In Kramatorsk, Donetsk region, under the chairmanship of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a national meeting of the National Security and Defense Council was held, during which the Strategy of Foreign Policy of Ukraine was approved, sanctions were imposed on a number of individuals and legal entities, and other important decisions in the spheres of economic and state security were made.
In total, there were eight issues on the agenda of the National Security and Defense Council meeting, one issue was considered additionally on the proposal of the Prime Minister.
One of the most important decisions was the adoption of the Strategy of Foreign Policy of Ukraine, because for the first time in 30 years of independence, the Ukrainian state received a clear and understandable strategy in this direction.
According to Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba, this document defines the goal of Ukrainian foreign policy, namely - the establishment of Ukraine in the world as a strong and authoritative European state. According to the official, the Strategy contains six priority areas of foreign policy and sets out three approaches that will be consolidated in the international arena.
"There are 254 points in the Strategy, it is a very voluminous document, but its content can be systematized by three main theses: Ukraine is an active participant in international politics, Ukraine is forming a security architecture for itself, the region and the world, and Ukraine is a country of new economic opportunities. These are three principles, three approaches that will be laid down in every step we take in the foreign arena," Dmytro Kuleba summed up.
In addition, the National Security and Defense Council heard a report from the Minister of the Interior on the implementation of state policy in the field of state border protection. The President set a task: all borders of Ukraine must meet the requirements.
Another issue concerned the state of the national healthcare system and urgent measures to provide Ukrainian citizens with medical care. It was stressed that the domestic healthcare system must be ready for the challenges that may face Ukraine and the world due to the pandemic. The Head of State also set a task to increase from January 1, 2022 the financial support of medical staff, which bears the greatest burden during the growth of morbidity in the country. They also discussed further measures to reform the healthcare system, including the creation of modern medical facilities.
The National Security and Defense Council has made a comprehensive decision on the state of Ukraine's water resources. As the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksiy Danilov said at the briefing following the meeting, this issue consisted of several points.
One of them concerned surface waters used by industry. Volodymyr Zelenskyy focused on the inaction of the State Environmental Inspectorate, so the report of the chairman of this body will be heard at the next meeting of the National Security and Defense Council.
The National Security and Defense Council also decided to take measures to neutralize threats in the energy sector. According to the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, there are extremely dangerous trends in this area, in particular, there are signs of monopolization in the gas distribution market.
"If there is a threat to national security, we are considering the introduction of temporary administrations," Oleksiy Danilov said.
In addition, the President of Ukraine has set a task to ensure that electricity tariffs for vulnerable groups are not raised in any way.
The National Security and Defense Council has also approved a decision to send national personnel to participate in the EU-led military Operation Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Also at the request of Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, the National Security and Defense Council considered Ukraine’s commitments under the Paris Agreement on emission limits, the first part of which has been fulfilled. The state is now undertaking commitments as regards the second part. The President stressed that we must reduce emissions and develop a "green" economy, moving together with all countries of the civilized world that have signed this agreement.
