NATO is putting its armed forces on alert and sending additional ships and fighter jets to Eastern Europe in connection with the build-up of Russian military forces near Ukraine. “NATO Allies are putting forces on standby and sending additional ships and fighter jets to NATO deployments in eastern Europe, reinforcing Allied deterrence and defence as Russia continues its military build-up in and around Ukraine,” a statement published on the NATO website reads.The communiqué says that in the past days, a number of Allies have made announcements regarding current or upcoming deployments. Thus, according to the statement, Denmark is sending a frigate to the Baltic Sea and is set to deploy four F-16 fighter jets to Lithuania in support of NATO’s long-standing air-policing mission in the region. Spain is sending ships to join NATO naval forces and is considering sending fighter jets to Bulgaria.In addition, France has expressed its readiness to send troops to Romania under NATO command.The United States has also made clear that it is considering increasing its military presence in the eastern part of the Alliance.NATO is also expecting that the Netherlands will send two F-35 fighter aircraft to Bulgaria from April to support NATO’s air-policing activities in the region, and will put a ship and land-based units on standby for NATO’s Response Force.”There were no NATO forces in the eastern part of the Alliance before 2014,” NATO says.
Glovo courier delivery service is acquiring the Ukrainian company Zakaz (product delivery service Zakaz.ua), the main co-owner of which is Chernovetskyi Investment Group.
According to AIN.UA, Glovo has agreed to take over Zakaz.ua, payments to shareholders will be made both in cash and directly in Glovo shares, the deal is valued at up to $50 million.
As it became known to Interfax-Ukraine, Glovo plans to announce the takeover of the Zakaz.ua service at a press conference on January 27.
Interfax-Ukraine has not yet been able to get comments from Chernovetskyi Investment Group.
Market participants said the takeover of Zakaz.ua will strengthen Glovo’s position in the Ukrainian market and help the service develop the Q-commerce segment (delivery from dark stores).
Ukraine has imposed sanctions against the Austrian architectural bureau “Coop Himmelb(l)au,” which developed the project for an opera house in Sevastopol, temporarily occupied by Russia.
The decree on the entry into force of the decision of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of December 30, 2021 was signed by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky on January 21.
Personal sanctions have been imposed against founder and CEO of the architectural office Wolf Prix, and its five managers and employees (citizens of Austria).
Assets are blocked for five years, the right to use and dispose of their property is temporarily restricted. It also provides for a denial of visas, the application of other prohibitions on entry into the territory of Ukraine, a ban on participation in privatization, lease of state property.
Another decree put into effect the decision of the National Security and Defense Council, which, in particular, imposed sanctions against the Russian Artemy Lebedev.
In addition, personal sanctions have been imposed on Yury Chaika, authorized representative of the Russian President in the North Caucasus Federal District.
The Government of Canada has offered to provide a loan of up to CAD 120 million to support the economic stability and development of Ukraine.
“Today, the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, and the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced that Canada has offered to provide a loan of up to CAD 120 million to the Government of Ukraine to support the country’s economic resilience and governance reforms,” the Government of Canada said in a statement on Friday.
In addition, Canada has also offered to provide a technical assistance grant of up to CAD 6 million to support the implementation of the loan. Canadian and Ukrainian officials are already meeting to discuss the potential terms of the loan and a timeline for its implementation.
“Ukrainians can always count on Canada to be there for them when needed. By working together, we can strengthen the economy and help advance governance reforms. I authorized this proposed loan to support Ukraine’s ability to respond to its population’s needs amid Russia’s aggressive actions. This is just one step in helping build a secure future for Ukrainians, and I will continue to look at ways to support Ukraine,” Sajjan said.
The Government of Canada also said that in 2014 and 2015, the country provided a CAD 400 million (CAD 200 million per year) loan to Ukraine to the then new government to support its economic recovery and development goals, and this loan was fully repaid with interest as scheduled in 2020.
The new assistance is provided under the CAD 620 million sovereign loan program approved in 2018. According to it, the maximum loan term is up to ten years. Principal and interest payments must be made at least once a year, with a possible grace period in certain circumstances, and a fixed rate of interest equal to the cost of the Canadian government loan.
The total amount of loans to the country under this program cannot exceed CAD 120 million.
On January 20, the National Bank of Ukraine said that due to the military threat from Russia, Ukraine’s eurobond rates rose to double-digit stress levels, and the country temporarily lost access to the market for external commercial loans. According to the NBU, in such conditions, the role of financing from international financial organizations such as the IMF and the World Bank, as well as partner countries, increases.
European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi will visit Kyiv on January 26 and 27, the European Commission told Interfax-Ukraine.
The European Commission said the commissioner will visit Ukraine next week, January 26 and 27, the exact schedule is still being prepared.
The European Commission believes that this visit will provide an opportunity to send a strong signal of support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, EU engagement in promoting resilience to hybrid threats, as well as sustainable economic growth through the Economic and Investment Plan and further integration with the EU based on the Association Agreement.
The average level of provision of agricultural enterprises with mineral fertilizers for spring-summer field work in Ukraine as of January 20, 2022 is 11%, according to a presentation on the website of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food.
According to it, data on fertilizer reserves of 11 regions – Vinnytsia, Dnipropetrovsk, Zakarpattia, Kyiv, Lviv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson, Cherkasy, Chernivtsi and Chernihiv regions – have not yet been provided to the ministry.
Zaporizhia region is the most provided for the upcoming sowing season (57% of the need), followed by Khmelnytsky (26%), Zhytomyr (22%), Donetsk (21%), Kirovohrad (20%), Ternopil (15%), Mykolaiv and Ivano-Frankivsk (13% each), Poltava (12%), Volyn (10%), Odesa (7%), Rivne (6%) and Luhansk (1%) regions.
