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The growth rate of real Ukrainian GDP decreased to 0.5% during the same month. This downturn is attributed to the damaging effects of Russian shelling on various industries and heightened uncertainty for businesses. In January, GDP growth was 1.3%, according to the Institute for Economic Research (IER). Consequently, in February the shelling of ports led to a 4.5% decline in the real gross value added (GVA) in the transport sector. Growth rates in trade also slowed to 3.5% compared to

EU officials are developing a strategy to allocate €5B for ammunition, as an agreement on the €40B Ukrainian military aid package remains pending, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas stated in Brussels prior to a European Council meeting on March 20. “If we cannot reach a decision now for the entire next year regarding the €40B in aid, then let’s focus on the short term, where Ukraine urgently needs ammunition right now,” Kallas remarked. She

During a hearing in the European Parliament on the benefits of agricultural trade between Ukraine and the EU, a representative from the Association of European Industrial Sugar Users (CIUS) mentioned that Europe faces a chronic sugar deficit and requires two to three million tons annually. As a result, Ukrainian sugar plays a crucial role in ensuring supply stability and maintaining a positive balance in European agri-food exports. Between 2022 and 2024 alone, the EU imported nearly one million tons of

Rivneazot has fully restored its production of mineral fertilizers and has brought key workshops up to their planned capacity. The loaded ammonia line now has a capacity of 650 tons per day, while unconcentrated nitric acid production reaches 1,000 tons per day. The ammonium nitrate workshop achieves a production output of 40,000 tons per month. In February, the enterprise halted operations due to significant disruptions in electricity supply caused by Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Simultaneously, American philanthropist Howard

According to 2024’s results, Ukraine’s average unemployment rate decreased to 14.3%. In 2023 the unemployment rate was 17.4%, in 2022 – 18.5%, the Center for Economic Strategy notes. “The labor market remained uneven: there were many vacancies, but unemployment still remained high, which indicates the presence of structural unemployment. The shortage of labor has become one of the key problems of business,” researchers noted. The personnel shortage has intensified competition between employers, which has stimulated the growth of real wages,

Commenting on his discussion with the Russian leader, US President Donald Trump noted that both the Kremlin chief and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wish for the war to conclude. “This process is now underway, and we hope, for the sake of humanity, to see it through,” the US president remarked. Trump’s Special Envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, is confident that the US president will bring an end to the Russian-Ukrainian war. Meanwhile, Special Envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff,

Russia is boosting its defense investments and readying for conflict with Europe, said EC President Ursula von der Leyen. “And at a time when these threats are increasing, we see our long time partner, the US, shifting its focus to the Indo-Pacific region,” she added. Von der Leyen emphasized that Europe needs to enhance its defense posture, increase defense spending, invest in air and missile defense, and ramp up weapons production, along with boosting its support for Ukraine. “We need

“We are ready for such a step if it is carried out by both sides. That is, when we agree on this with mediation from the American side and on the condition that the US is the guarantor of this agreement’s implementation,” said President Zelenskyy. The president also stated that in the event that Russia violates the agreement by shelling energy facilities, Ukraine will respond accordingly. As soon as the conversation between the American president and the Russian dictator ended,

The outcome of the telephone conversation with Putin was far from what the US president had hoped for. The NYT highlights that Putin agreed only to a limited ceasefire but refused a complete end to hostilities. However, if attacks on energy infrastructure from both sides do indeed stop, it would mark the first mutually agreed suspension of attacks in three years. The White House suggests that Putin is stalling to enhance his advantage on the battlefield. The Economist also noted

British special forces have been put on standby to deploy to Ukraine as part of the UK peacekeeping mission as a ceasefire agreement “closes in.” Last week, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said plans to deploy peacekeepers to Ukraine had entered the “operational phase.” Military experts say that while British special forces are not a traditional peacekeeping force, their ability to deploy quickly, as well as their experience in intelligence and surveillance, make them an ideal candidate to lead a coalition

The European Commission and the EU High Representative have introduced the White Paper on European Defense – Readiness 2030. As part of the ReArm Europe plan, an ambitious defense package has also been revealed, offering financial leverage for EU member states to stimulate investment in defense capabilities. Von der Leyen stated that the ReArm Europe/Readiness 2030 plan envisions spending over €800B, structured around the following main areas: Expanding the use of public defense funding at the national level SAFE, a

This has led to a reduction in gross agricultural production, said Minister of Agrarian Policy Vitaly Koval. “If we compare, for example, 2021, which was a fruitful and successful year, we grew 106 million tons of grain and technical crops. We finished last year 2024 with an indicator of 77 million tons,” he said. The minister also drew attention to the fact that some Ukrainian territories are not able to be farmed because of active military operations, mines, or occupation.

The European Commission plans to begin the first cluster of negotiations regarding Ukraine’s EU accession this year but acknowledges that it will require the unanimity of all member states. EC representative Guillaume Mercier stated: “Enlargement will remain a priority for the EC. Ukraine is confidently moving towards EU accession.” The screening of Ukrainian legislation for compliance with European law will continue until the fall of this year. “Provided that all necessary conditions are met, the commission looks forward to opening the

Any talk of a return to Russian oil and gas is premature and threatens Europe’s security interests, warn EU countries bordering Russia, amid growing speculation that a US-brokered peace deal could normalize economic ties with Moscow. The remarks come amid speculation concerning when and whether Europe will be able to resume energy ties with Russia. In recent days, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte suggested that economic relations with Russia could resume after the fighting in Ukraine eventually ends. This has

The Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) has doubled funding for a competition for Swiss companies operating in Ukraine, increasing it from CHF 50M to CHF 100M ($57M – $114M). This competition is the start of a Swiss program to support Ukraine. The first phase is designed for 2025-2028 with a total budget of CHF 1.5B ($1.7B), and in total, Switzerland plans to provide CHF 5B ($5.7B) over 12 years. An additional CHF 50M will be allocated to Ukrainian

Companies based in the US, UK, and Turkey will not be allowed to participate in the €150B EU defense fund proposed by the European Commission unless their respective countries sign defense and security agreements with Brussels. The goal of this new approach is to enhance the EU’s defense industry and lessen reliance on foreign suppliers. This specifically applies to advanced weapon systems where a third country can restrict the use of certain components or control their application. One such example

A German industrial consortium led by Vollert Anlagenbau GmbH is launching a network of high-tech factories dedicated to producing prefabricated reinforced concrete structures in Ukraine. These advanced automated technologies will facilitate faster, higher quality, and larger-scale construction, according to the company. The main project involves a targeted program featuring a PPP mechanism that blends state interests with private investment. The first cities slated to receive the largest foreign investments will be Kyiv and Kharkiv. Upcoming negotiations with Kharkiv’s Mayor, Igor

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, following a conversation between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, noted that the presidents agreed to continue “technical negotiations” on a ceasefire at sea and progressing toward a complete ceasefire and sustainable peace. This indicates that Moscow, unlike Kyiv, has failed to demonstrate its willingness for a 30-day silence along the entire front line. “These negotiations will begin immediately in the Middle East,” the White House stated regarding the next steps. Trump and Putin also

According to former US Army Commander in Europe Ben Hodges, US President Donald Trump’s Ukrainian peace plan involves Kyiv’s “capitulation” to Moscow. “This is not a peace plan. This is simply capitulation. This is pressure from the US on Ukraine to surrender to Russia. The mask was dropped when we saw this failure in the Oval Office two weeks ago,” he noted. According to Hodges, the Trump administration now expects Ukraine to relinquish a portion of its territory. The general

Ukraine’s allies are intensifying discussions to determine how to seize Russia’s assets in an effort to increase pressure on the Kremlin ahead of possible peace negotiations. Foreign Secretary David Lammy and the EU’s chief diplomat, Kaja Kallas, explored “innovative initiatives” in London aimed at enhancing European defense spending and military readiness. The discussions also addressed legal and financial mechanisms that would enable Europe to confiscate billions of dollars in Russian assets. However, some countries, such as Belgium and Germany, still