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Russia's Gazprom prepares $4.7 billion for payment to Ukraine
The Russian gas monopoly Gazprom, contrary to published reports concerning the sum decided upon by two arbitrations with Ukrainian Naftogaz in the amount of $2.56 billion, put aside in its accounts a reserve for the full amount of the fine on the transit contract with Ukrainian side.
This was reported by Interfax news agency, citing the company’s statements. The document stated that the balance for fines and penalties for violation of the terms of contracts is recognized as 272.943 billion …
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Ukrainian and Belarusian presidents schedule next meeting
Presidents of Ukraine and the Republic of Belarus plan to meet this autumn in Belarus, in the city of Gomel, said Ambassador of Belarus Igor Sokol at a press conference.
On March 27, Petro Poroshenko and Alexander Lukashenko held a phone conversation, in which they discussed, among other subjects, preparations for the First Forum of Regions between Ukraine and Belarus. The meeting is expected to take place at the forum.
“The forum planned in Gomel this autumn will be held under the aegis of …
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Media: Summit on Donbas peacekeepers to be held without Russia
Ukraine, Germany and France will hold a summit devoted to the matter of deploying peacekeepers in the Donbas, the newspaper Kommersant reports, citing sources in Ukraine’s presidential administration. Russia has not been invited to the summit.
The event will be modeled after the Normandy Format, and will involve the heads of state. However, Vladimir Putin will not participate in the event. The meeting of the leaders of Germany, France and Ukraine is scheduled to take place in May in the German …
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Almost a quarter of Ukrainians work in the shadow economy
According to State Statistics data, 22.9% of Ukrainians work in the ‘shadow economy’, or without official registration, UNN reports.
According to the agency, in 2017 the number of informally employed people aged 15-70 years reached 3,695,600 people, or 22.9% of the total number of the employed population of corresponding ages.
Of those working in the shadow economy, 1,514,700 (19.5%) were women, and 2,180,900 (26%) were men.
Informal employment is lower in urban areas—it accounts for 15.3% …
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Two Syrian citizens asked for political asylum in Ukraine
On April 1, the State Border Service reported that two Syrian citizens asked for political asylum in Ukraine in connection with the military actions in their country. The two women appealed to the border guards at the Kharkiv-Passazhirsky checkpoint during border control of train on the Moscow-Kharkiv route, the report said.
The 37-year-old and 22-year-old women explained while being interviewed that they arrived in the territory of Ukraine fleeing the armed conflict in Syria and wanted to …