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has made sufficient progress on key defense reforms this year, as required by the National Defense Authorization Act,” the press release clarified. “The Department encourages Ukraine to continue to enact reforms that strengthen civilian control of the military, promote increased transparency and accountability in defense industry and procurement, and modernize its defense sector in other key areas in line with NATO principles and standards.”
Ukraine’s Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, or NABU, is investigating corruption reports surrounding the vaccine, Maksym Hryschusk​, acting head of the unit told reporters Wednesday. Separately, a civil society watchdog group, NABU Public Control Council, charged that talks were underway to buy China’s Sinovac Biotech vaccine at $3 a dose, “however, subsequently, the Minister of Health Maksym Stepanov manually stopped this process and instructed to start negotiations on the purchase” at $17.85 a dose. Stepanov has said that different companies charge different prices.
Zelenskiy visits Abu Dhabi, pledges to boost trade. ​During the official visit of President Zelenskiy to the United Arab Emirates on February 14-15, the Ukrainian delegation “signed a number of memorandums and contracts totaling $3bn or more," according to Zelenskiy’s press service. A member of the delegation, the current advisor to the head of the presidential office and former Economy Minister Tymofiy Mylovanov, stated that the crown prince of Abu Dhabi had instructed his team to “increase bilateral trade and agricultural investments in Ukraine ten-fold in several years, that is to reach $2bn a year.” CEO of Ukroboronprom Yuriy Gusev signed agreements and contracts with Tawazun Economic Council and EDGE Group to expand military-technical cooperation totaling more than $1bn. The agreement with EDGE on military and technical cooperation will allow the exchange and development of advanced technologies, Zelenskiy’s press service stressed. The Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine signed a memorandum with INTELMAX Management Consulting, which provides for cooperation on the creation of a platform for the exchange of intellectual property based on the Fantom blockchain, which will provide increased security and transparency. It is also planned to introduce blockchain technologies into government processes and services.
The State Securuty Service of Ukraine (SBU) served an official notice of suspicion to EU resident Anatolii Sharii described by SBU as a “Russian propagandist”. ​“Allegedly, he conducted subversive activity against Ukraine in the information sphere,” SBU stated on its website. “There is reason to believe that Anatolii Sharii acted on behalf of foreign security services.”​ ​The notice of suspicion is a formal confirmation of charges within criminal proceedings. SBU accused Sharii of treason and violation of equality of citizens. “In particular, the offender incited national, racial or religious hatred, humiliation of national honor and dignity, etc.”, the security service said.
2.8 ​Polls & Sociology
Incumbent head of state Volodymyr Zelenskiy would be supported by 22.7% of Ukrainians ​if the presidential elections in Ukraine were held next Sunday, according to the results of an all-Ukrainian poll conducted by Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) on February 5-7. According to the study, fifth president (2014-2019), leader of the European Solidarity party Petro Poroshenko would be supported by 18.3% of those who decided on their choice, leader of the All-Ukrainian Union Batkivschyna Yulia Tymoshenko -
15​ UKRAINE Country Report​ March 2021 ​ ​www.intellinews.com