About 40 embassies, consulates renew operations in Kyiv

About 40 foreign embassies and consulates have renewed
their operations in Kyiv, either partially or fully, the Foreign Ministry of
Ukraine reported on May 15. Among them are the British, Israeli, Latvian,
Netherlands, and German embassies, requiring electronic registration for
appointments. Meanwhile, the General Consulate of Ukraine in Milan will reopen
on May 25. As for the situation with flying to and from Ukraine, Ukrainian
International Airlines (UAI) announced it has ceased ticket sales for all international
flights until July 1, the avianews.com news site reported on May 16, citing
airline president Yevhenia Dykhne. Flights with medium-distance routes will be
the first to be renewed, she said.

The European Parliament voted on May 15 to grant a EUR
1.2 bln loan to address the economic and social consequences of the coronavirus
pandemic, the eurointegration.com.ua news site said. The bill awaits approval
by the E.U. Council. The loan is part of a EUR 3 bln macrofinancial aid program
for countries with officially recognized prospects for E.U. membership, as well
as E.U. neighbors. It will be issued in one year in two installments, repayable
in 15 years. The same day, Ukraine’s finance ministry announced the World Bank
signed a USD 135 mln loan agreement with the Health Ministry of Ukraine. The
loan foresees USD 35 mln will be earmarked to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, and
USD 100 mln “for the purchase of up-to-date medical equipment for emergency aid
and enhancing the ability of hospitals to offer quality care,” the statement
said.

Coronavirus infections rose by 325 cases, or 1.8%,
from the prior day to a total of 18,616 as of noon, May 18, according to the
Center for Public Health of the Health Ministry of Ukraine. An estimated 535
people have died from the COVID-19 disease caused by the coronavirus, an
increase of 21 cases from the prior day. Recovered patients rose 160 to a total
of 5,276 cases. On May 15, a daily record of 433 recovered patients were
reported by the Health Ministry. A COVID-19 outbreak was reported on May 19 at
an orphanage in Kyiv, where 81 girls and staff were reported to be infected.
Three staff were hospitalized.

Zenon Zawada: UAI has
made basic routes available – at least once every week or two – for those who
have really needed them throughout the crisis so far, as have other airlines.
We believe that will continue to be the case, with ongoing flights not being
publicized. So we urge our clients to get in touch with their embassies and
consulates in Ukraine to learn about available flights this summer, which won’t
necessarily be publicized.

Today’s infection figures indicate the coronavirus
situation in Ukraine has been stabilized, with the peak having been reached about two weeks ago.
That’s despite eruptions such as the 80-plus infections at the Kyiv orphanage.
So we share the view that a second wave of the coronavirus won’t erupt until
the late summer, at the earliest. Ukrainian society is now adjusting to the new
normal.