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all-weather air defense system the Ukrainian News Agency reports. The U.S. Department of Defense must submit a report to Congress, which will include options for the potential sale or transfer of such systems to Ukraine. It is noted that the bill before the US House of Representatives already contains a proposal to provide military assistance to Ukraine to the tune of USD 275 million, not including the transfer of air defense systems.
EU ambassadors agree to extend sanctions against Russia over its aggression in Crimea, Donbas. On 8 September the Council of Permanent Representatives of the EU member states at the level of ambassadors (COREPER) agreed to extend for six more months the package of sanctions for actions The decision has to be approved by the EU Council in writing before it is published in the Official Journal of the European Union. EU sanctions against Russia have been in force since March 2014 and extended every six months.
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba stated on Sept. 10 that the EU was not ready for Ukraine. Speaking at the Yalta European Strategy’s (YES) brainstorming session, he pointed out that there is more than reform in the process of joining the EU. “But it makes me sad when they insist that we should carry out the reforms without telling the truth. For now, you do not want to accept us not because we are not ready, but because you are not ready," YES quoted him in a news release. In turn, Estonian president Kersti Kaljulaid stated that both the EU and Ukraine have to work harder at integrating Ukraine into the union. However, “the main prerequisite is that the Copenhagen criteria have to be met," she said.
Ukraine-US to hold joint military training. The joint military exercises will commence this week, and be held in western Ukraine this week. The announcement came from the Ukrainian General Staff within days of the Russian-Belarusian Zapad 2021 military exercise (Reuters). The main goal is to “prepare for joint actions as part of a multinational force during coalition operations." Ukraine views military exercises with Western partners as an important step on the path to NATO.
Polish ambassador suggests CE8 group for Ukraine relations. The Ambassador of Poland to Ukraine Bartosz Cichocki recommended a new platform for Ukraine’s relations with its neighbors. Speaking at the 1st Ukrainian Central European Forum on Sept. 16, Cichocki offered a G7 ambassador-like format, and he pointed to the consultative role the G7 ambassadors play. To this end, he recommended that Ukrainian officials meet with the CE8 ambassadors, consisting of the ambassadors of the Baltic States, Visegrad Group, and Romania. He also suggested considering a role for Austria in the group, ukinform.net reported on Sept. 17.
2.3 Polls & Sociology
Heading into the new political season, Volodymyr Zelenskiy and his Servant of the People party are leading the polls in Ukraine, according to the latest socio-political survey conducted by the Rating Group. Among decided voters, 31% would cast their ballot for Zelenskiy in a hypothetical election and nearly 26% would support Servant of the People.
10 UKRAINE Country Report October 2021 www.intellinews.com