Representatives of Ukrainian diplomatic missions from all over the world paid a working visit to Zaporizhstal of Metinvest Group. Among them were the Ambassadors of Ukraine to Poland, Spain, Italy, Romania, Turkey, Sweden, Moldova, Bulgaria, Finland, and other countries. The diplomats witnessed firsthand the operation of the plant's facilities, including the key production monitoring centre – the main control room, the powerful hot rolling mill, and the environmentally friendly pickling line of the cold rolling shop, and discussed current issues and prospects for foreign economic cooperation with the plant’s top management.
"The metallurgical complex is extremely important for Zaporizhzhia – it generates up to 15% of the city's budget revenues. Zaporizhstal ranks among the top three largest metallurgical plants in Ukraine, producing every third tonne of Ukrainian steel. Behind these figures lies real support for the economy of the region and the country, for our defenders, and a foundation for the future reconstruction of Ukraine. Diplomats, like Zaporizhstal itself, represent Ukraine on the international stage – so we have many common topics to discuss," said Taras SHEVCHENKO, Acting General Director of Zaporizhstal and Hero of Ukraine.
Among the key issues discussed during the meeting with the ambassadors was the blocking of transactions under Zaporizhstal’s foreign economic contracts by foreign banks. This is a common problem for businesses registered in partially occupied regions – Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk, and Luhansk – where European financial institutions cite the lack of reliable data on the status of these Ukrainian territories. Such de-risking significantly complicates the operations of Ukrainian businesses working in frontline regions, which focus their efforts on supporting the Ukrainian economy.
Equally important is the urgent need to postpone the introduction of the CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) on goods imported into the EU. Today, Ukraine has legitimate grounds to request a postponement of this regulation, as the country is at war defending its territories against the aggressive actions of the invader. If CBAM comes into effect as scheduled – in six months – Ukrainian industry will lose its competitiveness, and consequently, European sales markets. According to estimates by the Federation of Employers, as a result, the national economy will lose $4.7 bln in exports and $2.7 bln in investments. Additionally, according to analytical centres, this threatens a loss of up to 6.4% of GDP and over 116,000 jobs by 2030.
Ukrainian diplomats, accompanied by Zaporizhstal’s top managers – Production Director Vartan Tarasko, Engineering Director Mykola Petriakov, and Technology and Quality Director Volodymyr Naboka – visited the production facilities and learned about the operations of the steel heart of Zaporizhzhia.
"I want to thank the people who work here in Zaporizhzhia, at Zaporizhstal. They are the modern-day heroes who, every day working under terrible conditions, practically on the front line, do their jobs and continue to fulfil their duties. Honour and respect to these people. Both the leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the ambassadors who visited this enterprise will do everything possible to support this production," said Hennadii NADOLENKO, Director of the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine under the MFA.
The diplomats, together with representatives of Zaporizhstal, discussed key priorities in working with partner countries.
"We are sincerely grateful to all the steelworkers who, despite the partial occupation of Zaporizhzhia region, continue to work and maintain production. Of course, on our part as diplomats, we work on the diplomatic front to protect Ukraine, to achieve peace, and undoubtedly to create all the necessary and important conditions for all Ukrainian enterprises, including Zaporizhstal, to continue their operations and maintain their trade relations. This is extremely important," says Larisa HERASKO, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Ireland.
During their visit to Zaporizhzhia, Ukrainian diplomats also honoured the memory of fallen defenders at the "Tree of Memory" memorial complex, visited the city's strategic industrial and energy facilities, construction sites where restoration work is underway on buildings damaged by Russian shelling, Khortytsia Island, and other important locations in this frontline city and region.
