Zelenskyy Promises Support for Retailers Affected by russian Strikes

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated this during a meeting with the owners and executives of the largest grocery and home improvement supermarkets, hypermarkets and marketplaces, according to the press service of the Office of the President (OP).

He noted that the ministers of finance and economy, together with the National Bank and the OP team, would work on this. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will negotiate with partners to preserve business operations in Ukraine and the necessary level of economic activity.

At the proposal of businesses, a separate centre will be established within the Ministry of Economy and Environment to receive оперативative information on business-related problems.

Businesses also requested the creation of customs warehouses in neighbouring European partner countries to store goods intended for import into Ukraine.

In addition, to support businesses, there are plans to simplify the procedure for leasing municipally and state-owned warehouse premises and to draw up a clear list of logistics hubs.

Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council Ihor Klymenko noted that the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Economy and Environment should work on protecting logistics hubs that are critically important to the economy and on reserving drivers of logistics centres from mobilisation.

Particular attention was paid to deregulating the restoration of distribution complexes, as well as to labour shortages amid the decentralisation of warehouses and increasingly complicated logistics. Businesses are to develop relevant proposals for consideration at subsequent meetings.

The President proposed holding regular coordination meetings with business representatives and government officials. Business needs will also be recorded weekly, and emerging issues will be addressed, including updating decisions and regulations and making the necessary changes to procedures to ensure normal supplies to cities and communities.