Russian deliveries and Russian logistics,” the statement says. in the release of the words of the head of the board of the company Alexander Kamyshina.
The parties also agreed to work together to increase cargo transportation across the western border of Ukraine, jointly solving technical and organizational problems: various customs rules, the use of different railway lines, and the search for free rolling stock.
Ukraine and Poland have signed a Memorandum on strengthening cooperation in the railway sector, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said. “I met with the great friend of Ukraine, Prime Minister of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki. We discussed the resumption of our country from the consequences of Russian aggression. We signed a Memorandum on strengthening cooperation in the railway sector. After Russia unleashed a full-scale war, Poland became a key logistics center for helping Ukraine. Particularly close cooperation takes place at the level of iron roads of the two countries, and such interaction should be strengthened,” Shmygal wrote on the Telegram channel.
According to him, the memorandum provides for the creation of a joint logistics venture between the two countries, which will dramatically increase the volume of rail transportation of Ukrainian exports to the EU and world markets through Europe.
At a meeting with Secretary-General of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Mathias Cormann, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal welcomed the intention of the OECD to open a regional office in Kyiv.
“I informed the OECD Secretary-General about the creation in Ukraine of a plan and a fund for the restoration of our state. We strive to change the country and the economic model, based on the best world standards. Our goal is based on the principles promoted by the Ukrainian people: a European future, a transparent state and an open economy,” Shmyhal said on his Telegram channel following the meeting.
The prime minister said it is important for Ukraine to use the best practices of the OECD and implement them in the near future.
“I welcomed the intention to open a regional office of the OECD in Kyiv, this is an excellent opportunity to strengthen and accelerate our cooperation,” Shmyhal said.
Shmyhal also said the ‘green’ economy is the basic principle of the new economic model of Ukraine.
“Russia has destroyed and continues to destroy our infrastructure. There is no point in returning to the old models, so we intend to restore it according to modern principles and the latest technologies,” he said.
In addition, the prime minister said that Ukraine intends to make corporatization even more efficient, and in this matter counts on active assistance from the OECD.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Friday reiterated that Ankara is ready to organize a meeting of the heads of Russia and Ukraine, Anadolu said.
“Turkey is making efforts to continue the Istanbul process between Russia and Ukraine, and is ready to organize a dialogue at the level of heads of state,” the agency said.
Erdoğan also expressed hope for progress in the Ukrainian-Russian negotiations.
“There is progress. However, they are far from desired. We hope for progress. We do not lose hope,” Anadolu said, citing the Turkish leader.
Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmygal discussed with US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo the development of bilateral trade and the reduction of trade barriers.
“Denis Shmihal noted the importance of continuing and strengthening sanctions pressure on Russia in order to reduce its ability to finance the war against Ukraine. An important blow to bleed the Russian economy and the Russian military machine should be the sanctions of the energy sector. According to the head of government, this concerns the imposition by partner countries of an embargo on the import of oil, gas, coal and nuclear fuel from Russia,” the government’s press service said in a statement.
Shmyhal urged countries to look for ways to diversify sources of nuclear fuel supplies to reduce dependence on Russia.
The prime minister also focused on the need to identify and eliminate any loopholes and potential opportunities for Russia to circumvent the already imposed sanctions.
“Russia is trying to adapt to some sanctions with the help of certain countries and companies. We will work with our partners to eliminate such opportunities for Russia,” he stressed.
It is noted6 that one of the most important tracks, according to Shmyhal, is a large-scale restriction of Russia’s trade opportunities while expanding the opportunities for unhindered trade for Ukraine by reducing import quotas and barriers for strategic sectors of Ukrainian industry.
According to him, along with the financial support of international partners, it is equally important for Ukraine to open new markets for Ukrainian-made products, in particular, this applies to products of the steel industry and the agro-industrial complex.
In particular, Shmyhal noted that the release of Ukrainian steel from US duties would allow for a stable supply of metallurgical enterprises with orders, and thousands of Ukrainian metallurgists with jobs.
COOPERATION, PM, UKRAINE, US
Ukraine is negotiating a potential issue of “peace bonds” designed for retail investors from the US and European diaspora, Bloomberg reported citing sources.
“Ukraine is in talks with the EU and the US to issue so-called ‘peace bonds’ to retail investors to fund the war effort and reconstruction,” the agency said, citing a source familiar with the discussion.
The European Commission has proposed recommendations and the role of an intermediary regarding the control of new bonds. According to the source, Ukraine and the EU held relevant negotiations.
Earlier, the Treasury Department indicated that it was discussing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission the possibility of allowing US citizens to buy Ukraine’s war bonds. According to the source, the Ukrainian government is represented by an international law firm in the placement of bonds on the US market. At present, war bonds have allowed the Ministry of Finance to raise $1.53 billion, the IMF – $1.4 billion, the NBU – $1.3, the World Bank – $1 billion, EU – $0.79 billion, the report says.
