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In February 2025, wholesale prices for industrial producers rose by 37% compared to February of the previous year. Domestic prices surged by 40%, while export prices increased by 15.9%, according to the State Statistics Service. Prices for food products, beverages, and tobacco rose by 20.2% (domestic – 18%, export – 29.1%). The greatest price increase was in dairy product production, which rose by 21.2% (within Ukraine: +21.4%). In bread, bakery, and flour product production, prices went up by 15.8% (+16.4%).

According to the NBU, in January of this year Ukrainian banks issued 475 mortgage loans totaling ₴867M ($21M), a 29% increase compared to December 2024. In January, most loans were issued in the secondary real estate market, both in terms of volume and quantity. The average effective rate remained at 8.3% per annum. The most mortgage loans were issued: In the capital and Kyiv region (260 agreements totaling ₴517.3M, 59.7% of the total) In Lviv region (23 agreements totaling ₴45.2M)

The Finance Committee of the Ukrainian Parliament believes that, considering current economic growth trends, Ukraine’s real GDP in 2025 will be 20% lower than in 2021, excluding temporarily occupied territories or areas where hostilities are ongoing. Therefore, achieving the pre-war GDP level in real terms will not likely occur before 2034. Security risks have historically been and will continue to be the primary constraint on economic development. According to the Ministry of Economy, February 2025’s real GDP growth was 0.7%

Experts claim that, following the adoption of relevant legislation, the area planted with technical hemp in Ukraine could expand from the current 3,000 hectares in the Sumy, Zhytomyr, and Chernihiv regions to as much as 8,000 hectares. “To establish a hemp production facility, we require only 7,000 to 8,000 hectares of industrial hemp crops. Thus, even a single agricultural producer could supply 8,000 hectares for the state,” experts assure. However, they refrain from making hasty predictions due to environmental, political,

US President Donald Trump noted that the US, Ukraine, and Russia have seemingly outlined the preliminary conditions for an agreement to end the war. He also emphasized the importance of ongoing support for Ukraine. According to Trump, a ceasefire could be reached very soon. “We are going to achieve a complete ceasefire soon, and then we will have an agreement. Negotiations about land distribution and other issues are currently in progress,” Trump said. The White House still intends to finalize

According to Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, proposals regarding the protection of energy facilities and critical infrastructure were on the agenda in Saudi Arabia on March 23. On March 24, Ukraine and the US may hold further talks, contingent on the outcome of Sunday’s meeting. On the same day, talks between US and Russian officials are scheduled in Saudi Arabia. Washington anticipates that this will facilitate an indirect dialogue between Kyiv and Moscow, stated US Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg.

The US President’s Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steven Witkoff, referred to Ukraine’s occupied territories as Russian-speaking regions and proposed conducting a so-called referendum. “I believe the most significant problem in this conflict involves several regions: Donbas, Crimea, Luhansk, and two others. These areas are Russian-speaking, and referendums were held there in which most people expressed a desire to be under Russian control. I view this as a crucial issue in the conflict,” he stated. According to Witkoff, the

During a Brussels summit, the EU was not able to reach an agreement on the allocation of €5B for Ukraine’s ammunition supplies this year, as EU members, including France and Italy, were hesitant to commit to specific financial amounts. However, following the summit on March 20, the leaders of 26 countries reaffirmed their steadfast support for Ukraine in its struggle against Russian aggression. The summit participants adopted a document, EUCO 11/25, which reaffirms the EU’s commitment to strengthening Ukraine’s defense

One of these missions could operate under the auspices of the UN and involve soldiers from India, Brazil, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia, who would be stationed along the Russian-Ukrainian border. The second mission could include soldiers from the UK, France, Germany, Canada, and Italy monitoring Ukraine’s borders with the EU. The proposal entails several levels of interaction: peacekeepers in the demilitarized zone, the Ukrainian military, a volunteer contingent near Ukraine’s western border, and strategic support from the US. French President

EU leaders have not dismissed the potential confiscation of these assets. As noted by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, a declaration regarding Ukraine states that “Russian assets should remain frozen until Russia halts its aggressive war against Ukraine and compensates for the damage caused.” One diplomat explained that this wording was agreed upon as a response to discussions about possibly lifting or easing certain Western sanctions against Russia during peace talks, given the threat that Hungary might block the extension of

The State Land Bank has included 2,479 plots of land, valued at an estimated ₴1B ($23M), in a second pool, as reported by the State Property Fund. This represents 206,382 hectares of land across 23 regions of Ukraine. The second pool of land scheduled for sale this year within the Land Bank consists of livestock lands, completed divided plots, plots undergoing “legal settlements,” and plots utilized by enterprises of other government bodies. The first auctions are set for the second

The Kremlin is ramping up its campaign to discredit Ukraine. As reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Russia shelled the Sudzha gas metering station in the Kursk region and blamed Ukraine. Russian Gazprom previously exported gas through Ukraine to Europe through this station. After the start of the Kursk operation, Russia lost control over this gas metering facility. The Russian Foreign Ministry has already stated that Ukraine “violated the truce” proposed by the US. After

The Trump administration is seeking to modify the terms of its subsoil agreement with Ukraine. Washington is looking for Kyiv to agree to eliminate rules governing the ownership and management of a joint investment fund, alongside an expanded scope of the agreement that could include American ownership of other economic assets, particularly Ukrainian nuclear power plants. At the same time, a provision has emerged in the draft agreement stating that the US “supports Ukraine’s efforts to secure the necessary guarantees

According to Andrius Kubilius, the European Commissioner for Defense, this new EU loan program, part of the SAFE (Security Action for Europe) initiative, allows member states to utilize €150B in loans from the EU budget to collaboratively produce weapons with and for Ukraine. “I hope that EU countries will seize this opportunity,” he added. EC President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized: “Given that Ukraine’s security is also the security of the EU and Europe, Ukraine and its impressive defense industry

The Charity Hansen Ukrainian Mission, established by American philanthropist Dell Loy Hansen, plans to construct 10,000 apartments for internally displaced individuals in 20 communities throughout Ukraine. The Housing for All project involves creating social housing based on the Hansen Town model in the Kyiv region, where 1,700 displaced individuals already reside. This project aims to provide housing for 50,000 displaced individuals. The total cost is estimated at $1B, with construction set to start in the fall of 2025 and completion

An unnamed British company is considering a 3,000-square-meter building within the Western Ukrainian Industrial Hub industrial park. Located near Ternopil, the park has commissioned two new industrial buildings, measuring 3,000 and 688 square meters respectively. Negotiations are currently underway to set up new factories in these facilities. The 688-square-meter space is planned for agricultural processing. The search for a resident company is actively ongoing. Existing enterprises such as Nasha Ptytsya, Delta Food (which specializes in sauces), and the Ternopil Meat

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reported that US President Donald Trump, during a phone conversation with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, proposed transferring Ukrainian nuclear power plants to US ownership. “President Trump said that the US could provide significant assistance given its experience in the electricity and utilities sector. American ownership of these plants would offer the best protection for this infrastructure and support for the Ukrainian energy sector,” Leavitt stated. In turn, Zelenskyy emphasized that during his conversation with Trump, only

After the phone call between the American and Ukrainian presidents, Volodymyr Zelenskyy was asked if it’s realistic to achieve a complete ceasefire in a few weeks, as stated by Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff. The president replied that right now, the discussion centers solely around a partial ceasefire. He emphasized that the Ukrainian side will do everything necessary to compile a list of priority targets that will be subject to the attack ban. In addition to energy infrastructure, this list

Since the war’s onset, Russia has systematically targeted the Ukrainian energy sector. For Kyiv, a primary target among the aggressor’s facilities is the extensive network of Russian oil refineries. If the energy truce proves effective, the Russian Federation will enjoy a reduced risk of refinery shutdowns due to UAV attacks in the near future. These plants are currently undergoing seasonal maintenance, and additionally, fuel demand tends to rise in the spring with the onset of the sowing season. Meanwhile, halting

Russia aims to revive the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The next round of talks between the US and Russia regarding a ceasefire and ending the war in Ukraine will not involve senior US officials. The meetings will take place at a technical level with the participation of experts, according to US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce. Meanwhile, Advisor to the Head of the Presidential Office Mykhailo Podolyak noted that Ukrainian leadership does not plan to participate in the discussions between