Ukraine and the EU
- Ukraine and EU sign four key financial agreements. The documents, signed during the Association Council, which began in Brussels on Dec. 17 concern financial support of the European Commission for energy efficiency projects, raising the skills of government employees, modernization of the vocational education system, promotion of contacts between people from the EU and Ukrainian society, Ukrinform reports.
- EU gives further 54 million euros to support energy efficiency. The European Union has provided the second tranche of the assistance of 54 million euros to support the Ukrainian Energy Efficiency Fund, Ukrinfom reports. The first tranche was 50 million euros.
- EIB boosts funding. The European Investment Bank, or EIB, announced new financing agreements with Ukraine on Dec. 17. The EIB finalized terms with Ukraine’s government to lend 50 million euros for transport infrastructure improvements throughout the country.
- Combatting corruption. The EU-Ukraine Association Council calls for the introduction of an electronic declaration verification system, abolition of the obligation to file declarations for anti-corruption activists, and the swift creation of the High Anti-Corruption Court.
- EU raps Ukraine on national minorities rights. The European Union has called on Ukraine to implement the Venice Commission’s recommendations in its education law.
National
- Poroshenko’s press conference. President Petro Poroshenko met with journalists in Kyiv on Dec. 15.
- New church leader speaks. The newly elected head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, MetropolitanEpifaniy, says that Ukraine should win back the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula and parts of the Donbas.
- Ukrainian Catholic University raises more than Hr 12 million at annual charity evening. The money will be used to support scholarships and more for the 1,000+ students. The Kyiv Post served as a media partner of the event held in Kyiv on Dec. 15.
Russia’s war on Ukraine
- Ukraine’s naval chief briefs Washington. Admiral Ihor Voronchenko, the head of Ukraine’s navy, was in Washington on Dec. 12-15 to give detailed briefings on Russia’s aggressive actions in the Kerch Strait and muster increased support. Read the exclusive account on his mission by the Kyiv Post’s Washington correspondent.
- Putin unwilling to free political prisoners. “The Russian party has demonstrated it is not ready to discuss (this), even though the Ukrainian party, in fact, raises this issue almost every day,” President Petro Poroshenko told a press conference in Kyiv on Dec. 16.
Business
- Agriculture output grew in 2018. During January to November 2018, agricultural production rose by 8.2 percent year-over-year (y-o-y), production of crops by 11.2 percent y-o-y. Agricultural enterprises increased production by 13.4 percent over the period, and private farmers by 2 percent, according to the Ukrainian State Statistics.
- Markets for Ukrainian poultry exports expanding. The number of foreign markets open for Ukrainian poultry products is expected to increase in 2019 from 21 to 24. The most recent countries with which Ukraine has reached agreements are Singapore, Morocco, and Tunisia.
- Danes invest in wind farm project. DTEK has signed an agreement with the Danish wind turbines manufacturer Vestasfor building a wind power station in Orlivka, Zaporizhia region, valued at about 140 million euros.
- Subsidiary of Ryanair Laudamotion to launch Kyiv-Vienna flight. Laudamotion airline will fly from Kyiv to Vienna five times a week from Feb. 2, 2019.
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