Export of Ukrainian agricultural foods to the countries of the European Union in 2021 grew in monetary terms by 33% compared to 2020, to $8.3 billion due to an increase in the supply of agricultural products to foreign markets and its rise in price, according to a posting on the website of the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UCAB) on Wednesday.
According to UCAB, the peak months for the export of agricultural products from Ukraine to the EU were December ($1 billion), October ($0.98 billion) and November ($0.97 billion). The lowest export rates were recorded in July ($0.48 billion), April ($0.49 billion) and March ($0.5 billion).
In 2021, nine quotas for duty-free exports to the EU have also been fully used, namely for honey, cereals, flour, starch, processed starch, processed tomatoes, grape and apple juice, chicken eggs, poultry meat (parts), and processed cereal products.
“Compared to 2020, the situation has changed with the use of quotas for the supply of sugar and corn to the EU, or rather with their incomplete use. As for sugar, last year the quota was used by 87% due to a shortage in the domestic market of this product. At the same time, the quota for corn was used by only 5% due to increased demand for this type of grain and the availability of more attractive export channels for Ukrainian farmers,” UCAB said, quoting its analyst Svitlana Lytvyn.
In addition, UCAB said that as of January 18, 2022, Ukraine has fully used the first-quarter quotas for the export of eggs and poultry meat to the EU, as well as the annual quota for the export of honey.
As reported, Ukraine in 2020, within the framework of a free trade area (FTA) agreement with the EU, fully used 11 quotas for duty-free export of agricultural products, while in 2019 there were 12 of them.
The visit of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Ukraine and Germany will take place on January 18 to 20, according to a statement released by the U.S. Department of State on Tuesday.
“In Kyiv, Blinken will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to reinforce the United States’ commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Department of State Spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement.
According to the document, on January 20, Blinken will travel to Berlin, where he is scheduled to meet with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.
In turn, the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine said that on January 19, Blinken will pay a visit to Ukraine at the invitation of Foreign Minister Kuleba.
“The visit will be a continuation of close coordination between Ukraine and the United States in order to deter Russia from further aggression,” the ministry said.
It is noted that Kuleba and Blinken will hold talks on the further implementation of a comprehensive containment package for Russia, practical support for Ukraine by the United States, and active diplomatic efforts to resolve the Russian-Ukrainian armed conflict.”
The parties will also discuss issues of strategic partnership between Ukraine and the United States in the areas of security, trade, investment and others.
On the 30th anniversary of the official recognition of Ukraine as an independent and sovereign state, the U.S. Embassy said that relations between the countries are now stronger than ever.
“Today, we celebrate 30 years since the United States officially recognized Ukraine as an independent and sovereign state. The U.S-Ukraine relationship now stands stronger than ever as we work in partnership to ensure Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and forge Ukraine’s prosperous, democratic, and Euro-Atlantic future,” the embassy said on Facebook on December 25.
Two American Island-type boats, which the United States has given to Ukraine as part of material-technical assistance, have arrived in Ukraine on board a cargo vessel, the Ukrainian Navy’s press service said.”Two Island-type boats, which have been given the names the Fastiv and the Sumy, arrived today, on November 23, on board the Ocean Grand vessel from Baltimore, Maryland, the U.S.,” the press service said.The Ukrainian Navy ensign will be hoisted on the Fastiv and the Sumy soon, after which they will begin performing their duties maintaining security in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov under the command of Ukrainian crews, it said.A new group of Ukrainian sailors earlier took part in a passing out ceremony at a U.S. Coast Guard shipyard after taking a six-week training course to operate Island-type boats, the press service said.
The United States welcomes the position of Bulgarian President Rumen Radev on the Ukrainian Crimea, the Department of State said.”We welcome the statement by President Radev, in which he reaffirmed Bulgaria’s support for Ukraine. The United States, the G7, the European Union and NATO were clear and united in our position that, despite Russia’s attempt to annex Crimea, this is Ukraine,” the Department of State said.Earlier, the European Truth publication said the press service of Bulgarian President Rumen Radev clarified the position of the head of state regarding the occupied Crimea due to his statement during the televised debates in the framework of the election campaign.
The United States will provide Ukraine with new funding to help diversify its energy resources, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said.
“We are also discussing ways to ensure the security of energy supply to Ukraine. That includes providing new funding to help Ukraine diversify its energy resources, working with key allies and partners to bring to bear all available leverage and pressing for an extension of Ukraine’s gas transit agreement with Russia and supporting efforts of Ukraine to connect its electrical grid to Europe’s,” Blinken said at a press conference following a meeting of the United States-Ukraine Strategic Partnership Commission in Washington on Wednesday.
