Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed the law No. 8401, canceling the 2% flat tax and bringing back documentary checks and PPO control, said the head of the specialized parliamentary committee Daniil Getmantsev.
“Bill 8401 has become a law. Use it,” he wrote in telegrams.
As reported, the Verkhovna Rada on June 30 adopted the law № 8401, one of the important structural beacons of the program with the IMF, on the abolition of the 2% single tax from August 1 and the return of documentary checks and PPO control.
Later, MPs from the inter-factional association “Reasonable Policy”, as well as the factions “Servant of the People” and “Batkivshchyna” registered three draft resolutions in the Verkhovna Rada to cancel the results of voting for this document in the second reading and as a whole, but they were rejected.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has instructed the Foreign Ministry to summon the Georgian ambassador to Kiev and protest him in connection with the ongoing imprisonment of former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili.
Zelensky also instructed the Foreign Ministry to ask the ambassador to leave Ukraine within 48 hours for consultations.
“Right now Russia is killing Ukrainian citizen Mikheil Saakashvili at the hands of the Georgian authorities. We have repeatedly called on official Tbilisi to stop this mockery and agree on Saakashvili’s return to Ukraine. Our partners in coordination with Ukraine have also offered various rescue options. Today, I instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to summon the Georgian ambassador to Ukraine, protest him strongly and suggest he leave Ukraine within 48 hours to consult with his capital,” he wrote Monday in his Telegram channel.
“Once again, I call on the Georgian authorities to transfer Ukrainian citizen Mikhail Saakashvili to Ukraine for the necessary treatment and care. And I call on our partners to turn, not to ignore this situation and save this man. No government in Europe has the right to execute people, life is a basic European value,” he also wrote.
Earlier on Monday, video of Saakashvili’s interrogation was published, in which he looks severely thinner.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda for purchasing two new air defense systems for Ukraine.
“I thank Gitanas Nauseda for his decision to purchase and transfer two NASAMS air defense systems to Ukraine. This is an important and timely contribution to the protection of the Ukrainian sky and saving the lives of Ukrainians. Together to victory,” Zelensky wrote on Twitter.
As reported, on Wednesday morning Nauseda announced the purchase of two NASAMS launchers by Lithuania, which will be transferred to Ukraine.
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).