President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has welcomed the decision of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to provide Ukraine with a $1.3 billion tranche.
“The Executive Board of the IMF has just supported the provision of about $1.3 billion to Ukraine under the Rapid Financing Instrument. The money will go to Ukraine today. Thanks Kristalina Georgieva and the IMF Executive Board for the support!” he said on Twitter on Friday.
In turn, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal also said that the IMF will provide Ukraine with additional $1.3 billion.
“This means that the financing from the Fund since the beginning of the war will total $2.7 billion. The tranche will be directed at the support for our defense capacity, payment of pensions and social programs, as well as our economic resilience,” he said on the Telegram channel.
Ukraine’s international partners have provided it with around $20 billion since the beginning of the full-scale war. Thanks to this assistance “we understand how we can finance all necessary expenditures this year,” the PM said.
“We are expecting a new large IMF program next year, as well as financing from the U.S., the EU and other G7 Member States,” Shmyhal said.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Samantha Power discussed the implementation of the Ukraine Fast Recovery Plan and the details of programs designed to develop a safe space in Ukraine, the website of the Ukrainian head of state reported.
“Today, our main goal is to prepare for winter, create decent living conditions for the population in the liberated territories, and restore critical infrastructure as soon as possible. There is a big and ambitious thing that will happen after the victory of Ukraine, but there is something that is needed now and where you can help us,” Zelensky emphasized during a conversation with the USAID administrator.
The president of Ukraine presented Samantha Power with the Order of Princess Olga of the first grade, which she was awarded for her significant contribution to the development of interstate cooperation and consistent and important support of our state.
Zelensky also thanked her for the agency’s allocation of $55 million to prepare Ukraine’s heating infrastructure for winter amid Russian aggression, and also praised the level of economic and defense support provided by the United States to Ukraine.
“It is extremely important for us to have such an ally as the United States, which is a real leader in consolidating international support for Ukraine,” the president of Ukraine said.
Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi has described his meetings with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky as a very constructive and comprehensive discussion of the situation in general and, in particular, at Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP).
Grossi told reports in Kyiv on Thursday that the parties achieved progress regarding his proposal to strengthen nuclear security around the power plant.
The IAEA Director General also expressed hope for constructive talks with Russia, where he would travel soon, adding that he will have meetings at a very high level.
The key task of the IAEA is to prevent nuclear incidents, Grossi said, adding that the agency’s job is to monitor nuclear security and wellbeing of the personnel.
He also said that the nuclear capacities of the ZNPP are Ukrainian and stressed that the annexation is not approved by international law.
Grossi also said he would visit Kyiv again soon.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky had a conversation with Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi.
“With Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi we discussed the so-called “referendums” that Russia recently held in the temporarily occupied territories of our state. We also talked about food, nuclear security, cooperation within international organizations, primarily the UN. It is important to strengthen the Ukrainian-Indian partnership amid Russian aggression against Ukraine,” Zelensky wrote on his Telegram channel.
He also thanked India for supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. “We appreciate the significant humanitarian assistance provided by the Indian government and the private sector,” the president said.
According to the press service of the head of state, during the conversation, Zelensky said that Ukraine is not going to conduct any negotiations with the current president of the Russian Federation, and also said that the Ukrainian side has always been committed to a peaceful settlement.
“However, Russia did not stand for dialogue, but put forward ultimatums and deliberately undermined this process. During my speech at the UN General Assembly session, I outlined our clear formula for peace. We are ready to work together with partners to achieve it,” the president added.
He also said that Ukraine is ready to continue acting as a guarantor of food security in the world. In this regard, the support of the entire international community, in particular India, for the further implementation of the grain initiative is important.
Zelensky also recalled nuclear blackmail by the Russian leadership, including at the occupied Zaporizhia nuclear power plant.
“Nuclear blackmail by Russia, in particular, regarding the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, poses a threat not only to Ukraine, but to the whole world,” Zelensky said.
The President also renewed the invitation to the Prime Minister of India to pay a visit to Ukraine.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had an online call with American actress and singer Barbra Streisand, who became the UNITED24 fundraising platform ambassador.
“During an online call, I discussed the details of our cooperation with Barbra Streisand, who became the UNITED24 Fundraising Platform Ambassador in the direction of Medical Assistance. The world can get a little tired of thinking about Ukraine every day, but communities in the US and European countries continue to support and help us. It is very important for us that such talented and world-famous people support the platform. Mrs. Streisand, thank you for supporting Ukraine!”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will deliver an address to the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) on Tuesday.
“Tomorrow will be a very important day – we are preparing a speech at the UN General Assembly. There will be important signals from our state,” Zelensky said in a video message on Monday.
Also, according to him, he will take part in the Food Security Summit.
“This is a fundamentally important element of global security and Ukraine, there is something to say,” the president said.
In addition, the head of state will have a series of online meetings with American partners and investors.
“We are doing everything to meet the needs of Ukraine at all levels – defense, finance, economy, diplomacy,” Zelensky added.
