Distinguished colleagues, dear Ukrainians!
We are starting a session of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.
Today we embark on work on a single Reform Plan until 2027. We will combine partner initiatives and other proposals into one roadmap for change. The plan will cover all areas that affect state institutions, the economy and interaction with civil society.
We have a number of documents with reform proposals from our partners - from 7 EU recommendations to the list of IMF structural beacons. On our side, at the initiative of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Concept of Strengthening the Stability of Democracy was developed. This document was handed over to our allies. Now we are starting to work on creating a single document.
The Reform Plan will become a part of the future Ukrainian Doctrine, the principles of which were outlined by the Head of State. These reforms will be the foundation of our victory and the key to successful recovery and growth.
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Yesterday, a meeting of the foreign ministers of the EU member states took place in Kyiv. This is another landmark event for all of us. This is a testament to the fact that Ukraine has been, still remains and will remain a part of a united Europe. It is a demonstration of absolute support for Ukraine in our aspirations for victory, peace, prosperity and a European future.
I strongly believe that having fulfilled all the requirements of the European Commission, we will open pre-accession negotiations in 2023.
Meanwhile, bridges rather than walls should be built on the western border now. First of all this applies to the Ukrainian agrarian exports. We need wide transit routes for food exports. This is important for the sustainability of our economy. It is important for the world, because it is global food security.
Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food forecasted that this year's harvest will be over 79 million tonnes. This is 10% more than last year. Almost 42 million tonnes of grains and oilseeds have already been harvested.
This is the result not only of favorable weather but also of consistent support for farmers. In 2023, they received more than UAH 33 billion in loans under the 5-7-9 program, and more than UAH 56 billion under all loan programs.
The draft state budget for 2024 includes resources to help the agricultural sector: affordable business loans, grant programs, and compensation for the purchase of Ukrainian agricultural machinery. In addition, we will allocate UAH 2 billion for humanitarian demining. In particular, for compensation when farmers purchase demining services at open auctions.
A good harvest means that Ukraine will retain its strategic importance as a guarantor of global food security. About 25% of the harvested grain is sufficient for our domestic needs, while the rest needs to be exported. Because these are resources for farmers, foreign exchange earnings for the state, and food for starving countries.
Here we count on the effectiveness of the proposed mechanism for verification and control of Ukrainian agricultural exports, on transit Solidarity Lanes with the EU, on expanding the capacity of the Danube ports and on new grain corridors.
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In particular, we are radically changing its veteran policy. It provides extensive economic opportunities for our defenders: business, work, retraining, adaptation, barrier-free access. These include housing for veterans, creation of veteran development centers and introduction of a veteran assistant.
People are currently being selected and trained to provide peer-to-peer support to veterans. The number of applicants exceeds the number of vacancies.
Moreover, today we trigger two more pilot projects for veterans and military personnel.
The first one is the provision of a new comprehensive social service - resilience building. It includes a number of options. In particular, social and psychological assistance, formation and development of social skills and abilities, assistance in adaptation, etc. Every veteran, his or her family or a group of people will be eligible to receive the service.
The second project is social support for military personnel and their families in military units. We are talking about psychosocial support to strengthen families, assistance in paperwork, assistance in communication with state and local authorities.
The Ministry of Social Policy will coordinate the foresaid projects. They will soon provide all the details.
Therefore, we proceed with our work, changing Ukraine, bringing it closer to victory, and delivering results in all priority areas.
Thank you for your attention! Glory to Ukraine!