Arseniy Yatsenyuk: When the state regains control over the territories in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, the Government will cover all social benefits for local residents

There won’t be directed any funds from the Central Budget to the territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, which are controlled by the terrorists. However, the Government will deliver gas and electricity there to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe. This was stated by Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk at a Government meeting on Wednesday, November 5.

The PM informed that, according to the calculations of the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economic Development and Trade and the State Treasury Service, total subsidies for Donetsk region from the Central Budget along all levels of funds make up UAH 37 billion, "In Luhansk region overall subsidies from the Central Budget to cover local budgets and all social payments amount UAH 19.8 billion”.

"In Donetsk region the territories, temporarily controlled by Russian terrorists, require subsidies from the Central budget of Ukraine worth UAH 19.6 billion. In Luhansk region – worth UAH 14.6 billion", he said.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk stressed that the Government's position is as follows, "During the time the territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions are supervised by all sorts of impostors, there won’t be directed funding from the Central Budget there. The Government won’t finance terrorists and imposters".

At this, according to the Head of Government, for all local residents "all pensions, social payments and benefits" will be remunerated, "after Russian-led terrorists flee from the territories of Donetsk and Luhansk - we will immediately regain control over the territories and will pay each person a relevant social benefit he/she has the right for”.

"Today, to pay money in this area means that the money will not reach the people, they will be stolen by Russian-led guerrillas, and it's nothing else than direct support of Russian terrorism," he said.

The Prime Minister also reminded that there is an ongoing discussion concerning the supply of gas and electricity to rebel-held territories, "I would like to express the Government's position and my personal one. There are our citizens there, and the Government will not allow these people to freeze, as it could lead to a humanitarian catastrophe".

"This is our territory, our people. We shall handle terrorists separately. But the winter is approaching. Hence, if we use tough measures now, it [the situation] will be particularly tough with respect to ordinary people. So we shall provide them with gas and electricity", he stressed.

At the same time, Arseniy Yatsenyuk said, as soon as Ukraine resumes control over the relevant territory, "the amount of funds accumulated by the Government to fulfil payments of social benefits and subsidies will be reduced by the cost of electricity and gas, which we now supply to the territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, which aren’t temporarily controlled by the central authorities."

Arseniy Yatsenyuk reminded that in accord with the Minsk agreements, Russia had to stop supporting terrorists, they had to liberate the territories and Ukraine had to regain control over these territories, "Follow the agreement, clean the area of this virus, you delivered there, and don't make people hostages to your imperial ambitions."

He emphasized the need to execute all the twelve points of the Minsk agreements, "When one gives the promise, he must keep it. And I can see they [the Russian Federation. – ed.] have a problem with that. Therefrom, the people became hostages".

The Head of Government stressed that he considered the bilateral negotiations with Russia unlikely to succeed, "One of the most effective and real formats is the Geneva format, which envisaged the participation of the United States, the European Union, Ukraine, and our northern geographical neighbour”.