Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a decree appointing Andriy Melnyk as Ukraine’s ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Brazil.
The corresponding decree № 341/2023 is published on the website of the President.
In addition, by the decree № 340/2023 Ambassador of Ukraine to Peru Yuriy Polukhovich was appointed Ambassador of Ukraine to Colombia concurrently.
By Decree №339/2023 Oleksandr Polishchuk was appointed Ambassador of Ukraine to India.
Andriy Melnyk served as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine from 2022 to 2023, before that he was Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany (from 2014 to 2022).
Yuriy Polyukhovich has represented Ukraine in Peru since December 2022. Previously, he served as Acting Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine (from March 10 to March 25, 2020).
Oleksandr Polishchuk has served as Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine since October 2019. He was Ukraine’s representative in the Trilateral Contact Group in the working subgroup on security issues. He holds the rank of Major General.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has spoken in favor of developing economic relations with South Korea and called for allowing the delivery of Korean anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine.
“Given the resources Ukraine has and the technology Korea has, I believe we can achieve great results in the field of lithium batteries,” he said in an interview with Chosun Ilbo.
“We are trying to rebuild the country by learning from Korea’s experience in the ruins of war and combining it with our own experience. We can cooperate a lot in security and defense, advanced technology and cyberspace, and in the process of rehabilitating our people after the war. We are also very interested in cooperation in the field of green energy. Given Ukraine’s resources, Korea’s large reserves and technological capabilities, I think the field of lithium batteries is very promising. After lithium extraction in Ukraine, it’s possible to produce related products. We have lithium production capacities from the time of the former Soviet Union,” he also said.
In addition, Zelensky noted assistance to Ukraine in terms of demining. “Currently, about a third of Ukraine’s territory is covered with anti-personnel mines. Thousands of farmers, civilians and children have been killed or disabled because of Russian anti-personnel mines. Mine clearance equipment is one of Ukraine’s most important defense systems that saves lives. The demining equipment that South Korea has decided to provide will save the lives and health of countless farmers and children,” Zelensky said.
The president also called for assistance to Ukraine with deliveries of anti-aircraft systems. “We know that there are several restrictions on arms support. However, I believe that Korea’s principles should not apply to defense systems and equipment to protect energy systems. Air defense systems are purely defensive equipment, not weapons. There must be a “sky shield” to rebuild Ukraine. We sincerely hope that Korea will support us in this area. Besides, there is an early warning system for Russian air strikes, which also needs help from South Korea,” the president said.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has registered in the Verkhovna Rada bills “On extending martial law in Ukraine” and “On extending the period of general mobilization.”
The cards of bills No. 9259 and No. 9260 appeared on the parliament’s website on Monday evening.
The texts of the documents have not yet been made public.
As reported, Golos faction member Yaroslav Zheleznyak indicated that martial law and mobilization in Ukraine will probably be extended for 90 days – from May 19, 2023 to mid-August.
Earlier, on February 7, the Rada extended martial law and general mobilization in Ukraine for another 90 days (from February 19, 2023).
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has held a meeting with a delegation of politicians, businessmen and representatives of United States charities led by former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
The head of state noted the importance of such visits and meetings, which are a powerful signal of support for Ukrainians in our fight for freedom and democracy, the press service of the Office of the President reported Tuesday.
“I’m glad to see you have come with your friends,” the president said, addressing Mike Pompeo. – Comprehensive American support is very important to us.”
During the meeting, the head of state invited American business to actively invest in Ukraine. “We are open to this, we are ready to provide you with full assistance. It is very important for us,” he said.
Zelensky informed about business development opportunities in construction, agriculture, IT technology, etc. The president also emphasized the importance of continuing and strengthening defense assistance and joint development of defense technologies, taking into account the experience acquired by Ukraine during the war. “Invest in business, because business is what creates jobs. We are interested in people being able to find jobs and the budget getting revenue to strengthen our capabilities on the battlefield,” summarized the head of state.
A number of other topical issues were also discussed, in particular Ukraine’s movement to NATO, the importance of further strengthening the sanctions pressure on Russia. Zelenski noted the activities of American charitable organizations, whose representatives were present at the meeting, focused on helping displaced people, rebuilding destroyed housing stock, providing medical care, and providing drinking water and food.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy invited Chinese leader Xi Jinping to Ukraine.
In an interview with the Associated Press, it is noted that Zelenskyy extended an invitation to Ukraine to one notable and strategically important leader, Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“We are ready to see him here. I want to speak with him. I had contact with him before full-scale war. But during all this year, more than one year, I didn’t have,” the Associated Press said, citing Zelenskyy.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, volunteer Serhiy Prytula and advisor to the head of the presidential office Mykhaylo Podolyak top the list of politicians and public figures trusted by Ukrainians, according to results of a poll conducted by the Razumkov Center polling service from 22 February to 1 March 2023 as part of the MATRA program financed by the Dutch Embassy in Ukraine.
According to a press release with the results of the survey, which was released on Wednesday, 85% of respondents trust V. Zelensky, S. Pritula – 65% and M. Podolyak – 59.5%.
More than half of Ukrainians trust also Kiev mayor Vitaliy Klitschko (58% of respondents), the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov (55%), Prime Minister Denis Shmygal (52%), and Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov (51%).
More often trust than distrust were expressed by the Head of the President’s Office Andriy Ermak (41% and 36% respectively), the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk (35% and 27% respectively), activist and volunteer Sergei Sternenko (29% and 18% respectively), the Minister of Internal Affairs Igor Klimenko (27% and 17% respectively).
The majority of respondents do not trust MPs Yuri Boiko (82%) and Yulia Tymoshenko (76%), the fifth President of Ukraine, MP Petro Poroshenko (65%), former presidential advisor Oleksiy Arestovych (59%). The head of the parliamentary faction “Servant of the People” David Arahamia is also expressed more often in distrust than trust (39% and 27% respectively).
“Compared to 2021, the share of those who trust V. Zelenski (from 33% to 85%), S. Pritula (from 22% to 65%), V. Klitschko (from 26% to 58%), A. Danilov (from 12% to 55%), D. Shmygal (from 11% to 52%), A. Yermak (from 10% to 41%), S. Sternenko (from 15% to 29%) and P. Poroshenko (from 18% to 24%) increased. During the same period the percentage of those who trust Y. Boiko (from 18% to 6%) and Y. Tymoshenko (from 20% to 13%) decreased,” sociologists concluded.
The survey was conducted by the sociological service of the Razumkov Center from February 22 to March 1, 2023 in the framework of the MATRA program, funded by the Dutch Embassy in Ukraine in 22 regions of Ukraine and in Kyiv (the survey was not conducted in Lugansk and Donetsk regions, in the ARC and Sevastopol, and in Zaporozhye, Nikolayev, Kharkiv and Kherson regions – the study was conducted only on the territories controlled by the government of Ukraine and on which no military operations are conducted).
As part of the face-to-face survey, 2,020 respondents aged 18 years and older were interviewed. The theoretical sampling error does not exceed 2.3%.
