U.S. Secretary of State announces over $700 Million in new aid for Ukraine
Source: Interfax – Ukraine
During his visit to Kyiv on Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced a new aid package for Ukraine exceeding $700 million.
Speaking at a press conference after his talks with Zelenskyy, Blinken revealed that Washington will allocate $325 to help restore Ukraine’s energy and power infrastructure. He also spoke about plans to come up with additional support from G7+ countries during an upcoming Energy Coordination Group meeting in the coming weeks.
The US will also provide $290 million in new humanitarian aid to secure clean drinking water, food, shelter, and medical supplies for those affected by the war.
Finally, the US top diplomat who arrived in Ukraine with the British foreign secretary, announced $102 million in additional funding for humanitarian demining efforts, which will help clear the landmines and unexploded ordnance left behind by Russian forces across Ukraine.
Amendments to Ukraine’s enforcement proceedings legislation, initiated by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, have entered into force. Among other measures, the reform provides for the automated lifting of attachments on bank accounts immediately after debts in enforcement proceedings have been fully settled. The main practical benefit for citizens is the complete elimination of the need to contact an enforcement officer in person and wait for paper decisions once the debt has been paid.
The 157th Separate Mechanized Brigade has received another batch of supplies as part of Rinat Akhmetov’s Steel Front military initiative. This time, the military received seven quad bikes and four mobile shower and bath units.
In my previous column, I wrote about social innovations in Ukraine. Those innovations are part of civic resilience and the democratization of security, which Europe is paying close attention to right now. The EU is trying to work out how to spread responsibility for its own security across society as a whole, rather than leaving it to institutions alone. It is looking for concrete ways to bring ordinary people into the work of defense and resistance.
Petro Poroshenko’s lawyers have appealed to the High Anti-Corruption Court demanding that NABU be obligated to register proceedings regarding the fact of exerting influence on the court and to recognize Petro Poroshenko as a victim in the case of the Deputy Head of the Office of the President, Iryna Mudra, due to her pressure on Supreme Court judges who were considering a lawsuit to overturn sanctions.
Internationally recognized brands and financial institutions should direct capital to Ukraine now, not waiting for the hostilities to end. This was emphasized by Rinat Akhmetov, president of FC Shakhtar, during a working visit to UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, where he met with UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin.