Lutsk deputies are against "partnerships" and the first tranche from the IMF is expected soon: last night's highlights
In Lutsk, city council members called on the parliament to prevent same—sex civil partnerships in Ukraine; the first tranche of the IMF will amount to $2.7 billion and should arrive soon; Slovenia promises to facilitate political and material political support for Ukraine from the EU and NATO. Here is what you may have missed from the previous night.
Lutsk city council against civil partnerships
In Lutsk, city council members called on the parliament to prevent the adoption of a bill to introduce the institution of “registered partnerships” in Ukraine.
According to the councilors, the introduction of 'partnerships' is only a stage on the way to the recognition of same-sex marriage. The deputies insist that the draft law contradicts the current Family Code, and its adoption will lead to the imposition of gender ideology and threaten demographic policy.
IMF tranche expected shortly
The Ministry of Finance of Ukraine expects the first tranche from the International Monetary Fund to arrive shortly. It will amount to about USD 2.7 billion in direct budget financing.
Ukraine's Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko noted that this is an exceptional case of an IMF program being provided to a country at war.
In return, the Government of Ukraine is committed to strengthening policies that support fiscal, external, price, and financial stability; and to supporting economic recovery while improving governance and strengthening institutions.
Slovenia supports Ukraine's accession to NATO
The Prime Minister of Slovenia Robert Golob and the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy have signed a joint declaration.
In it, Slovenia promises to facilitate political and material support for Ukraine from the EU and NATO so that Ukraine can effectively defend its territories.
Slovenia also stressed that it supports Ukraine's membership in NATO “as soon as conditions allow”. Ukraine and Slovenia are ready to hold bilateral consultations on Ukraine's security before NATO membership.
Other news for the night:
- The United States may announce a new $2.6 billion military aid package as early as Monday, April 3. It may include ammunition and anti-tank missiles.
- Eight assault brigades of the 'Offensive Guard' have already been formed, but the Interior Ministry has decided to continue recruiting volunteers to form reserve units.
- Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska said that 89 Ukrainian children were injured in Bucha and Bucha Raion of Kyiv Oblast during the Russian occupation, 37 of them died.
- The Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs sends a note of protest to Belarus demanding that it immediately suspend the Belarusian nuclear power plant project, which Minsk has built just 40 km from the Lithuanian capital until nuclear safety issues are resolved.
- The US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman, General Mark Milley, said that the US has no plans to provide Ukraine with ATACMS long-range missiles. Instead, he suggests replacing these missiles with attack drones.