Fund worth up to UAH 13 bln: Zelensky agrees with large businesses on support for anti-coronavirus efforts

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky late Monday reported on the agreements reached with the country's top businessmen he convened at his office in Kyiv earlier that day.

A separate fund worth UAH 12-13 billion (nearly $450 million) will be set up to support the country's health care sector in the fight against the coronavirus, Zelensky said in a televised address to the nation.

The meeting, he said, was about "help" and "addressing structural problems."

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"Now we urgently need 500 ambulance vehicles – this is the number our hospitals are lacking," the head of state said.

"We talked about individual funds. To tell you the truth, I spoke with them very frankly – I said that this country had been feeding you for many years and it is time for you to help this country. Indeed, we talked with them – we are setting up a separate fund, we will need it money for medication, we will need, first of all, UAH 12-13 billion for many various medical products. We need their help," the head of state emphasized.

According to the president, an additional UAH 10 billion will be allocated to help pensioners.

"Separately, UAH 10 billion concerns 9 million pensioners with pensions at UAH 5,000 (nearly $270) and below," Zelensky added.