12,496 new COVID-19 cases in one day
Ukraine’s Public Health Center reported that as of November 18, there are 12,496 officially confirmed case of COVID-19 in the country, including 535 children and 529 health-care workers. During the previous 24 hours, 1,668 persons were hospitalized, 256 patients died and 8,096 persons recovered. On November 17, 11,968 new cases of coronavirus were recorded. On November 16, there were 9,832 new cases; on November 15 – 10,681; on November 14 – 12,524; and November 13 – 11,787 and on November 12 – 11,057. (Interfax-Ukraine)
Zelenskyy defends partial lockdown
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that a short-term quarantine, introduced amid a record surge in coronavirus cases, could help the country avoid stricter measures. “A weekend quarantine is a chance to avoid a full lockdown,” Mr. Zelenskyy wrote on Facebook on November 14. “If we have such a chance, we should use it. We are talking about six non-working days.” The president and the head of his Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, tested positive for the coronavirus last week. “We need to slow down the sickness growth rate,” Mr. Zelenskyy wrote. “Our doctors are heroically countering the virus, but we should not create a situation where they will choose whom to treat.” Several hundred protesters had gathered in the capital ahead of the government’s decision to impose a partial lockdown from November 14 to 30. In a protest called “I Have A Right To Work,” the demonstrators voiced their opposition to work restrictions and demanded compensation for industry losses. The mayors of a number of Ukrainian cities also expressed their disagreement with the government, saying residents stood to suffer financial losses. In a televised address, Health Minister Maksym Stepanov explained on November 14, “This is a war. Every day the virus takes the lives of Ukrainians.” The short-term lockdown will entail the closure or restricted activity of most businesses except for grocery stores, pharmacies, hospitals and others considered essential. (RFE/RL Ukrainian Service, with reporting by Reuters and Interfax)
Biden speaks of war in Ukraine’s east
U.S. President-elect Joe Biden, during telephone conversations with a number of European leaders, expressed readiness to work with them to seek a solution to the military conflict in eastern Ukraine. According to Mr. Biden’s headquarters, he touched on this topic during conversations with French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Mr. Biden expressed interest to Mr. Macron in working together to resolve conflicts in Ukraine and Syria, as well as on the Iranian nuclear program. He told Mr. Johnson that he wants to work together on such topics as the Balkans and Ukraine. (Interfax-Ukraine)
U.N. agency urges Iran to speed up probe
A United Nations agency has called on Iran to speed up its investigation into a Kyiv-bound passenger plane mistakenly shot down in January, killing 176 people. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council on November 6 urged Iran to “expedite the accident investigation” into the deadly crash of the Ukrainian jet. “We have had several exchanges with the Iranian CAA [Civil Aviation Authority] in which we urged its authorities to expedite the accident investigation in accordance with ICAO Annex 13 provisions,” ICAO Council President Salvatore Sciacchitano said. Annex 13 calls for final accident reports to be issued within 12 months of a crash. Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 crashed shortly after taking off from Tehran’s main airport on January 8. Iranian officials eventually admitted that the country’s forces accidentally shot down the Kyiv-bound flight. A misaligned missile battery and miscommunication between soldiers and superior officers were to blame for the incident, according to Iran’s aviation authorities. Flight 752 was downed the same night that Iran had launched a ballistic-missile attack that targeted U.S. soldiers in Iraq, and Tehran’s air defenses were on high alert at the time in case of retaliation. Both the ICAO’s Mr. Sciacchitano and Canadian Transport Minister Marc Garneau cited the “grief and expectations” of the families of Flight 752’s crash victims. Canada is involved because it lost 55 nationals and 30 permanent residents in the crash. It has demanded answers from Tehran after its “limited” initial report failed to explain why it fired missiles at the craft. The Iranian representative to the ICAO, Farhad Parvaresh, told Reuters that he had reported to the council on the progress of the investigation. (RFE/RL, with reporting by Reuters and AFP)
New ambassador of Ukraine to Israel
The newly appointed Ambassador of Ukraine to Israel, Yevgen Korniychuk, presented his credentials to the Chief of State Protocol of Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Gil Haskel on November 16. That same day, Ambassador Korniychuk met with Gary Koren, deputy director general of the Israeli Foreign Affairs Ministry and director of its Eurasian Department, who congratulated him on the beginning of his mission in Israel, wishing him fruitful work and success in promoting bilateral cooperation. The Embassy of Ukraine reported: “The parties exchanged views on topical issues and prospects for further development of Ukrainian-Israeli relations.” Mr. Korniychuk is a former national deputy of Ukraine, former first deputy minister of justice and ex-chairman of the Ukrainian Social Democratic Party. At various times he held the positions of the consul of Ukraine in New York, head of the Department of International Treaties of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, senior lecturer at the Diplomatic Academy under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, and senior partner of the Magistr & Partners law firm. Mr. Korniychuk was appointed ambassador to Israel by presidential decree on September 10, 2020. (Interfax-Ukraine)
NBU governor visits Washington
The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) concluded a series of constructive high-level meetings with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington. For the NBU Governor Kyrylo Shevchenko, it was his first visit to the IMF since assuming his role in July. During the meetings, Mr. Shevchenko reaffirmed the NBU’s commitment to its independence, as well as the continued implementation of its reform agenda and conditions laid out by the IMF in relation to its current funding to Ukraine. The meetings provided the opportunity to discuss the COVID-19 economic crisis, monetary policy and progress in Ukraine’s financial and anti-corruption reform agenda. The NBU met with senior IMF officials, including the head of the IMF’s Mission in Ukraine, Ivanna Vladkova-Hollar, Executive Director Paul Hilbers and the director of the IMF’s European Department, Alfred Kammer. Mr. Shevchenko commented: “We value our continued close cooperation with the IMF, which represents the positive direction of not only the NBU, but Ukraine itself. We look forward to a long-lasting, constructive relationship in the years to come.” In June, the IMF Executive Board had approved an 18-month $5 billion Stand-By Arrangement with Ukraine. The funding will help the country cope with economic challenges brought on by the coronavirus pandemic and address balance of payments and fiscal financing needs. The disbursement of the second tranche of the loan is contingent on the continued implementation of the NBU’s reform agenda. On his trip to Washington, Mr. Shevchenko also met with senior officials within the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation. (National Bank of Ukraine)