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EU Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius stated that the US and the EU currently allocate about €40B annually for military assistance to Ukraine. He believes these funds could be used more effectively if directed towards purchasing weapons directly from Ukrainian manufacturers, as the cost of weapons produced in Ukraine is approximately 50% lower than similar weapons from the EU or the US. Therefore, by utilizing Ukraine’s defense industry the volume of weapons supplied to Ukraine could effectively be

At the 2025 Spring Meetings in Washington, the IMF provided Ukrainian government officials with various recommendations on addressing the state budget for 2026. It is noted that representatives from Ukraine and the IMF discussed tax increases, particularly regarding VAT rates and transitioning to a progressive personal income tax scale, which entails higher tax rates for individuals with high incomes. The “luxury tax” was also briefly mentioned. However, much of the discussion was focused on the shadow economy. The IMF is

On May 8, the European Parliament will consider the issue of introducing a preferential regime for exports of Ukrainian steel and iron to the EU following the conclusion of the visa-free trade period on June 5 2025. The European Commission noted that, despite the destruction and occupation of many production facilities during the war, Ukraine remains a significant exporter of iron and steel. To support Ukraine, it is proposed to maintain the suspension of Regulation (EU) 2015/478, which serves as

This year, the Desna farm plans to construct a modern storage facility capable of handling 8,000-10,000 tons of potatoes in the Chernihiv region. The company will secure funding through the Affordable Loans 5-7-9% program for the project’s implementation. The construction of the storage facility will allow an increase in the area dedicated to potatoes from 200 hectares to 400 hectares. Currently, the company grows between 4,000 and 10,000 tons of potatoes annually. The farm has the capacity to store 7,000

Agribusinesses listed in the Opendatabot Index generated ₴146B in revenue last year, reflecting an overall revenue increase of 70%. For the first time since the onset of the full-scale war, all leaders reported profits, which total ₴19.92B ($480M). More than half of the leading companies are part of the MHP financial and industrial group, which accounts for 71% of total revenue and 67% of the revenue from industry leaders. Vinnytsia Poultry Farm topped the rankings, with revenue rising by 27%

President Zelenskyy described the initiative proposed by the Russian president for a three-day truce from May 7 to 9 as a theatrical performance intended to suggest that Russia is emerging from isolation. “It is impossible to develop any plan for the next steps needed to end the war in two or three days. This is not a very serious suggestion,” Zelenskyy remarked. The Ukrainian leader advocates for a 30-day truce, as suggested by the US. He also stated that Ukraine

Currently, the US’ attention is also demanded in other regions needing diplomatic engagement, as noted by State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce on May 1. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, along with Trump’s national security adviser, suggested that the US administration might shift its focus from the war in Ukraine due to more pressing global issues, particularly China and Iran’s nuclear ambitions. According to Rubio, the Russian Federation’s war against Ukraine lacks a military resolution. “There comes a point when the

The agreement with the US entails the establishment of the Reconstruction Investment Fund, which will be jointly managed by Kyiv and the Washington. The fund will be registered in the US, but the account for contributions will be established in Ukraine and denominated in hryvnia. The main provisions of the agreement include: The fund serves as an investment instrument in Ukraine, not as a mechanism for transferring assets. All natural resources will remain Ukrainian property. The fund will be supported

The returns from the Ukraine-US mineral deal are likely to emerge in 10 years or more, because investors will encounter specific challenges in implementing projects connected with it. The development of strategically vital minerals in countries with established mining sectors, such as Canada and Australia, often spans 10 to 20 years. In contrast, many Ukrainian deposits remain relatively unexplored. Prior to the full-scale invasion, Ukraine was in no rush to issue new mining licenses. From 2012 to 2020, around 20

The agreement on natural resource development, which was reached by the US and Ukraine after two months of intense negotiations, has generated anxiety in the Kremlin. The Russian elite fear the growing closeness between President Zelenskyy and Donald Trump and believe that the Kremlin may miss its opportunity to secure a favorable agreement to end the war with Ukraine. Pressure is mounting on Putin to at least give the appearance of being willing to make concessions. Otherwise, Russia faces the

Euroclear, the international clearing company, plans to withdraw and distribute approximately €3B in frozen Russian funds to compensate Western investors affected by the decisions of the Russian government. Euroclear will redistribute €3B of the approximately €10B in cash currently frozen under sanctions. In March, the company received the necessary permission from the competent authority of Belgium, and on April 1, it informed its clients about preparations for payments. These payments are in response to the Russian government seizing billions of

According to analysts, at the offensive’s current pace and rate of military losses, Russia will need around 230 years to gain control of the still unoccupied Ukrainian territories – nearly 490,000 square kilometers, or 81% of Ukraine. In doing so, an estimated 101 million Russian soldiers would die. The total area of Ukraine exceeds 603,000 square kilometers, and since February 2022, Russian troops have occupied approximately 19% of the country’s territory. They seized most Ukrainian lands in the first weeks

According to Valery Yakovenko, co-founder of the drone systems company DroneUA, the first year of operation in the American market generated $15M in turnover for the company. After launching production in Newtown, Pennsylvania, DroneUA registered its own trademark in the US and earned federal contractor status. The company began assembling its first drones locally, using Ukrainian components. “We want to establish DroneUA as a brand of equipment with Ukrainian roots,” Yakovenko said. Currently, the company is focusing on the US

With the onset of the Russian full-scale invasion, many foreign investors halted their funding of Ukrainian startups due to heightened risk and instability. Some companies relocated their operations abroad to maintain access to investment and grants. However, instead of collapsing, the ecosystem adapted, and foreign investors are once again turning their attention to Ukrainian startups. The main changes in investment strategies include: A greater emphasis on the profitability of startups and their focus on global markets. Increased interest in strategic

A major sunflower oil producer, Oliyar, is diversifying its business and plans to build a poultry farm in the Shchyretsk village council area (Lviv region) with a total capacity of up to 2.3 million birds. The poultry farm is expected to produce more than 1.6 million eggs daily. As well, AgroVista Holding and FUIB bank have signed a new general loan agreement with a financing limit of $10M. This agreement includes refinancing one of the large banks in the agrocompany’s

In the Chernihiv region, a newly built flour mill with a capacity of 130 tons per day and grain warehouses able to hold over 20,000 tons are on the market for $2.6M. The facility is situated 30 kilometers from Chernihiv, covering a total area of 3.5 hectares and comprising over 11,000 square meters of production and warehouse space. The mill produces high-grade flour. Additionally, there is a project underway to build another elevator with a total capacity of up to

According to Trading Economics, in 2025 Ukraine’s construction sector shows signs of recovery and growth, despite the challenges posed by the consequences of hostilities and economic instability. Last year, 1.41 million square meters of housing were constructed in Kyiv, which accounts for 14.5% of the national total. The Kyiv region leads with 1.95 million square meters (19.9%). The Lviv region also remains active, with 1.06 million square meters (10.9%). The sector is expected to continue growing in 2026. The main

Here are the key provisions of the subsoil agreement: Full ownership and control remain with Ukraine. All resources within the country’s territory and territorial waters belong to Ukraine. It is up to the Ukrainian state to determine where and what to extract. Equal partnership. The fund is created 50/50. Ukraine will manage this fund jointly with the United States. Neither party will have a majority vote. National property is protected. The agreement does not allow for changes in the privatization

The US plans to supply weapons to Ukraine in addition to direct funding, and this may also encompass new military assistance, such as air defense systems for Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ukraine will contribute 50% of state budget revenues from rent for new licenses in new explored areas. Ukraine may also make additional contributions. “The fund will then invest in projects for mineral extraction and oil and gas, as well as in related infrastructure or processing. The specific investment projects to which

US President Donald Trump, commenting on the mineral agreement with Ukraine, stated that the US “will gain much more from the agreement than the $350B provided to Ukraine.” He argued that the agreement will “safeguard” Washington’s investment in and financial support to Kyiv. “We have reached an agreement under which our money is secure, and we can initiate mining. This is also beneficial for Ukraine, as the American presence in the mining regions will help protect the country and prevent