Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy hailed the UAE for its “incredible efforts to fight coronavirus, not only at home but also abroad”.
He also thanked the UAE for sending an aid plane last April with medical supplies to help Ukraine in the fight against the virus.
“The UAE provided assistance to many countries around the world and Ukraine will not forget the Emirati airplane, which so timely and with friendly warmth delivered humanitarian aid to confront Covid-19 and the UAE helped many Ukrainians to get back home,” he said.
His comments came after he arrived on a visit to the UAE.
Mr Zelenskiy, 43, and his delegation were met at Abu Dhabi’s presidential flight terminal by Abdulla bin Touq, Minister of Economy.
Ukraine will not forget the Emirati airplane, which so timely and with friendly warmth delivered humanitarian aid to confront Covid-19
He is the youngest president in Ukraine’s history and had a previous career as a filmmaker and actor in which he played the role of president of Ukraine in a TV series.
Wam reported it was his first official visit to a Middle Eastern country.
Ties between the UAE and Ukraine are becoming stronger, especially in trade, tourism and technology.
More than 200 Ukrainian companies operate in the Emirates. Bilateral trade stood at $1.07 billion (Dh3.92bn) in 2019, and no fewer than 30 deals have been signed between the countries.
About 15,000 Ukrainians live in the UAE, and 250,000 people from the country visited the Emirates in 2019, benefitting from a streamlined visa regime.
“It is important that our citizens have the opportunity to pray and ask for God’s help in their native language in the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in the UAE,” Mr Zelenskiy said, noting the UAE hosts the church.
He also also hailed the normalisation of ties between the UAE and Israel, praised the UAE’s successful Hope Mission to Mars and suggested Ukraine could be a important partner in addressing food security.
“Ukraine can and will be the guarantor of the food security of the Emirates ... we are among the world leaders in the export of wheat, corn and barley,” he said.
Ukrainian food exports to the UAE were valued at $252.2 million in 2019, and consisted chiefly of sunflower oil, rapeseed, eggs, poultry and wheat flour. Even the Ukraine pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai will represent the concept of food security.
“The architectural design of the pavilion embodies the idea of a wheat ear. Wheat is an important symbol for Ukrainians and the yellow colour on our flag symbolises the wheat field and readiness to contribute to world food security,” he said.
Co-operation could also extend to the defence sector. Ukraine will take part in the Idex defence trade fair, which will open in Abu Dhabi on February 21.
Ukraine is Europe’s second-largest country and is known for it fertile agricultural plains and heavy industry.
It is home to global companies such as Antonov, renowned for large cargo planes such as the An-225 Mriya.
Mr Zelensky was inaugurated in 2019. At the time, he said ending the insurgency in the east of the country would be his priority.
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
RESULTS
2pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,000m
Winner: AF Mozhell, Saif Al Balushi (jockey), Khalifa Al Neyadi (trainer)
2.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Majdi, Szczepan Mazur, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
3pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: AF Athabeh, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
3.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: AF Eshaar, Bernardo Pinheiro, Khalifa Al Neyadi
4pm: Gulf Cup presented by Longines Prestige (PA) Dh150,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: Al Roba’a Al Khali, Al Moatasem Al Balushi, Younis Al Kalbani
4.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Apolo Kid, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muahiri
Usain Bolt's World Championships record
2007 Osaka
200m Silver
4x100m relay Silver
2009 Berlin
100m Gold
200m Gold
4x100m relay Gold
2011 Daegu
100m Disqualified in final for false start
200m Gold
4x100m relay Gold
2013 Moscow
100m Gold
200m Gold
4x100m relay Gold
2015 Beijing
100m Gold
200m Gold
4x100m relay Gold
Australia men's Test cricket fixtures 2021/22
One-off Test v Afghanistan:
Nov 27-Dec 1: Blundstone Arena, Hobart
The Ashes v England:
Dec 8-12: 1st Test, Gabba, Brisbane
Dec 16-20: 2nd Test, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (day/night)
Dec 26-30: 3rd Test, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Jan 5-9, 2022: 4th Test, Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Jan 14-18: 5th Test, Optus Stadium, Perth
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
