Foreign Ministry: Ukraine may be delayed in receiving $4.3 billion from EU’s Ukraine Facility because of reform shortcomings  

AI

Yevhen Perebyinis, Deputy Foreign Ministry, wrote to cabinet ministers in a letter dated Oct. 23, warning that the European Union had informed Ukraine that the next tranche (4 billion euros) of the EU’s Ukraine Facility could be delayed until the following year if the expected aspects of the corruption reforms were not completed by the end this month.
Perebyinis wrote that the EU had stated that, if Ukraine did not complete all internal procedures by the end October 2024 to approve and adopt this law, the 4 billion euro funding would be re-allocated to the following year.
The initial payment scheduled to be distributed in November is at risk of being delayed due to the slow progress in improving regulations for plea deals in corruption cases. The changes to Ukraine’s Criminal Code should have been completed by the third quarter 2024. However, they were only approved in the first reading of parliament on October 9.
It was not immediately apparent when the payment would be delayed until the Ukrainian parliament fails to fully accept the new changes.
After Russia’s invasion, the European Union compiled a list that Ukraine must follow to be able to join the .
Last week, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law reforming the State Customs Service. The bill was introduced to combat corruption and save money that would otherwise be lost to smuggling.

The Ukraine Facility, approved in February by the EU, allocates 33 billion euro ($36 billion) as loans and 17 billion euro ($18 billion) as grants to Kyiv. The EU Council approved the framework accord in mid-May. It outlines the Ukrainian government’s recovery, reconstruction, modernization, and reconstruction tasks.

Last year, the besieged country received an external funding of $42.5 billion from various donors. This allowed it to continue operating despite the ongoing war. The has said that Ukraine will require roughly the same amount to support its budget for this year.
According to Finance Minister Serhii Marenko, the current pledges still do not cover the country’s need, adding that Ukraine is likely to need an additional $12-15 Billion in foreign financial assistance next year.
Ukrainska Pravda, citing the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, reported on October 23 that Roman Hladkyi was dismissed just months after he was appointed to his controversial position in August 2024.
Belarus’ Central Electoral Commission, which announced the date on October 23, has set its next presidential elections for January 26, 2025. The incumbent Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko, who is currently in power, is widely expected to remain in power following the results of the election.
Daleep Singh is the White House’s deputy national security advisor for international economics. He said that Joe Biden intends to divide the funds between helping Ukraine’s economy and its military.
The statement read: “The next step will be advanced fast jet training with partner nations and conversion to F-16.”
“The situation in Toretsk is relatively stable.” “We (Ukrainian Forces) are now holding our line unchanged,” , spokesperson for the Operational Tactical Group Luhansk said.
Park Sun-won is a member of the parliamentary committee. He said that signs of troops being trained in had been detected between September and October.
The 24-hour “I Want to Live”, hotline launched by Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence in September 2022, helps soldiers willingly surrender their units or themselves to the .
Ivan Petrychak of the 24th Mechanized Brigade press service had said on national TV that the Russian military had breached the defenses, but there was no sign of a possible loss of the city.
According to reports, the secret clause allowed North Korea to send its first 1,000 soldiers to Ukraine in order to gain military training. The source told the WSJ that more North Korean troops will be deployed.
Ukrainska Pravda reported on October 23 that Ruslan Muzychuk, a spokesperson for the National Guard of Ukraine, said that the troops had repelled 13 Russian attacks near the town Selydove located in the over the last day.
According to a poll conducted by independent Levada Center from Sept. 10 to 17, 61% of Putin supporters said that they supported peace in Ukraine with mutual concessions.
The planes are reportedly equipped with long-range missiles SCALP/Storm Shadow and French guided bombs AASM.
U.S. said that there is evidence of DPRK troops present in Russia.
After arriving at Airport on October 22 to cover the upcoming elections, Czech journalist Ray Baseley had his entry to Georgia denied without explanation.
Denys Shmyhal, the PM, said that “the funds will be used for important non-military spending.”
According to the SBU the suspects planned to detonate an improvised explosive in a crowded area in Ukraine’s capital in order to cause “the greatest number of civilian deaths” as well as to create panic.
The U.K. seeks partners to co-finance “hundreds” of additional naval drones, as well as surveillance cameras to protect Ukraine’s grain canal.

 

Read More @ kyivindependent.com

Share This Article
Leave a comment