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The UK is focused on ensuring Ukraine is in the strongest possible position in 2025, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said. To do this, the UK plans to use a range of mechanisms, including economic sanctions and a shadow fleet initiative, to tackle critical sources of revenue that support Russia’s military machine. Together with her Norwegian counterpart Jonas Gahr Støre, she recognized the importance of strengthening the unwavering Ukrainian support within the Joint Expeditionary Force, a grouping of Ukraine’s

The German Defense Ministry announced the potential participation of its military in a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine if Kyiv and Moscow agree on a ceasefire. However, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius added that it was too early to discuss this as there had been no negotiations between the parties. “If there is a ceasefire, the Western community, NATO allies, potentially the UN and the EU should discuss how such peace can be ensured. And it is obvious that Germany, the

The dollar exchange rate will grow moderately during 2025, the ICU investment company predicts. It is noted that the hryvnia exchange rate now depends entirely on the NBU’s vision of its optimal level. Market factors have a minimal impact on exchange rate formation. The exchange rate is influenced by two factors: the NBU’s desire to support the hryvnia and the sufficiency of resources to accomplish this. Analysts note that the sufficiency of resources is provided by financial assistance from partners,

Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans has changed his position on peace talks with Russia, saying that Europe should take the initiative in negotiations to end the war in Ukraine before Donald Trump does. He stressed Europe’s importance in playing a leading role in this process. “We must ensure that European countries are at the negotiating table so that Trump, together with Putin, does not solve the issues of the security architecture in Europe,” the politician said. Discussions on this topic

The initiative involves: Expanding access to financing for micro, small, and medium-sized businesses in Ukraine Developing a program to finance franchise businesses Promoting joint initiatives in the non-banking sector to improve the regulatory environment and business ethics. The third point involves promoting clear rules in the financial market, implementing international standards to increase investor confidence, attracting international investments and donor support to increase financing volumes, and creating mutually beneficial opportunities for businesses within the framework of Activitis and VisionFund Ukraine

Zavallivskyi Graphite, Ukraine’s only natural graphite mining enterprise that has been operating since 1934, has suspended its operations. Two of the key reasons for the shutdown are the high cost of electricity and outdated production infrastructure, which both require significant modernization investment. These factors, together with the increase in logistics costs, significantly increased production cost, preventing the enterprise from maintaining stable operations. The situation is complicated by China’s graphite dumping trade policy, which is actively supplying cheap graphite to the

The Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine has granted permission to TIU 1, part of the Canadian group TIU Canada, to acquire control over four solar power plants in Ivano-Frankivsk. The company will acquire more than 50% of the shares of authorized capital of four electricity generating enterprises. These solar power plants belong to SPP Development Ukraine. To date, the company has developed solar power projects with more than 114 MW of capacity in more than 20 cities throughout Ukraine. TIU Canada

In 2025-2026, the VITAGRO group of companies will invest an additional $2M to make plant protection products, micro fertilizers, and seeds the group’s top manager Serhiy Savchuk said. Vitagro Partner plans to invest primarily in expanding the line of new products, mainly focusing on biological products, expecting an increase in demand for more environmentally friendly products due to Ukraine’s European integration. In 2024, investments made to improve technological processes in pesticide production allowed productivity of two production lines to be

EU High Representative Kaja Kallas said that the bloc’s countries have yet to discuss sending peacekeepers to Ukraine. Kallas believes that peace is needed first. “But Russia does not want peace. This is clearly understood,” she said. Earlier, the French president planned to raise the issue of deploying a peacekeeping mission to Ukraine for discussion at the EU leaders’ summit on December 18-19. However, the EU has not yet established a unified position on the peacekeeper issue. For example, Italy’s

Discussions are currently underway among Western allies on “how to stop the conflict,” said Trump’s future national security adviser, Michael Waltz. “Before Trump’s inauguration on January 20, his team is closely coordinating its actions with the current US administration, and this applies to any negotiations on a ceasefire in Ukraine,” Waltz specified. During Trump’s recent meeting with the NATO Secretary General, the role of European countries after the conflict’s end was discussed. Among other things, according to Waltz, Trump’s team

Over the 11 months of the year, the Ukrainian economy grew by 4% [±0.5%], according to the Ministry of Economy. “The drivers of growth remain the transport and construction industries, processing, and domestic trade,” Minister Yulia Svyrydenko commented on the figures. According to her, state support programs played a massive role by providing grants for processing, business creation, and development, affordable 5-7-9% lending, e-Oselya, and others within the Made in Ukraine policy framework. Also, increased purchases of Ukrainian defense products

Norway has announced an additional NRK 2.7B ($242.38M) donation to strengthen Ukraine’s maritime defense. The funds will go toward protecting civilians from attacks, clearing landmines, and training Ukrainian military personnel. The funding is part of a total NRK 22.5B aid package for Ukraine for military support through 2025. Next year, Norway will help train Ukrainian F-16 pilots and technicians in Portugal. Meanwhile, the White House is working to ramp up arms deliveries to Ukraine in the final weeks of Biden’s

The Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine has approved the acquisition of control by Bunge Global SA over the global agro-trader Viterra Limited (part of Glencore). In Ukraine, these two companies (Viterra and Bunge) export grain and oilseeds, sunflower oil, and related storage and processing infrastructure. Last year, these two companies accounted for approximately 3% of total grain exports from Ukraine. In a merger, the combined structure’s share in Ukrainian agricultural exports could increase to 7%, which would be the second largest

As reported by Minister of Community and Territorial Development Oleksiy Kuleba, since the start of the year Ukrainian Railways (UZ) has transported 148 million tons of cargo, the greatest volume since the war began. The company has transported consistent volumes over the entire past year. During 2022, this figure reached 151 million tons, and in 2021 – 314 million tons. There are plans to expand the logistics networks with Romania and Poland. However, UZ head Oleksandr Pertsovsky noted: “We are

Ukraine has presented the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) with 2025’s priority projects for financing. These are in finance, infrastructure, energy, the agricultural sector, humanitarian demining, environmental protection, healthcare, education, the social sphere, digitalization, and industrial development. The Ukrainian delegation called on JICA to support projects that will create joint ventures, supply spare parts for machinery and equipment, and restore destroyed industrial facilities. Ukraine asked for distributed energy generation equipment and solar power plants for critical infrastructure. JICA has been

According to columnist Mark Champion, from the beginning of the Russian invasion in February 2022 to the end of October 2024, Europe has pledged €241B in support of Ukraine, while the US promised €119B in aid. If Trump fulfills his campaign promise to reduce American support for Ukraine, Europe will soon have to fill a significant gap. However, there is a massive difference between what Europe promised and what it has delivered. As of today, out of the €241B in

In November 2024, banks reduced loan rates, according to data from the National Bank of Ukraine. The average interest rate on new bank loans to individuals in the national currency were 33.8% per annum, decreasing from 34% a month ago. Rates on loans to enterprises in hryvnia also declined, from 15.4% to 14.4% per annum. Banks’ consumer loan portfolios increased by 1.7% to ₴277B, for enterprises by 1.6% to ₴831B. Deputy Chairman of the NBU Kateryna Rozhkova noted that the

The EU Council has approved the 15th package of sanctions against Russia, which applies to 54 individuals and 30 legal entities. The sanctions include top managers of leading Russian energy companies, individuals involved in the deportation of children, propaganda, and circumvention of sanctions, as well as two high-ranking DPRK officials. The EU has imposed sanctions on 52 vessels from third countries that were used to circumvent previously imposed restrictions, increasing the total number of ships to 79. The list includes

Attila Holoda, former head of Hungarian oil and gas company MOL, noted: “Hungary has become a trading center for Russian gas. While Europe is moving away from Russian energy sources, Hungary is moving in the opposite direction.” In October, the country’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced that Hungary would increase its annual gas imports from Russia by more than two billion cubic meters per year. Under a long-term gas contract signed in 2021, Hungary already purchases 4.5 billion cubic meters

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak said that Ukraine is not yet ready to start any negotiations with Russia, as it does not feel sufficient support from the West to conduct them from a position of strength. Yermak stressed that for Zelenskyy, “the language of ultimatums is unacceptable,” and “there will be no new Minsk or Normandy formats. Yermak explained that, “We lack weapons. We need an invitation to NATO. We need strong security guarantees