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Jake Sullivan, Biden's national security adviser, said Ukraine will not be voted into NATO membership at the summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, but he encouraged Ukraine's President Volodomyr Zelenskiy to attend to discuss the matter. Also topping Biden's agenda in Vilnius will be Sweden, whose accession into NATO has been blocked by Turkey. Sullivan said Sweden will eventually gain NATO membership despite Turkey's opposition. He said Biden will discuss Sweden with Erdogan at some point during the summit but did not know the format for the talks. Biden leaves on Sunday for London, the first stop on a three-nation trip centered around the NATO summit in the Lithuanian capital.

Persons: Joe Biden, Jake Sullivan, Volodomyr Zelenskiy, Biden, Sullivan, Denys Shmyhal, Tayyip Erdogan, Erdogan, Rishi Sunak, King Charles, Nandita Bose, Steve Holland, Chris Reese, Alistair Bell Organizations: NATO, Kyiv, United States, Kurdistan Workers Party, London, British, Windsor Castle, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Vilnius, Lithuania, Europe, Russia, Sweden, Turkey, Stockholm, Lithuanian, Helsinki, London

☆ Ukraine to receive $1.5 bln from World Bank to support reconstruction
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

KYIV, June 30 (Reuters) - Ukraine will receive $1.5 billion from the World Bank to support reconstruction and recovery, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Friday. "In particular, the loan will help support subsidies for internally displaced people and pension payments," Shmyhal said. Ukraine relies on financial aid from its foreign partners to be able to cover its budget deficit. On Thursday, the International Monetary Fund's board completed its Ukrainian loan review, allowing Kyiv to immediately withdraw $890 million for budget support. Reporting by Anna Pruchnicka, Writing by Olena Harmash, Editing by Timothy HeritageOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Denys Shmyhal, Shmyhal, Anna Pruchnicka, Olena Harmash, Timothy Organizations: World Bank, Monetary, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Kyiv

☆ Ukraine must be ready to export mostly via Danube ports - sea ports authority
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Pavel Polityuk | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Summary Russia has threatened not to extend Black Sea grain dealUkraine underlines importance of Danube River exportsUkraine also exports via Romanian port of ConstantaKYIV, June 27 (Reuters) - Ukraine must be ready to export grain almost exclusively via its Danube River ports because Russia is effectively blocking Black Sea shipments, the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority said on Tuesday. The United Nations and Turkey brokered a deal between Moscow and Kyiv last July on the safe passage of Black Sea grain to help tackle a global food crisis worsened by Russia's invasion of its neighbour and a blockade of Ukrainian Black Sea ports. With a working grain corridor, about half of its agricultural exports are shipped via Black Sea ports, a quarter pass through its Danube ports and a quarter go via its western border. ROMANIAN TRANSITThe sea ports authority said this month three Ukrainian Danube river ports had exported a record 3 million tonnes of food in May. Ukrainian officials have said transit via Romanian territory to Constanta port on the Black Sea will also be critically important if Russia quits the Black Sea grain deal.

Persons: Dmytro Barinov, Denys Shmyhal, Pavel Polityuk, Timothy Organizations: Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority, United, Ukrainian, Facebook, Kyiv, Romanian, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Russia, Black, Ukraine, Constanta KYIV, United Nations, Turkey, Moscow, Ukrainian, ROMANIAN, Constanta

☆ Ukraine offensive 'slower than desired', Zelenskiy says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends through video link as British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak looks on during the Ukraine Recovery Conference at the Intercontinental O2 Hotel in London, Britain, June 21, 2023. REUTERS/Leah Millis/PoolSummary Don't expect a 'Hollywood movie', Zelenskiy saysKyiv says troops consolidating earlier gainsKYIV, June 21 (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday that progress in Ukraine's counteroffensive against Russian forces was "slower than desired" but that Kyiv would not be pressured into speeding it up as its troops advance through dangerous minefields. Reuters has visited some villages recaptured by Ukrainian forces and confirmed an advance of several kilometres. The BBC quoted Zelensky as saying the military push was not going easily because 200,000 sq km (77,220 sq miles) of Ukrainian territory had been mined by Russian forces. Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal told the conference Kyiv was hoping for more than $6 billion from the event.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Rishi Sunak, Leah Millis, Zelenskiy, It's, Zelensky, Hanna Maliar, Denys Shmyhal, Ukraine's, Peter Graff, Angus MacSwan Organizations: British, Intercontinental O2 Hotel, REUTERS, Russian, Reuters, BBC, Kyiv, Washington, Ukraine's, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, London, Britain, Kyiv, Russia, Moscow, Pyatikhatky

☆ Nova Kakhovka dam collapse: Russians shooting at rescuers in flooded areas, Zelensky says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Olga Voitovych Yulia Kesaieva Fred Pleitgen Radina Gigova Sarah Dean Helen Regan | Olga Voitovych | Yulia Kesaieva | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —Russian forces have been shooting at Ukrainian rescuers trying to reach flooded areas in the Kherson region that are under Russian control, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal claimed occupying Russian forces have offered “no help” to residents in flooded areas. Vladyslav Musiienko/Reuters Flooded streets are seen in Kherson on June 7 following the collapse of the Nova Kakhovka dam. Rescuers evacuate a local resident from a flooded area after the Nova Kakhovka dam breached in Kherson, Ukraine, on June 7. Conditions for residents in flooded areas are dire, with “hundreds of thousands of people left without normal access to drinking water,” Zelensky said.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, ” Zelensky, won’t, ”, Roman Skabdrakov, Denys Shmyhal, “, Evgeniy, Angelina Kopayeva, Alex Babenko, Vladyslav Musiienko, Muhammed Enes Yildirim, Tetiana, Ivan Antypenko, Alexey Konovalov, Felipe Dana, Musiienko, Nina Lyashonok, Oleksandra, Alina Smutko, Shmyhal, Oleksandr Prokudin, Ihor, Selena Kozakijevic, Kozakijevic Organizations: CNN, Russian, Rescuers, “, Kaiman Volunteer, Military, Ukrainian, AP, Anadolu Agency, Planet Labs PBC, Reuters Red Cross, AP Local, Culture, Reuters, Reuters Local, United Nations, Humanitarian Affairs, UN, Ukraine’s Ministry, Internal Affairs, Internal, CARE Locations: Kherson, Ukrainian, Russian, Nova Kakhovka, Dnipro, Kherson region, Moscow, Russia, Oleshky, Kherson “, Ukraine, Nova, Kherson . Roman, Vladyslav, Libkos, Zelensky, UN

☆ World Bank to assess damage after Ukraine dam destruction
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Andrea Shalal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, June 7 (Reuters) - The World Bank will support Ukraine by conducting a rapid assessment of damage and needs after Tuesday's destruction of a huge hydroelectric dam on the front lines between Russian and Ukrainian forces, a top bank official said on Wednesday. Anna Bjerde, the World Bank's managing director for operations, said on Twitter the destruction of the Novo Kakhovka dam had "many very serious consequences for essential service delivery and the broader environment." Ukrainians abandoned inundated homes on Wednesday as floods crested across the south after the destruction of the dam, with Russia and Ukraine trading blame for the disaster. Bjerde said the new damage assessment would build on the bank's previous analysis of damage to Ukraine's infrastructure and buildings, which estimated that it would cost $411 billion to rebuild Ukraine's economy after Russia's invasion. The International Monetary Fund on Wednesday said it is "very concerned" about the social, economic and environmental impact from the destruction of the dam.

Persons: Anna Bjerde, Denys Shmyhal, Bjerde, Andrea Shalal, Leslie Adler, Lincoln Organizations: Bank, Twitter, Monetary Fund, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Ukrainian, Russia

☆ Treasury Secretary Yellen reaffirms U.S. could run out of money to pay bills by early June
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Christina Wilkie | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Ukraine Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal speak to the press after holding a bilateral meeting at the U.S. Treasury Department Building in Washington, D.C., U.S. April 13, 2023. WASHINGTON — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen reaffirmed to Congress on Monday that the United States could default on its debt as early as June 1. The Democratic majority Senate is expected to back whatever the White House negotiates with the GOP controlled House. "In fact, we have already seen Treasury's borrowing costs increase substantially for securities maturing in early June," said Yellen. "If the debt limit remains unchanged, there is significant risk that at some point in the first two weeks of June, the government will no longer be able to pay all of its obligations," said the CBO report.

☆ Zelenskyy meets with Pope Francis at Vatican, says he sought backing for his peace plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Pope Francis meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Studio of Paul VI Hall on May 13, 2023 in Vatican City, Vatican. Francis, using a cane for his knee problem, came to greet the Ukrainian president before ushering him into a papal studio near the Vatican's audience hall. And he said he asked Francis to come aboard Ukraine's peace plan. "I also talked about our Peace Formula as the only effective algorithm for achieving a just peace,″ Zelenskyy said. Zelenskyy, who also met Italian President Sergio Mattarella, is a one-day trip in Rome, including an audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican.

☆ Pope meets Moscow Church official after puzzling peace 'mission' comment
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] Pope Francis greets Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church during the weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, May 3, 2023. Vatican Media/Handout via REUTERSVATICAN CITY, May 3 (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Wednesday spoke to a top member of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) days after the pontiff made an intriguing but puzzling comment about the Vatican being involved in a mission to try to end the war in Ukraine. Francis added that he had spoken about Ukraine with Orban and with Metropolitan Hilarion, the chief representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in Budapest and Anthony's predecessor as head of the ROC's external relations. Francis, 86, has said previously that he wants to visit Kyiv but also Moscow on a peace mission. He also said he had repeated a standing invitation for the pope to visit Kyiv.

☆ Ukrainian farmer comes up with novel way to demine his fields
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Vitalii Hnidyi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Vitalii HnidyiHRAKOVE, Ukraine, May 2 (Reuters) - A Ukrainian farmer has come up with a novel way to remove mines left in his fields after Russia's invasion -- he's kitted out his tractor with protective panels stripped from Russian tanks and operates it by remote control. After Russian forces were driven back from parts of eastern Ukraine by a Ukrainian counteroffensive last year, mines remained in many fields, making it perilous for farmers to sow grain for the next harvest. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said last week about 30% of Ukrainian territory had been mined by Russians and that the government was focused on de-mining agricultural land as quickly as possible. The amount of work is enormous," said Serhii Dudak, head of the demining unit now overseeing the tractor's work. "It would take years to demine this particular field by hand and to guarantee that there are no mines here."

☆ Pope says the Vatican is involved in a peace mission to end the war in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( Antonia Mortensen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —The Vatican is part of a peace mission to end the war in Ukraine, Pope Francis said Sunday. “The mission is in the course now, but it is not yet public. When it is public, I will reveal it,” Francis told reporters. Francis also heard testimony from refugees – many from Ukraine – and appealed to the importance of charity during his Budapest visit. On Sunday, the pontiff also told reporters that he was feeling better after being hospitalized in late March with a respiratory infection.

☆ Pope says Vatican involved in secret Ukraine peace mission
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Pope Francis holds a news conference as he returns to the Vatican following his apostolic journey to Hungary, aboard the plane, April 30, 2023. Vincenzo Pinto/Pool via REUTERSABOARD PAPAL PLANE, April 30 (Reuters) - The Vatican is involved in a peace mission to try to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Pope Francis said on Sunday, declining to give further details. When it is public, I will reveal it," the pope told reporters during a flight home after a three-day visit to Hungary. Ukraine Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal met the pope at the Vatican on Thursday and said he had discussed a "peace formula" put forward by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Pope Francis, 86, has said previously that he wants to visit Kyiv but also Moscow on a peace mission.

☆ Russia-Ukraine War News: Pope Francis Discusses Peace Efforts
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Gaia Pianigiani | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

A photo provided by the Vatican shows Pope Francis, center left, with the prime minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, center right, during a private audience in the Vatican on Thursday. Pope Francis discussed peace efforts in Ukraine with the country’s prime minister, Denys Shmyhal, during a private audience at the Vatican on Thursday, their first known meeting since Russia launched its full-scale invasion. The relationship between Ukraine and Francis, who has long called for peace and decried what he called barbaric acts of war, was troubled in the early months of the conflict. Mr. Shmyhal also asked the pope for help in “returning home Ukrainian children” who have been deported to Russia. Early in the war Ukrainian officials criticized the pope’s decision not to name Russia or its president, Vladimir V. Putin, as the aggressor in the conflict.

☆ Wagner Group leader says a Ukrainian counter-offensive would likely succeed as Russia is in 'crisis,' report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( Isobel Van Hagen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Wagner Group leader criticized Russia's "deep state" in an essay published Friday. Yevgeny Prigozhin said a Ukraine counter-offensive is likely to succeed as Russia is in "crisis." Prigozhin also criticized Russian state elites, who, he said, "operate independently of the political leadership of the state and have close ties and their own agenda." A mural depicting mercenaries of Russia's Wagner Group. The Wagner Group, which has lost more than 30,000 soldiers in Ukraine, works more closely with the Russian military than Prigozhin portrays, Insider previously reported.

REUTERS/Anna KudriavtsevaWASHINGTON, April 14 (Reuters) - Ukraine secured promises of $5 billion in additional funding to support its ongoing fight against Russia amid "fruitful meetings" in Washington this week, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal told reporters on Friday. Shmyhal met with representatives of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the European Investment Bank as well as top U.S. officials, on the sidelines of the spring meetings of the IMF and World Bank. Ukraine needs about $14 billion in funding this year to close a budget gap, Shmyhal said, noting that the United States would provide $2.3 billion to plug the hole, while the European Union would provide 1 billion euros ($1.10 billion). The IFC program aims to leverage these donor funds using private sector investments, which will be needed to help cover the staggering cost of Ukraine's recovery. "A strong private sector is essential to help Ukraine's economy recover and support reconstruction efforts," said Makhtar Diop, the IFC's managing director.

☆ Ukrainian PM says critical to start reconstruction in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Andrea Shalal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

April 13 (Reuters) - Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on Thursday welcomed the "continuous, ironclad and unprecedented support" of the United States as his country fights Russia's invasion, and underscored Ukraine's commitment to battling corruption. She said the United States had stood with Ukraine since the first day of the war, and would continue to back it "for as long as it takes." The United States had disbursed significant economic support since the start of the war and would provide more in coming months, on top of security and humanitarian aid, she said. The World Bank, United Nations, European Commission and Ukraine recently estimated it would cost $411 billion to rebuild Ukraine, a big jump from the earlier estimate of $349 billion. Reporting by Dan Burns; Editing by Paul SimaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Ukraine reports unrelenting Russian attacks on key city of Bakhmut
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

April 13 (Reuters) - Russia's military on Thursday pressed on with unrelenting attacks on the smashed eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut and also shelled the southern city of Kherson, officials in Kyiv said. The Kremlin sees Bakhmut as pivotal in its slow-moving advance through eastern Ukraine more than a year after it invaded its neighbour. Away from the battlefield, Ukrainian officials are focusing on the massive rebuilding effort that will be needed as well as pressure from allies to show progress in tackling corruption. Ukrainian officials are also pressing for membership in NATO - a move that Moscow has made clear it will not accept. "There is no alternative to Ukraine's accession to NATO," Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov told a Black Sea security conference.

☆ World Bank chief says Western European countries need to help fund Ukraine reconstruction
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Andrea Shalal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, April 11 (Reuters) - The World Bank is ready to do its part in rebuilding Ukraine after the devastation of Russia's invasion, but international financial institutions cannot shoulder the sums involved alone and Western European countries will have to chip in, World Bank President David Malpass said on Tuesday. Malpass, speaking at the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, noted that the World Bank had played a big role in rebuilding Europe's steel industry after World War Two and could play a similar role in Ukraine. The number, calculated by the World Bank, United Nations, European Commission and Ukraine, was up sharply from an estimate of $349 billion released last September. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Tuesday repeated Washington's commitment to support Ukraine for as long as needed. Washington has also allocated some money for immediate short-term reconstruction needs, including rebuilding its electricity grid.

OTTAWA, April 11 (Reuters) - Canada on Tuesday imposed new sanctions over Russia's invasion in Ukraine and pledged fresh military support for Kyiv after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in Toronto. Trudeau said Canada was also imposing sanctions on nine entities tied to the Belarusian financial sector to further pressure Russia's "enablers in Belarus." Russia calls its actions Ukraine a "special military operation" to combat what it describes as a security threat from Ukraine's ties to the West. "We will continue to support Ukraine with everything needed for as long as necessary," Trudeau said. The two discussed a range of subjects including further military support and reconstruction efforts in Ukraine, before signing a joint declaration to modernize trade between the two countries.

☆ Russia's war on Ukraine latest: Russia likely behind document leak, U.S. says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, April 8 (Reuters) - Russia or pro-Russian elements are likely behind a leak of classified U.S. military documents that offer a partial snapshot of the war in Ukraine, three U.S. officials told Reuters, while the Justice Department said it was probing the leak. Reuters could not immediately verify the reports and it was unclear how Ukraine could have attempted such a strike. The Ukrainian military said it was holding on in the city but the situation was difficult. Ukrainian service member from 28th mechanised brigade launches an RPG at the frontline, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine in the region of Bakhmut, Ukraine, April 5, 2023. REUTERS/Kai PfaffenbachDIPLOMACY, POLITICS* Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was formally charged with espionage in Russia, Russian news agencies said on Friday.

☆ Ukraine PM to visit Canada in coming weeks
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

April 7 (Reuters) - Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal is planning to visit Canada in the coming weeks, a spokesperson for the Canadian Prime Minister told Reuters on Friday. Ukraine is expected to launch a counter-offensive to seize back land in the south and east of the country from Russian forces in the coming weeks or months. The Ukrainian premier was quoted by the Globe as saying Ukraine would also like Canada to offer war risk insurance to Canadian companies investing in Ukraine to support reconstruction and foreign investment. "So if a Canadian company will decide to invest money into Ukraine, we will ask the Canadian government to create some mechanism to support Canadian investments," he said. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government has been one of Ukraine's most vocal international supporters and provided Kyiv with more than C$5 billion ($3.70 billion) in financial, military and other aid.

☆ How Ukraine's closest allies turned the tide on sending advanced tanks, and could do the same for military jets
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Their success, an expert told Insider, shows how Europe's balance of power has shifted eastwards since Russia's invasion in February 2022. Sergei Grits/APEstonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu told Insider that Ukraine's allies had been "too slow" when deciding to send weapons to Ukraine. AP Photo/Martin Meissner, FileReinsalu, Estonia's foreign minister, told Insider that he had repeatedly engaged with his German counterpart about the decision. Kallas and Šimonytė, the two prime ministers, both told Insider that they support Ukraine getting military jets. "Ordinarily, on less critical matters, peer pressure happens but the public sees very little of it or none of it," he told Insider.

The global lender said the agreement was expected to help unleash large-scale financing for Ukraine from international donors and partners, but gave no details. IMF staff currently expected the change in Ukraine's real gross domestic product for 2023 to range from -3% to +1%, Gray added. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal hailed the agreement and thanked the IMF for its support. If approved, as expected, the Ukraine program would be the IMF's biggest loan to a country involved in an active conflict. The fund last week changed a rule to allow new loan programs for countries facing "exceptionally high uncertainty", without naming Ukraine.

☆ Ukraine appoints new top anti-corruption investigator
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Dan Peleschuk | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"Our team is committed to the principle of zero-tolerance to corruption and supporting anti-corruption institutions," Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said during an extraordinary cabinet session to confirm Kryvonos. Ukraine became a candidate to join the EU last June, four months after Russia's full-scale invasion. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has publicly supported the effort, which officials and anti-corruption experts have said will be crucial to securing much-needed foreign aid. Ukraine ranked 116 out of 180 countries on Transparency International's latest Corruption Perceptions Index. NABU launches investigations into suspected corruption and, together with the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, sends cases to the High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine for prosecution.

☆ Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine focused on Bakhmut
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Leonardo Benassatto | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/5] Ukrainian service members are seen next an infantry fighting vehicle near the frontline town of Bakhmut, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine February 25, 2023. Apart from Bakhmut itself, six nearby Donetsk settlements came under Russian shelling, it said. Russia is trying to encircle Bakhmut, forcing Ukraine to pull out its garrison. Her boss, President Joe Biden, went there a week ago to mark the first anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine's military forces have mostly focused on holding defensive positions in recent weeks, but are expected to attempt a counter-offensive later this year using new weapons pledged by the West.

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