Ukraine opens its borders gradually

Ukraine eases the quarantine measures on the country’s western border gradually. Thus, six checkpoints on the border with Moldova were resumed on May 29, and another 60 checkpoints are expected to be reopened by the European Union correspondingly. The State Border Guard Service’s spokesman Andrey Demchenko announced this.

He noted that Ukrainian border guards are ready to carry out all the pass operations in all directions both for citizens and for vehicles.

Currently, according to the spokesman passenger traffic remains at the previous level – about 20 thousand people for the entry and exit. However, a gradual increase in passenger traffic is expected at the border.

Slovakia is ready to open its border with Ukraine on June 1. Meanwhile, official Budapest has postponed the resumption of checkpoints with Ukraine to a later date.

Besides, as it has become known, the Ukrainian government prepares to approve the changes to the quarantine rules, namely, to lift the ban on foreign nationals’ entry, which is currently valid until June 22.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba has acknowledged that there was a need to lift the restrictions on movement across the border. «Ukraine must resolve the issue of changing the rules of foreigners’ entry into our country», he stressed.

The minister also added that entry would not be uncontrolled, but the new rules would «allow» to resume the traffic across the border.

According to some media, which refer to their sources in the government, the Cabinet of Ministers considers the possibility to allow all foreigners in upon the condition of a 14-day quarantine. Currently, only those foreigners who have a residence permit can enter Ukraine.