President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has called the visit of head of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola to Ukraine against the background of the war a manifestation of heroism.
“I would like to sincerely thank you personally, Roberta, and all your team for the fact that at such an important moment for our country, when Ukrainians believe in deeds and concrete steps, you demonstrate heroism to come to Ukraine. And today it is heroism,” Zelensky said during his meeting with Metsola in Kyiv.
He also thanked the head of the European Parliament for the joint telephone talks held several times before the start of the Russian-Ukrainian war.
“The result of these conversations was your appeal to parliamentarians, the world community and some kind of support for Ukraine at the level of the European Parliament. And we highly appreciate these steps. Today we look through the prism of ‘friends and foes’, because we do not have time and there is no gray color for us in international diplomacy. Therefore, the issue of survival is acute. We are glad that you are on the side of light and kindness towards Ukraine,” he added.
Zelensky noted that he was unable to leave Kyiv and personally address the European Parliament, but expressed confidence that “nevertheless, today the voice of Ukraine is heard.”
“And I am glad that there is no status and pathos in our relationship. You have arrived, and this is a very important sign. We will never forget this,” he concluded.
By the decree of the President of Ukraine dated March 31, Roberta Metsola was awarded the Order of Princess Olga.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal says that Ukraine is waiting for proposals from partners on the country’s existing external debts. “Of course, we expect steps and some proposals from our partners on our country’s existing external debts… I think that in the near future we will find a format for how to ease the debt burden of our country. We have started this work, and I think there will be a result in the coming weeks,” Shmyhal said on the air of the national telethon on Friday afternoon. At the same time, the Prime Minister stressed that Ukraine is a responsible payer for its obligations.
Following regular talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky announced the readiness of the Turkish state to become a guarantor of Ukraine’s security.
“Had another conversation with a real friend of Ukraine, President of Turkey Recep Erdogan. Noted the high level of organization of negotiations of delegations in Istanbul. Agreed on further steps towards peace. Thanked for the readiness of Turkey to become the guarantor of security of our state!” Zelensky tweeted.
The experience of the war with Russia has confirmed that new residential buildings in cities should be designed with secure parking lots, as is done in Israel, Ukrainian Minister of Infrastructure Oleksandr Kubrakov said on his Facebook page, talking about his visit to Kharkiv.
In Kharkiv region, the head of the department held a series of meetings, the focus of which, according to him, was the restoration of sustainable logistics for business and the rebuilding of destroyed housing.
“We have a task from the President of Ukraine to build new infrastructure, restore cities and towns, so we are already working in this direction. I remember that more than a month ago I was in Kharkiv and promised Kharkiv residents and mayor of the city Ihor Terekhov to build a new interchange in the city. We will definitely do it,” Kubrakov said.
In Kharkiv, according to the minister, nearly 1,300 multi-storey residential buildings, 70 schools, 54 kindergartens, and 16 hospitals were destroyed. Other cities in the war zone suffered a similar scale of destruction.
“We will have the opportunity to rethink and restart the life of the affected cities. The experience of the war confirms that the design of new houses should already take place with a fortified underground parking (similar to how they do it in Israel), using energy-saving technologies. In particular, the projects ‘Great Construction’ and ‘Energy Independence’ are all about well-thought-out solutions for the development of a modern protected Ukraine,” Kubrakov said.
The Minister also said that the Ministry of Infrastructure collects data on all losses, and Russia will definitely pay for the restoration of our country.
The Minister discussed the restoration of social and transport infrastructure in Kharkiv region with head of the Kharkiv regional military administration Oleh Synehubov.
According to Kubrakov, they have already established systemic logistics for the supply of humanitarian aid in the region. Next in line is the restructuring of supply chains for business.
Rebuilding logistics chains, as the minister explained, is due to the blocking of seaports by the enemy. But solutions are being found in all regions, business continues to operate, and the state is developing all possible options for compensation and reducing the tax and bureaucratic burden on entrepreneurs.
The minister also drew attention to the fact that Kharkiv, even under enemy shelling, remains cleaner and tidier than most of the peaceful cities of Ukraine.
During the summit of the leaders of the European Union and China, which will be held on April 1, the main topic of discussion will be the war waged by Russia against Ukraine and its negative impact on the global security, economic and trade systems.
This was announced by the European Commission on the eve of the summit.
“Given the severity of recent developments, discussion during the summit is expected to focus on Russia’s unjustified and unprovoked aggression against Ukraine and its negative impact on the rules-based system, global security and economy,” the press release said.
In addition, the EU and Chinese leaders will review a comprehensive bilateral agenda between Brussels and Beijing, including trade and investment relations, climate action, digital technology, human rights, post-pandemic economic recovery, and regional issues.
The summit will be held in the format of a videoconference. The EU will be represented by the Presidents of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the Presidents of the European Council Charles Michel, with the participation of High Representative Josep Borrell, China – Prime Minister Li Keqiang.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky called on Australia to join the program for the restoration of the regions of Ukraine, in particular, the coast of the Black and Azov Seas.
We invite the leading states of the world, leading companies and the best specialists to join the project of restoring Ukraine. To take patronage over a region, city or industry in our country in need of restoration. Your state granted ours such a special status of a like-minded country. But we are not only related in our thoughts, we are also related in dreams. Therefore, I invite your country to take a closer look at our southern regions, at our coast of the Black and Azov Seas. The restoration of our ports, the development of cities like Kherson, the restoration of the Ukrainian maritime industry can be a special contribution to stability for you after this terrible war,” he said in a video message to the Australian Parliament on Thursday.
He also called on Australia to join in arms assistance to Ukraine. “You have excellent Bushmaster armored vehicles that can significantly help Ukraine. As well as other models of equipment and weapons that can strengthen our positions,” he said.
“And I hope that the Ukrainian community of Australia, our strong Ukrainian community, will join this work. It will support us now as strongly as in previous years,” Zelensky said.
