Support to businesses in ‘red zones’ should be provided as soon as possible – Zelensky

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that financial assistance to businesses in the regions included in the red quarantine zone should be provided as soon as possible.

"Small and medium-sized businesses are an important component of the Ukrainian economy, and first of all, they are our people. Today, during the global pandemic, they have only the state to rely on. And we - the state - must help and defend our people in this difficult time," Zelensky said at a special meeting dedicated to the fight against the COVID-19, the president’s press service reported.

In turn, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that the relevant ministries - the Ministry for Economy, Trade, Agriculture Development, the Ministry of Digital Transformation, and the Ministry of Social Policy - are actively developing regulations to help businesses and employees in the regions included in the red zone.

As reported, on March 30, 2021, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine approved the presidential Law "On assistance to insured persons for the period of restrictive anti-epidemic measures introduced to prevent the spread of acute respiratory disease COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2”. The law provides for one-time financial assistance in the amount of UAH 8,000 to insured persons who are employees of economic entities registered in the regions included in the red quarantine zone. In addition, individual entrepreneurs and employees of enterprises can count on assistance from local authorities in the amount to be determined by local governments.

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