Day: April 4, 2023

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed the provision of further assistance to Kyiv with a delegation of the House of Representatives of the US Congress from the Republican Party.

"Bicameral and bipartisan support from the United States, President (Joe) Biden, and the entire American people played a decisive role in our country's ability to resist Russia in the war for our freedom and democratic values," Zelenskyy said, according to a statement by the Ukrainian presidency late Monday.

The statement said that Zelenskyy thanked the delegation led by head of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Mike Turner for Washington's powerful assistance to Ukraine.

"We will win because we are fighting for our freedom and the freedom of our children. And we highly appreciate the help you provide us - not only to our army, but also political and financial support to the Ukrainian people: teachers, medical workers, pensioners," Zelenskyy further said.

The delegation was informed about the situation on the front line.

Meeting with Pompeo

Separately, Zelenskyy also met with a delegation of politicians, businessmen and representatives of charitable organizations, led by former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

"Unfortunately, the war has been going on for over a year now, and we are glad that the United States is standing by and fighting with us for common goals. We feel both bipartisan support and support from the White House," said a statement published by the Ukrainian presidency on Tuesday.

The statement said that Zelenskyy invited American businesses to actively invest in Ukraine.

"Invest in business, because business is what creates jobs. We are interested in the fact that people can find work, and the budget receives revenue to strengthen our capabilities on the battlefield," Zelenskyy further said, according to the statement.

It added that a number of other topical issues were also discussed, including Ukraine's accession process to NATO, and the importance of further strengthening sanctions and pressure on Russia.

'Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted the activities of American charitable organizations, whose representatives attended the meeting, which focused on helping displaced persons, rebuilding the destroyed housing stock, providing medical assistance, providing drinking water and food to those who need it most,' the statement concluded.

Source: Anadolu Agency

The Turkish foreign minister met with the US' secretary of state in Brussels on Tuesday.

"Discussed our relations with Antony Blinken," Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Twitter. "Submitted ratification document of Finland's NATO membership."

He also attached a photo of him with Blinken holding the ratification document.

The meeting between Cavusoglu and Blinken took place on the sidelines of a two-day NATO foreign ministers meeting.

Source: Anadolu Agency

In France, Marine Le Pen's far-right Rassemblement National (RN) party "is clearly on the rise," according to a study released on Tuesday.

"Rassemblement National's surge is spectacular during the dispute over pension reform, with voting intentions rising by 7 points if new parliamentary elections were to be held," said the study by French think tank Jean Jaures Foundation.

Some 26% of voters will choose the far-right party in the event of new parliamentary elections, a rise from 19% of the votes it won in the June 2022 elections.

"The RN benefits from the pension dispute because it is perceived in public opinion as both serious and anti-system, and has shown a willingness to compromise," said social scientist and author of the study, Antoine Bristielle, as reported by the French daily 20minutes.

The government revealed the pension reform project in January, and workers and trade unions have since expressed growing outrage by holding demonstrations and walkouts.

Outrage by workers intensified when the government used special constitutional powers on March 16 to force the plan through -- Article 49.3 of the Constitution -- a mechanism that allows the government to adopt a draft bill without parliamentary approval.

The reform project includes raising the retirement age from 62 to 64 in 2030, requiring at least 43 years of work to be eligible for a full pension.

According to estimates by the French Ministry of Labor, the reform is expected to increase annual pension contributions by pound 17.7 billion euros ($18.8 billion) by 2030.

Unions, on the other hand, favor small increases in contributions to keep the pension system solvent. According to the unions, the proposed measures are unfair and disproportionately affect low-skilled workers in strenuous occupations who enter the workforce early.

In addition, inflation in France remains at a high level. According to the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), the price level in March 2023 was 6.6% higher than a year ago.

Source: Anadolu Agency