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According to analysts, in the 2024/2025 marketing year (July-June) Ukraine exported 40.1 million tons of grain, which is 10.5 million tons, or 21%, less than in the 2023/2024 marketing year. The physical volume of corn exports dropped by 7.6 million tons, and wheat by 2.7 million tons. Key reasons for the decline include a decrease in the corn harvest caused by summer drought and the depletion of stocks built up in 2022 due to the forced restriction of exports from

The European Investment Fund, part of the EIB Group, and Finnvera, Finland’s export credit agency, are initiating this pilot program to assist Finnish companies in exporting to Ukraine. The agreement enables Finnvera to offer export credits to Finnish companies trading with Ukraine, backed by the European Investment Fund (EIF) guarantee through the InvestEU export credit guarantee instrument. The project aims to support Finnish businesses with fewer than 500 employees by reducing risk when expanding into the Ukrainian market. The EIF

During talks with EU representatives, President Zelenskyy emphasized investment in domestic weapon production, focusing on long-range UAVs, interceptor drones, and similar equipment. “This is crucial. Russia is investing in unmanned systems and plans to increase drone strikes on our territory. We are developing countermeasures,” he stressed. Zelenskyy also noted Ukraine’s plans to co-produce weapons with German companies, with three already operational in Ukraine and more expected soon. Furthermore, Danish Ambassador Ole Egberg Mikkelsen highlighted that Kyiv’s allies are adopting the

The State Property Fund of Ukraine (SPFU) refused to approve the results of an auction to sell a large privatization asset with 100% of the shares of the state joint-stock company Construction Company Ukrbud. The Petro Oil and Chemicals company, owned by Georgian businessman David Bezhuashvili, bid ₴805M for Ukrbud but was disqualified on June 30. This came after the Department of Economic Security issued a memorandumthat established restrictions on the winner according to the privatization law: “Individuals and legal

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, who arrived in Kyiv on June 30, stated that Germany is attempting “by all means” to ensure Ukraine receives additional air defense systems to counter Russian attacks. Negotiations are ongoing with European allies and the US, and Germany is also considering transferring some of its reserve air defense systems. Wadephul stated that Putin aims to use force to seize Ukraine and seeks its surrender. As well, Russia depends on its allies to weaken international support. 

After concluding discussions on humanitarian issues, Ukraine aims to focus on a summit between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, said Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, emphasizing the need for a “substantive” meeting between the presidents. “Ukraine has always remained consistent in its pursuit of peace. We supported the US initiative for a full ceasefire from the beginning and have shown this through multiple negotiation rounds. However, dialogue is only possible without ultimatums and with respect for our sovereignty,”

Polish oil refinery Orlen will cease buying Russian oil for its Czech refinery after June 30, according to CEO Ireneusz Fafara. “Today we have freed Central Europe from Russian oil,” he stated. In April, the Czech Republic announced it had become completely independent of Russian oil after completing the modernization of the TAL pipeline, which transports oil from Trieste, Italy, through Germany to the Czech Republic. Norway has joined the EU’s 17th sanctions package against Russia, effective June 27, imposing

Before the full-scale invasion, Ukraine fed 400 million people worldwide and supplied agricultural products to the EU, North Africa, and Asia, providing about 10% of the world’s grain. However, due to occupation and mining 20%, or around six million hectares, of Ukraine’s farmland is currently inaccessible for cultivation. Restoring it to productivity is essential, said Dmytro Salimonov, a top manager at Global Clearance Solutions (GCS), a company that specializes in eliminating explosive hazards. There are 138,500 square kilometers still potentially

Despite numerous attacks across nearly the entire front line, the aggressor forces have not made significant breakthroughs. Moscow set a new record for the number of offensive operations in June, but even with increased fighting intensity, the lack of progress in key areas indicates the depletion of Russian offensive capabilities. In the east, especially between Pokrovsk and Konstantynivka, Russian forces have made some gains but have not changed the overall operational situation. Already, the pace of advance is slowing, suggesting

It has been six months since Ukraine finally discontinued the transit of Russian gas to Europe. However, the EU is still buying Russian fuel in significant quantity. Between January and June this year, at least 8.1 billion cubic meters of Russian gas were transported to Europe through the Strandzha-2 compressor station in Bulgaria. All of this gas flows through TurkStream, the only route currently delivering systematic supplies of Russian gas to Europe. Although European officials frequently discuss reducing dependence on

These are initiatives to produce drones, ammunition, and missiles, which can be financed within the framework of the SAFE (Security Action for Europe) loan program that has a €150B budget. Ukrainian projects are designed to provide the war-torn country with the necessary weapons on the battlefield and increase European defense capabilities. The goal is also to provide the Ukrainian defense industry with long-term contracts through 2030. “We are ready for mutually beneficial cooperation on the path to integrating the Ukrainian

Over more than three years of the full-scale war, at the end of April 2025 the main providers of aid to Ukraine have remained unchanged: the US, the UK, and Germany. Meanwhile, Estonia, Denmark, and Lithuania allocate the largest percentage of their budgets. According to analysts, the countries that have contributed the largest amounts of aid since January 2022 are: The US – €114.63B The UK – €19.27B Germany – €15.92B Japan – €10.74B Canada – €10.36B Additionally, Baltic and

Due to Russian missile attacks on gas production infrastructure, Ukraine has lost up to 40% of its domestic production. Therefore, to ensure a sufficient supply of gas before the heating season, it will be necessary to import 4-5.5 billion cubic meters. The cost of gas imports this year will reach $2.9B. Gas prices in Ukraine in May hit ₴23,000 per 1,000 cubic meters (including VAT) – the highest level since February 2023. In 2021, natural gas consumption by industry was

According to Defense Minister Rustem Umerov this weapons marketplace aims to simplify and expedite weapon deliveries to the military. “Together with the Defense Procurement Agency and DOT – the State Logistics Operator – we are implementing DOT-Chain Defence, a weapons marketplace that radically changes the approach to provisioning,” he noted. Using the new system, the military will be able to independently order the weapons it needs for its specific missions. It will also have access to complete information: what exactly

The European Commission and Ukraine have finalized negotiations on renewing the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area agreement. The main principles include: Completive conditions – Ukraine will gradually align its production standards with EU norms, particularly in areas such as animal welfare, pesticide use, and veterinary medicines. A mechanism to protect the internal market – Both sides will have the right to impose temporary restrictions if imports of certain goods threaten their national markets. In the case of the EU,

Agrosem, a prominent distributor of goods for farmers in Ukraine, has invested €20M into the technological and innovative aspects of the MOST Logistic Terminal project. Specifically, within the parameters of this project the company secured financing from the EBRD in the amount of €9.6M to build a grain terminal. The complex’s capacity will greatly shorten export times to EU countries, cut transportation costs, and establish a stable export route for farmers. The logistics terminal is situated on the border with

Over the past week, Russian forces launched 114 missiles, more than 1,270 drones, and nearly 1,100 guided bombs against Ukraine, said President Zelenskyy. Another large attack occurred on the night of June 29, when Russia deployed 477 strike UAVs and drone simulators along with 60 missiles. In Smila, Cherkasy region, the enemy targeted residential buildings, injuring 11 people, including two children. The college at the National University of Food Technologies was destroyed. An industrial facility was hit in Lviv, and

The Russian president stated that the government plans to cut defense expenditures, which have already reached record levels unseen since the days of the USSR. Consequently, military spending now accounts for 6.3% of GDP, which Putin considers excessive. However, Putin explained that the slowdown is a deliberate effort to control inflation. At the same time, the Kremlin is implementing tax reforms for small and medium-sized businesses to boost revenue, as the budget has been strained by collapsing raw material revenues

Russian forces took control of one of Ukraine’s most promising lithium sites – Shevchenkivske, located in Donetsk. This deposit was previously developed by an American company focused on critical minerals and was considered a vital part of the economic partnership between Kyiv and Washington regarding strategic resources. Shevchenkivske contains up to 90% spudumene – a mineral used to extract lithium, which is essential for manufacturing batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage systems. Clearly the Russian-Ukrainian war is increasingly resembling

The EBRD and the EIB have announced plans to invest €60M and €40M, respectively, in a new infrastructure fund, Amber Dragon Ukraine Infrastructure Fund I. The fund aims to reach a total of €350M and will focus on supporting infrastructure projects in Ukraine, mainly in renewable energy, sustainable transportation, and digital infrastructure. The EBRD will serve as an anchor investor, which is expected to help attract additional institutional investors and increase financing for sustainable infrastructure solutions in Ukraine. The fund