Politics & Economics

Ukraine and the United States may sign a memorandum of intent on minearls agreement on Thursday. This was announced by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky during a briefing on April 17, a Ukrinform correspondent reports. "A few days ago, the American side suggested we take another step — that is, a memorandum of intent. And we have positive intentions. So, the memorandum could be signed online today. Our side said: 'Okay.' As I understand it, the Deputy Prime Minister is now working on the text. This memorandum is an important first step. So why shouldn't both countries agree to it?"…

The net hryvnia loans provided to businesses are growing at a rate of 26% per annum, and those issued to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises – 30%, which is one of the highest results in the past decade. The relevant statement was made by Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) Andriy Pyshnyy, answering a question from Ukrinform during a monetary briefing about the risks of banks placing excessive funds in NBU certificates of deposit instead of lending to the real sector. “The loan portfolio has been growing at an increasingly rapid pace for two years in a row.…

The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) has decided to keep its key policy rate unchanged, at 15.5%. This is said in a statement published on the central bank’s website, an Ukrinform correspondent reports “The Board of the National Bank of Ukraine has decided to keep its key policy rate unchanged, at 15.5%. This decision will help maintain FX market sustainability, keep inflation expectations under control, and gradually reduce inflation to the 5% target over the policy horizon. Considering the high level of uncertainty, which has only increased over past months, the NBU will respond flexibly to changes in the balance…

In January-March 2025, Naftogaz Group transferred more than UAH 23.2 billion in tax payments to Ukraine’s state and local budgets. The relevant statement was made by Naftogaz Group’s press service, referring to Naftogaz Group Board Acting Chairman Roman Chumak, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. “Since the beginning of the year, our tax payments have exceeded UAH 23.2 billion. Every contribution plays a role in strengthening Ukraine’s economic stability,” Chumak noted. In March 2025, Naftogaz Group’s enterprises transferred UAH 11.7 billion in tax payments. In particular, the state budget received UAH 11.1 billion, and local budgets – UAH 0.575 billion. In contrast…

The United States and Ukraine may have a mutual interest in returning the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) to Ukrainian control and restarting its operation as part of joint energy projects aimed at Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction. Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko said this during a discussion hosted by the Atlantic Council. He was responding to a question from the audience regarding U.S. President Donald Trump's idea of potential joint U.S.-Ukrainian ownership of Europe's largest nuclear power plant. "We share a common interest with the United States in bringing the Zaporizhzhia NPP back under Ukrainian control and restarting the operation…

Ukraine is working to transition from short-term to medium-term planning in the development of the cattle sector in the livestock farming industry, which had reduced by more than 14 times in the past 30 years and more. The relevant statement was made by Ukrainian Agrarian Policy and Food Minister Vitalii Koval in a video interview with Ukrinform, which is yet to be posted. “In 1991, Ukraine kept 28 million head of cattle. As of January 1, 2025, it is 2.029 million, i.e. the decline is around 14 times. We have directed certain government programmes to livestock farming, i.e. improving the…

Ukraine and the United States have made significant progress in drafting an economic partnership agreement and establishing an investment fund for Ukraine’s reconstruction. The memorandum is expected to be signed soon. This was announced by First Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine, Yulia Svyrydenko, on Facebook, Ukrinform reports. “Our technical teams have collaborated extensively on the agreement, achieving significant progress. Our lawyers have made the right emphasis in the draft agreement, and I thank the negotiators on both teams,” she stated. Following the signing of the memorandum of intent, both sides will continue refining individual clauses, though…

The Cabinet of Ministers has adopted the Regulation on the State Agency for Reserve Management of Ukraine, which defines the legal groundwork for its operations. The relevant statement was made by Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal at a meeting of the Ukrainian government, an Ukrinform correspondent reports, referring to the Prime Minister’s Telegram channel. “We continue the reform of state reserve. We have already liquidated the outdated State Reserve and established the new State Agency for Reserve Management of Ukraine. Now, we are endorsing the Regulation on this institution, which defines the legal groundwork for its operations, functions, rights,…

A total of UAH 1 billion has been allocated for the ‘Made for Victory’ programme supporting the manufacturers of military equipment components this year. These grants are expected to cover about 150 enterprises. The relevant statement was made by Ukrainian Economy Deputy Minister Andrii Teliupa during a webinar on the start of the programme, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. “For this programme, we have allocated UAH 1 billion this year. The average bill is expected to cover 150 enterprises that will receive grants. If we see a high demand, and we hope that companies will be actively using this tool, we…

Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Zafirov has said that Bulgaria will not sell Ukraine two nuclear reactors from the unfinished Belene Nuclear Power Plant, which had been planned for use at the Khmelnytskyi NPP. That's according to Novinite, Ukrinform reports. Zafirov confirmed during a briefing at his party's headquarters, following a meeting of its executive bureau, that the two reactors from Bulgaria's Belene NPP would not be sold to Ukraine. He emphasized that this is a collective decision of the ruling coalition, describing the reactors as "crucial to Bulgaria's energy security and economic independence." Zafirov stated that nuclear energy is…