At the meeting chaired by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine considered the readiness of our state to meet Ukrainian citizens from the Chinese city of Wuhan, where a coronavirus outbreak was recorded.
The President stressed that the Ukrainian state must bring its citizens home.
“This is not a political issue, but an issue of security of our citizens and security of the state. And, according to the law, we must return our citizens to Ukraine,” the Head of State said.
Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk informed that a plane was ready to depart to China to take Ukrainians back. The plane is expected to arrive in China tomorrow, on February 19.
“The whole process of evacuation of our people from China is under the absolute control of the government. We have a clear plan of action, particularly in logistics matters, in both China and Ukraine. Our citizens will get to the plane in Wuhan in a centralized and timely manner, accompanied by the Ukrainian consul and Chinese specialists,” he said.
According to the Prime Minister, several objects in different regions of the country are now ready to take people for a two-week observation. These institutions meet all security requirements. Other medical institutions of the country are also fully ready.
"We take all precautions to prevent the spread of coronavirus. The entire team that will work with the evacuees has already been trained in the Public Health Center. Only people without symptoms of the disease and with the prior consent to undergo the 14-day observation will be allowed to board the aircraft. The flight crew and the doctors who will accompany the flight will also be under observation for two weeks,” Oleksiy Honcharuk noted.
During a briefing on the results of the NSDC meeting, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged political forces not to use the return of Ukrainians from China for their political purposes and not to incite panic among the population.
"If they block the roads and instigate people, I will personally bring our citizens to Koncha-Zaspa, to their estates," the Head of State emphasized.