Ukrainian Economy Digest
Dear subscribers, Ukrinform presents a daily bulletin of news that affects the economy of Ukraine and its future "Economic News"
To subscribe to the advanced version, contact our manager here: skorik@ukrinform.com
Agriculture
EU agrees to restrict imports of Ukrainian agricultural products
On Monday, April 8, the EU countries and the European Parliament preliminarily agreed on stricter restrictions on imports of certain agricultural products from Ukraine, including poultry, sugar and corn.
This was announced by Belgium, which currently holds the presidency of the European Union, Ukrinform reports citing DW.
This agreement extends the duty-free access that the European Union granted to Ukrainian agricultural products after the full-scale invasion in February 2022. It expires on June 5.
At the same time, the agreement reportedly restricts access for poultry, eggs, sugar, corn, cereals, and honey to the average volumes that were in place between mid-2021 and the end of 2023.
It is noted that the fact that 2021 was taken into account means that imports should be significantly reduced, because in 2021, which preceded the full-scale invasion, imports of Ukrainian agricultural products to the EU were much lower due to quotas and import duties.
As Ukrinform reported, on March 27, EU permanent representatives approved the extension of the so-called autonomous trade measures (trade visa-free regime) for Ukraine for the next year with the only clarification on the conditions for applying protective restrictions.
Recently, UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps called on EU countries not to impose restrictions on trade with Ukraine during the war.
Defense
The United States handed Ukraine confiscated weapons and ammunition that could have fallen into the hands of the Houthis
On April 4th, the United States transferred weapons and ammunition confiscated as part of a lawsuit against the forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to Ukrainian military personnel. Ukrinform reports this, citing the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) on the X social network.
According to reports, Ukraine received over 5,000 AK-47 rifles, machine guns, sniper rifles, RPG-7 grenade launchers, and over half a million 7.62mm caliber bullets. This quantity is sufficient to equip one brigade.
"The government acquired ownership rights to these munitions on December 1, 2023, as part of a civil forfeiture lawsuit by the Department of Justice against the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)," CENTCOM reported.
Initially, these munitions were confiscated by American military and Navy partners on four separate stateless transit ships between May 22, 2021, and February 15, 2023. The weapons and equipment were destined from the IRGC to the Houthis in Yemen, violating a UN Security Council resolution.
"Iran's support for armed groups threatens international and regional security, our forces, diplomatic personnel, and citizens of the region, as well as citizens of our partner countries. We will continue to do everything possible to shed light on and stop Iran's destabilizing activities," the statement said.
As reported, the Houthis, who control the most populous areas of Yemen, began attacking ships in the Red Sea last November. They refer to their actions as a response to Israeli military operations in Gaza and as a show of solidarity with Palestinians.
On Sunday, April 7th, two ships were attacked near the coast of Yemen.
Nuclear Safety
Energoatom National Nuclear Energy Generating Company of Ukraine considers Russian fake reports on Ukraine’s alleged drone attack on Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) as the aggressor’s attempt to conceal its own intentions or incidents, which had already taken place at the plant.
The relevant statement was made by the company’s press service on Telegram, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
“The Kremlin’s lies about Ukraine’s alleged drone attacks are nothing else but an attempt to conceal its own intentions to carry out a terrorist attack or hide some serious emergency events, which had already occurred at the plant,” the report states.
Energoatom believes that the root causes of Russian manipulations around the situation at the plant lie directly in Russia’s seizure of the nuclear energy facility and its further transformation into a military base, as well as the denial of access to certain objects within the plant for the IAEA representatives, and the disregard of adopted resolutions.
“The only way to prevent a nuclear and radiation accident is the implementation of the IAEA resolution, the withdrawal of Russian troops and military equipment from the plant, the transfer of Zaporizhzhia NPP to the control of Ukraine’s Energoatom as a legitimate operator, as well as the demining of adjacent territories,” Energoatom stressed.
A reminder that, on April 7, 2024, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that three drones had crashed at and near the occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP, hitting the surveillance and communication equipment on the top of the reactor dome roof of Unit 6 and a military vehicle.
According to the Main Intelligence Directorate at the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, following a drone explosion at Zaporizhzhia NPP, no significant damage was recorded that could threaten nuclear safety.
