Politics & Economics

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal met with U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken in London, during which the parties discussed cooperation in five key directions for the rapid reconstruction of Ukraine. The head of government announced this on Telegram, Ukrinform reports. "We discussed cooperation in five key directions of rapid reconstruction. We focused on humanitarian demining, where the United States can help with equipment and training," Shmyhal said. The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of insuring military and political risks, as this will open the way for investment and strengthen Ukraine's economic resilience. He also noted the necessity to help Ukrainian…

On Wednesday, June 21, the EU Ambassadors agreed on the 11th package of sanctions against Russia. “Today, the EU Ambassadors agreed on the 11th package of sanctions against Russia. The package includes measures aimed at countering sanctions circumvention and individual listings,” the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU posted on Twitter. Read also: Weapons for Ukraine: EU Ambassadors approve €3.5B EPF increase As reported, Ukraine insisted on speeding up the process of adopting the 11th package of EU sanctions, as well as imposing destructive sanctions on the Russian military-industrial complex.

Since the start of the Russian full-scale invasion, the U.S. has provided Ukraine with about $2.1 billion in humanitarian aid. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said this while speaking at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in London, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. “My announcement today also comes on top of more than $2.1 billion in humanitarian assistance that we’ve provided to Ukraine and to the region to respond to Russia’s war of aggression, including life-saving aid for those affected by the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam. Within hours of its breach, we mobilized support for evacuations, emergency deliveries of food, safe…

The German government will provide Ukraine with an extra €381 million in humanitarian aid in 2023. Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany Annalena Baerbock stated this in her opening address at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in London on Wednesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. She stressed that the German government is intensifying efforts to restore Ukraine. This recovery begins with humanitarian support. “Germany will provide Ukraine with an additional EUR 381 million for humanitarian assistance in 2023," Baerbock said. According to her, this aid will go to "everything" - "from generators to food, and tents." Germany will also continue assistance in…

At the request of his U.S. counterpart, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is expected in the coming days to speak to Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov for the first since taking office more than five months ago. That's according to Axios, which cites two senior Israeli defense officials, Ukrinform reports. Gallant and Reznikov are expected to speak by phone early next week to discuss non-lethal assistance to Ukraine, the Israeli officials said. Plans for the call came after Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Thursday asked Gallant if he would speak to his Ukrainian counterpart and do more to help…

U.S. President Joe Biden has said that it is "totally irresponsible" for Russia to move nuclear weapons into another country. He told this to reporters on Saturday before leaving for Philadelphia, Ukrinform reports, citing Sky News. "I've commented on that many times -- it's totally irresponsible," Biden said. Read also: Russia wants to strengthen its military control over Belarus by moving nuclear weapons - ISW U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken earlier said that the United States was closely monitoring the situation between Russia and Belarus after President Vladimir Putin claimed on June 16 that Moscow has deployed tactical nuclear…

U.S. President Joe Biden has said that he is against easing the requirements for Ukraine on its way to NATO membership. Joe Biden said this to reporters before leaving to Philadelphia, Ukrinform reports, citing CNN. Answering the question of whether he would ease the barriers for Ukraine's accession to NATO, the head of the White House said: "No. Because they gotta meet the same standards. So I’m not gonna make it easier." Joe Biden said this to reporters before leaving to Philadelphia, citting to CNN, Ukrinform reports. Answering the question of whether he would ease the barriers to Ukraine's accession…

The United Nations Development Program, together with its partners, is accumulating one billion dollars to rebuild Ukraine.  Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal said this on Facebook, citing UNDP head Achim Steiner, Ukrinform reports. The relevant statement Steiner made during a visit to Kyiv. For his part, the Prime Minister thanked the United Nations Development Program for "this timely step." During the meeting, Shmyhal discussed with the UNDP head the needs of Ukraine for rapid reconstruction and humanitarian demining, as well as support for relocated enterprises and small and medium-sized entrepreneurs who lost their businesses during the war and want…

The European Union strongly condemns Russia's intentions to hold "elections" in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine in September this year, stresses the illegality of such actions, and also reminds that all persons involved in this action, including the political leadership of Russia, will bear responsibility for such an attempt. This is said in a statement by the EU spokesperson, which was published on the website of the European External Action Service, Ukrinform reports. “This week, the Central Election Commission of Russia decided to hold ‘elections’ in September in the territories of Ukraine that Russia temporarily militarily occupies, in yet…

The conclusions and recommendations of the Venice Commission regarding the laws on de-oligarchization and national minorities and the draft law on the procedure for selecting Constitutional Court judges were not unexpected for Ukraine. The Ukrainian side is already working to develop a clear vision of their implementation for the following years, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Olha Stefanishyna told Ukrinform in a comment. "We continue to work on the implementation of the seven recommendations of the European Commission necessary to switch to the next level of the process of joining the European Union – opening…