Weekly newsletter
This is a newsletter of exclusive materials of Ukrinform for a week
Photo of the week:
Employee at the domain workshop of the metallurgical plant "Zaporizhstal", Zaporizhzhia, May 3, 2024 / Photo by Dmytro Smolienko
Мaterials and Interviews:
International politics
Jaroslaw Guzy, Poland’s Ambassador to Ukraine
Poland remains one of Ukraine’s main partners in the fight against Russian aggression and a strong voice in the EU and NATO, which supports the Euro-Atlantic ambitions of our state. Despite some tension between the two countries, which had until recently existed around the issue of Ukrainian agricultural exports, Warsaw's strategic position remains unchanged – Ukraine must win the war and needs help. The Ambassador of Poland to Ukraine, Jaroslaw Guzy, spoke with Ukrinform last week, touching on many pressing issues, including the prospects of nuclear arms deployment on Polish territory, importance of joining NATO, strengths and weaknesses of Russian propaganda, vulnerabilities of democracies in the ongoing information war, and reasons behind the protests of Polish farmers, as well as expectations of the Global Peace Summit.
Ukraine and the World
Anatolii Kutsevol, Ambassador of Ukraine to Latvia
A year ago, at the beginning of May 2023, Anatolii Kutsevol presented his credentials to the President of Latvia, after which he became fully empowerd to perform his duties as the Ambassador of Ukraine. One year seems not that much of time. But at times of war, it’s as if time condenses, so it seems that much more time has passed.
The calendar provides us a good opportunity to talk about the most significant events that took place during these busy twelve months, as well as about the plans for the future.
World
New US Legislation on Russian Assets Seizure: What to Expect Ahead
At the end of April, President Biden signed into effect a law to give the president power to confiscate frozen Russian sovereign assets held in American banks and use the money for Ukrainian reconstruction and reparations for war damage. Corresponding provisions, originally drafted as part of the Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity for Ukrainians (REPO) Act, eventually found their way into the national security package 2024 (H.R.815), the same legislation that contains over $60 billion in aid to Ukraine. However, the law deals only with the specific Russian assets that are subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, which in total amount to no more than 2% of the external sovereign assets deposited by the Russian Federation in various jurisdictions. On the one hand, this might seem a very small amount. But a precedent is what matters here: America should provide the lead for other countries to follow; it should become a “judicial locomotive" to drive the complicated, complex legal process of seizing Russian assets across the world.
Army
Maj-Gen Dmytro Hereha, AFU, Commander, Support Forces
The Support Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) are performing several critical tasks in support of the Ukrainian defenders fighting at the front line. Major General Dmytro Hereha, newly appointed Commander of the AFU’s Support Forces elaborates, in a blitz interview to Ukrinform, on how defense lines are being built and on other tasks assigned to the AFU’s Support Forces.
Save Mariupol Defenders
Stories about Organized Struggle Pursued by POW’s Families
The Association of Azovstal Defenders’ Families is the most renowned and currently most active NGO that is addressing challenges faced by Ukrainian veterans and prisoners of war. In the spring of 2022, the Association was founded by families of the Mariupol defenders in captivity, who were heroically defending the city at its last remaining bridgehead of defense - the Azovstal steel mill, and were forced to surrender to Russian captivity against Russia’s safety guarantees, following an order from President Zelensky. The initiative was launched with a mission to publicize the problems facing the Azovstal defenders still remaining in captivity, as well as organize events to facilitate rehabilitation of those released from Russian captivity. The Association is growing in renown, with the number of its followers amounting to over 75,000 on Instagram and approximately 42,000 on Facebook.
Top Videos:
Culture
In Brussels, Europe Day discussions focused on solidarity with Ukraine.
In the Cinquantenaire Park in the European Quarter of the Belgian capital, near the monument to Robert Schuman, one of the founding fathers of the EU, a ceremonial event took place on May 9th to celebrate Europe Day. On this day in 1950, the Declaration was signed, forming the basis for the creation of the first European Coal and Steel Community.
The event was attended by representatives of the Federal Government of Belgium, European institutions, and the diplomatic corps. Natalia Anoshina, the Chargé d'Affaires of Ukraine in the Kingdom of Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, emphasized the need to maintain European unity and increase aid to Ukraine, which, in its fight against Russian aggression, is defending not only its own freedom but also the European values on which the European Union itself is built.
Security technology
A state-of-the-art demining machine, which operates on the principle of a drone, was presented in the Kyiv region.
A demining machine for humanitarian purposes was presented while operating on a site in the Bucha community, where the construction of the second block of a mental health hospital is planned. The GCS 200 machine is designed to handle challenging tasks in environments with high threat levels. It can also destroy explosive ordnance and mines. The machine works at a speed of 500-1000 square meters per hour. All 34 machines from the GCS company, currently operating in Ukraine, were purchased with funds from donors.
Point of view
Nebraska State Senator Tom Brewer
Nebraska State Senator Tom Brewer, a retired U.S. Army Colonel, is on a visit to Ukraine – again – trying to use his knowledge, connections in the Capitol, and contacts across Ukraine to convey to American legislators the truth about the war in Ukraine, the real the needs of Ukraine’s Defense Forces, and encourage decision makers to do the right thing for the benefit of the people who are fighting against Russian aggression. Ukrinform invited the State Senator to tell us more about his work, share his thoughts on the current stage of the war, its lessons to be learned by the American military, who have not faced such a powerful adversary since World War II, the situation of bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States in a turbulent election year, and Russian propaganda that tries to hamper international assistance to Ukraine.
News that may affect events in the country:
Politics
The Netherlands “very actively” helping Ukraine fend off Russia - deputy foreign minister
Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Iryna Borovets of Ukraine noted that a number of important meetings took place during her working visit to the Netherlands, including with the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hanke Bruins Slot, Minister of Defense Kajsa Ollongren, Director General for Political Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Marcel de Vink, and Minister of Education, Culture and Science Robbert Dijkgraaf.
Digitalization
At UN, Ukraine shares experience of strengthening resilience in face of cyberattacks
According to the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Digital Development, Digital Transformation and Digitalization of Ukraine Anton Demiokhin more and more countries are joining the process of digitalization of governments and transitioning to digital economies. "In this process, it turns out that there are many issues that require international regulation, agreements, the development of common norms regarding the responsible behavior of governments in the digital space and the safe and useful implementation of technologies for humanity," he noted, adding that the UN is a unique platform for considering these issues.
Diplomacy
Ukraine appeals to France over Russian flags displayed outside some town halls
"The embassy took diplomatic response measures, appealing to the Foreign Ministry of France and also drawing attention of the Elysée Palace to such an unacceptable situation," the Ukrainian Embassy in France told Ukrinform.
Global Peace Summit
Ukrainian MFA outlines topics to be discussed at Global Peace Summit
Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Iryna Borovets has said that the Global Peace Summit, which will be hosted by Switzerland next month, will discuss the issues of radiation and nuclear safety, food security, and the return of POWs and deportees, including Ukrainian children.
Agriculture
Ambassador Zvarych: Poland not suspend agricultural talks with Ukraine
Warsaw has not suspended talks with Kyiv on agricultural issues. The negotiations continue at all levels.
The relevant statement was made by Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of Poland Vasyl Zvarych in a commentary to Ukrinform, commenting on the recent reports in the Polish mass media that agricultural talks with Ukraine were allegedly interrupted due to corruption charges against former Ukrainian Agrarian Policy and Food Minister Mykola Solskyi.
“It is not about suspending the negotiations, as the talks continue at all levels, including at the embassy level. For objective reasons known to us, there was simply a need to postpone a meeting between the agriculture ministers of Ukraine and Poland for later, when the Ukrainian side decides on the official of the Agrarian Policy Ministry who will take part in such meeting. But, I’d like to assure you that interest in holding further meetings at the level of relevant ministries with the involvement of agricultural associations of the two countries is remaining high, and such dialogue is effective,” Zvarych emphasized.
International relations
Ukraine's ambassador sees no threat to Kyiv's support in Poland
"I do not see any threatening trends in the context of further support for Ukraine. I will say more: Poland is very sensitive to the situation in Ukraine, and the success of the Ukrainian military at the front also increases the sense of security within Polish society. In other words, they directly link Russian aggression in Ukraine to a threat to their own security," said Ambassador of Ukraine to Poland Vasyl Zvarych in an interview with Ukrinform.
See you next Friday!