Avakov announced an “optimistic famine” for Ukrainians

The looming crisis in Ukraine due to the coronavirus pandemic will result in mass hunger among the country's poor population.

The head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Arsen Avakov, wrote about this on his Facebook page, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.

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“Let's be honest - most people in Ukraine live without significant financial savings - many families live, as they say, from paycheck to paycheck. And we have coronavirus and quarantine. Many enterprises are shutting down, quarantine measures are forcing many small companies and businesses to close.

A month will pass and people may simply not have enough money to support themselves, their families - to buy food and medicine. For many, this is the No. 1 problem and fear right now. This is, unfortunately, a fact that cannot be ignored,” Avakov said.

He also said that the Ukrainian government is preparing a number of measures to minimize the damage from the epidemic, for example, President Vladimir Zelensky proposed paying pensioners an additional thousand hryvnia.

Arsen Avakov himself also made several proposals to combat the crisis: to establish an unemployment benefit for those in need in the amount of about 3 hryvnia during the quarantine, to establish benefits for some utility bills, to stop calculating credit rates for individuals and to prohibit enterprises from laying off workers or sending them away on unpaid leave due to quarantine.

“No, I’m not a communist, not a dreamer - and I really understand that the state’s budget is still bursting at the seams - there is no money, and against the backdrop of the impending global economic crisis, the difficulties are catastrophic... We’ll have to take extraordinary steps for a couple of months:

1. The Verkhovna Rada should immediately review the State Budget: create a special Stabilization Fund from which to finance anti-crisis measures.
2. To increase the state budget deficit is significant, it must be considered, but, it seems to me, at least 200 billion. Don't be shy! - such is the challenge of the time. I'm sorry, but I have to.
3. Carry out a sequestration of the budget - reducing the cost of non-critical investments and investments at the present time. Avoiding damage along the lines of defense and security. I'm sorry, but I have to.
4. It is imperative to conclude an agreement with the IMF, enlisting support in anti-crisis measures and receiving funding under assistance programs, including the support program in connection with the coronavirus pandemic.
5. Immediately, and as soon as possible, carry out a restructuring of Ukraine’s external debts, significantly reducing the burden of paying interest and principal in the coming years...

The pandemic is rolling into Ukraine, we still have a few days, but very soon all the forces of the state will be focused on medical problems, the fight for people’s lives, order and the life support system of every Ukrainian during this difficult period.

So now is the time to address a few key structural issues and be honest with the public about it. That’s why I wrote it – it is important that each of you knows what is being prepared and discussed. And what a difficult situation we all find ourselves in.

But, by the way, life, whatever one may say, is a series of difficult situations. Take care of yourself! Let's break through! We remain optimistic!” Avakov concluded.

The proposal of the head of the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs was commented on by political scientist Vladimir Kornilov.

President Avakov is a master of logic after all! I began my post with the fact that Ukrainians will face hunger in a month. And he ended with a call to “stay optimistic.” Such an “optimistic famine”!

What real measures did Avakov propose to overcome the crisis? Actually, two:

1. To knock money away from the IMF (How can he not? Well, he owes it to Ukraine!)
2. Declare default. True, Avakov veiled this under the phrase “immediately restructure Ukraine’s external debts.”

That's all the recipes from the new president of Ukraine. Why not the president? Judging by his latest posts, he is the president there!” the expert wrote on the social network.