In this undated file photo, the European Union flags in front of EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
KYIV/VILNIUS – Ukraine stands ready to fulfill additional European Commission's requirements to start the membership talks by the end of the year, the government-run Ukrinform news agency reported Monday, as US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen made her first visit to Ukraine.
Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, said that Ukraine has already completed the necessary work on seven recommendations needed for closer integration with the European Union.
In particular, Ukraine made progress in fighting corruption and reforming the mass media, Stefanishyna said.
"Now we are waiting for the assessment of the European Commission and its further recommendations," she said.
In June 2022, EU leaders accepted Ukraine as a candidate for membership in the bloc.
The European Commission put forward seven requirements to be fulfilled by Ukraine for starting the accession talks.
US Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen adresses school students during her visit to Kyiv on Feb 27, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)
The United States has provided $14 billion to support the economic resilience of Ukraine, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said, noting that it plans to allocate another $8 billion for the same needs in the near future
Meanwhile, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported, citing Yellen, that the United States has provided about $50 billion in aid to Ukraine since the conflict in the country started,
"In the field of security, economy, humanitarian and social support, we have already provided about $50 billion in assistance," Yellen said after her meeting with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.
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In particular, the United States has provided $14 billion to support the economic resilience of Ukraine, Yellen said, noting that it plans to allocate another $8 billion for the same needs in the near future.
For his part, Shmyhal said that in 2022, the United States was the top contributor of funds to the Ukrainian economy among foreign countries.
According to estimates of the Ukrainian government, the country would need 38 billion dollars in financing, including from external sources, to cover its budget deficit this year.
Ukraine refugees in Lithuania
Separately, according to Statistics Lithuania, three quarters of foreigners that settled in Lithuania in 2022 were refugees fleeing Ukraine, as a result of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Traditionally, most Lithuanians repatriate from the United Kingdom, Norway and Germany. Last year, the corresponding figures were 5,684, 1,546, and 1,369, respectively.
According to Statistics Lithuania, three quarters of foreigners that settled in Lithuania in 2022 were refugees fleeing Ukraine, as a result of the Russia-Ukraine conflict
Last year saw 14,352 Lithuanians repatriating to, and 12,697 leaving the country, according to government statistics.
In 2022, 95,400 people immigrated to Lithuania, and 23,000 people left Lithuania. Among all immigrated people, there are 81,000 foreigners and three quarters of them are refugees from Ukraine.
The country registered 62,000 refugees fleeing Ukraine in 2022, Statistics Lithuania said.
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The last "migration negative" year was 2019, with 24,510 arrivals and 20,412 departures.
Last year, the total number of permanent residents in Lithuania increased by 54,000 to 2,860,000, mainly due to the influx of refugees from Ukraine, Statistics Lithuania reported in January.