Steel production in China fell by 6.3% in March compared with the same month last year, to 87.04 million tonnes, according to the country’s National Bureau of Statistics. In the first quarter, steel production fell by 4.6% to 247.55 million tonnes.
Steel exports in March fell by 12.6% to 9.13 million tonnes, and by 9.9% over the three-month period to 24.71 million tonnes.
Pig iron output last month fell by 3.3% to 73.28 million tonnes. In January–March, it fell by 2.9% to 210.98 million tonnes.
Steel product output in March fell by 2.3% to 130.98 million tonnes, and by 1.7% in the first quarter to 351.44 million tonnes.
As reported, by the end of 2025, steel production in China had fallen by 4.4% to 960.81 million tonnes, the lowest level in seven years.
The results of a public opinion sociological survey conducted in March 2026 by the research company Active Group in cooperation with the information and analytical center Experts Club indicate a further strengthening of Ukrainians’ positive attitudes toward the Czech Republic. Overall, 67.4% of respondents evaluate this country positively, while the share of negative assessments is only 3.0%. Compared to August 2025, positive perception has increased (from 62.0%), while negative assessments have even slightly decreased (from 3.3%).
The structure of responses demonstrates a stable and fairly balanced picture. The share of “completely positive” attitudes is 23.3%, and “mostly positive” accounts for 44.1%. This means that the positive assessment of the Czech Republic is not only widespread, but also has different levels of intensity, indicating a formed and stable perception.
At the same time, almost a third of respondents (28.2%) take a neutral position. This is a fairly typical indicator for countries that are not constantly present in the information space, but at the same time have a consistently positive image. Negative assessments remain low: 2.3% of respondents chose the option “mostly negative,” and another 0.7% selected “completely negative.” The share of those who were undecided is 1.4%.
The dynamics of changes over recent months indicate not sharp fluctuations, but a gradual strengthening of the positive background. The Czech Republic does not show sharp jumps in perception, but steadily increases positive assessments while maintaining a minimal level of negativity. This indicates a formed image of the country that is not subject to significant fluctuations.
From an analytical point of view, the Czech Republic belongs to the group of states with a high level of trust, where positive attitudes are combined with low conflict in perception. It is important that even with a significant share of neutral responses, the negative segment remains marginal, which strengthens the overall positive picture.
“Attitudes toward the Czech Republic can be described as stably positive and at the same time sufficiently balanced. We do not see sharp fluctuations, but we record a gradual increase in positive assessments with a very low level of negativity. This indicates a formed and quite stable image of the country in Ukrainian society,” said Oleksandr Pozniy, Director of the research company Active Group.
Overall, the results of the study show that the Czech Republic is consolidating its position in the group of countries with a positive and stable perception. The combination of a high share of positive assessments, a low level of negativity, and moderate neutrality forms a fairly balanced image that has all the prerequisites for further strengthening.
According to a study conducted by the Experts Club information and analytical center based on data from the State Customs Service, the Czech Republic ranks seventh in terms of total trade in goods with Ukraine, with a figure of $3.41 billion. At the same time, imports of Czech goods significantly exceed exports of Ukrainian products, resulting in a negative balance in bilateral trade.
The results of a public opinion sociological survey conducted in March 2026 by the research company Active Group in cooperation with the information and analytical center Experts Club indicate a sharp improvement in Ukrainians’ attitudes toward Italy. Overall, 70.2% of respondents evaluate the country positively, while negative attitudes account for only 0.5%. Compared to August 2025, positive assessments increased by more than 10 percentage points (from 57.3%), while negative ones significantly decreased (from 2.3%).
The structure of responses demonstrates not only growth in positivity, but also its qualitative strengthening. The share of “completely positive” attitudes is 19.3%, while “mostly positive” accounts for 50.8%. This means that the positive perception of Italy is not situational, but stable in nature and is formed among the majority of respondents without significant reservations.
The share of neutral assessments is 28.9%, which is a moderate indicator and indicates a sufficiently formed perception of the country. The negative segment is practically absent: only 0.5% of respondents chose the option “mostly negative,” while “completely negative” attitudes were not recorded. The share of those who were unable to determine their answer also stands at 0.5%.
The dynamics of changes between 2025 and 2026 is one of the most indicative among all countries. The growth of positive assessments is accompanied by an almost complete disappearance of negative ones, which indicates a consolidation of public opinion in a positive direction. Unlike cases where polarization or an increase in neutrality is observed, in the case of Italy a clear and stable positive image is being formed.
From an analytical point of view, this means that attitudes toward Italy are moving into the category of a high level of trust. The combination of a significant share of “mostly positive” and the growth of “completely positive” assessments indicates strengthening emotional certainty and a reduction in the level of doubt in the perception of the country.
“In the case of Italy, we see an example of rapid positive consolidation of public opinion. The growth of positive assessments is accompanied by an almost complete disappearance of negative sentiment, which is quite a rare dynamic. This indicates the formation of a stable positive image of the country in Ukrainian society,” said Oleksandr Pozniy, Director of the research company Active Group.
Overall, the results of the study show that Italy occupies one of the strongest positions among countries with a positive perception in Ukraine. A sharp increase in positivity, a minimal level of negativity, and a stable structure of responses indicate a formed and consolidated image that has the potential to remain устойчивый in further dynamics.
According to a study conducted by the Experts Club information and analytical center based on data from the State Customs Service, Italy ranks sixth in terms of total trade in goods with Ukraine, with a figure of $5.02 billion. At the same time, imports from Italy slightly exceed Ukrainian exports, forming a moderate negative balance for Ukraine.
The study was presented at the Interfax-Ukraine press center, and the video can be viewed on the agency’s YouTube channel. The full version of the study can be found at this link on the website of the Experts Club analytical center.
ACTIVE GROUP, EXPERTS CLUB, ITALY, LATER, SOCIOLOGY, SURVEY, UKRAINE
The results of a public opinion study conducted in March 2026 by the research company Active Group in cooperation with the information and analytical center Experts Club indicate a noticeable change in Ukrainians’ attitudes toward the United States. Overall, 44.1% of respondents evaluate the country positively, while negative attitudes account for 24.7%. Compared to August 2025, a decrease in positive assessments has been recorded (from 50.3%) alongside an increase in negative ones (from 18.0%), indicating a rise in criticality in perception.
The structure of responses shows that positive attitudes are predominantly moderate in nature. The share of “completely positive” is 9.8%, while “mostly positive” accounts for 34.3%. This means that the positive perception of the United States persists, but it is less pronounced than in the case of certain European partners.
At the same time, the share of neutral assessments is significant — 28.2%, indicating ambiguity in perception and the absence of a clear position among part of the respondents. Such a level of neutrality is typically characteristic of situations where public opinion is in a state of reassessment or reacting to changes in external factors.
The negative segment is substantial and continues to grow. 21.7% of respondents chose the option “mostly negative,” while another 3.0% selected “completely negative.” This means that negative attitudes toward the United States are gradually gaining more weight in the overall structure of assessments. The share of those who were undecided also stands at 3.0%.
The dynamics of changes between 2025 and 2026 indicate a clear trend: a decrease in positivity is accompanied by an increase in negativity. Unlike the stable or positively growing assessments regarding some other countries, in the case of the United States there is a gradual shift in the balance toward a more critical perception.
From an analytical point of view, this means that attitudes toward the United States in Ukrainian society are becoming less unequivocal. A significant share of positivity remains, but it no longer dominates as confidently as before. The growth of negative assessments and the high level of neutrality form a more complex and heterogeneous picture.
“We observe that the indicators regarding the United States are changing more dynamically than in the case of many other countries. This indicates a high sensitivity of public opinion to the political context and the information environment. Under such conditions, even short-term changes can quite quickly influence the balance of assessments,” said Oleksandr Pozniy, Director of the research company Active Group.
Overall, the results of the study show that the United States remains an important, but no longer unequivocally positively perceived partner. The increase in criticality and the decline in the level of support indicate a transition toward a more balanced and differentiated attitude, which may continue to evolve depending on developments in the international situation.
According to a study conducted by the Experts Club information and analytical center based on data from the State Customs Service, the United States is among the top five largest trading partners of Ukraine, with a trade volume exceeding $5.6 billion. At the same time, imports from the United States significantly exceed Ukrainian exports, forming a negative balance in bilateral trade.
The study was presented at the Interfax-Ukraine press center, and the video can be viewed on the agency’s YouTube channel. The full version of the study can be found at this link on the website of the Experts Club analytical center.
ACTIVE GROUP, EXPERTS CLUB, LATER, SOCIOLOGY, SURVEY, UKRAINE, USA
The results of a public opinion sociological survey conducted in March 2026 by the research company Active Group in cooperation with the information and analytical center Experts Club indicate a moderately positive and stable attitude of Ukrainians toward Turkey. In total, 55.0% of respondents evaluate the country positively, while negative attitudes account for only 5.6%. Compared to August 2025, positive assessments have increased (from 52.3%), while negative ones, on the contrary, have decreased (from 8.0%), indicating an overall improvement in perception.
The structure of responses demonstrates the predominance of moderate positivity. The share of “completely positive” attitudes is 14.5%, while “mostly positive” accounts for 40.6%. This means that the positive perception of Turkey is widespread, but mostly does not have an unconditional character.
At the same time, the share of neutral assessments is significant — 36.4%. This indicator shows that for a large portion of respondents, Turkey remains a country toward which a rather restrained or pragmatic attitude has been formed, without clearly expressed emotional accents.
The negative segment is relatively small and predominantly moderate in nature: 5.1% of respondents chose the option “mostly negative,” while only 0.5% selected “completely negative.” The share of those who were unable to determine their answer is 3.0%, which indicates a sufficient level of formed opinions among the majority of respondents.
The comparative dynamics between 2025 and 2026 demonstrate a positive trend: the growth in the share of positive assessments is accompanied by a reduction in negative ones. This indicates a gradual strengthening of Turkey’s positive image in Ukrainian society. At the same time, the high level of neutral responses indicates that this perception remains open to further changes.
From an analytical point of view, such a structure of assessments reflects the pragmatic nature of the attitude. Turkey is perceived as an important, but not unquestionable partner, toward which Ukrainians maintain a certain distance. The positive balance of assessments indicates the presence of trust; however, the significant share of neutrality means that this trust is not fully consolidated.
“In the case of Turkey, we see a characteristic example of moderately positive perception with a high share of neutral assessments. This means that attitudes are formed not on the basis of emotions, but rather through practical experience and the current context of interaction. Such results are usually more sensitive to change and can quickly respond to new signals,” said Oleksandr Pozniy, Director of the research company Active Group.
Overall, the results of the study indicate that Turkey occupies an intermediate position in Ukrainians’ perceptions: on the one hand, there is a clearly positive balance; on the other, a lack of full emotional definiteness. This creates potential for further strengthening of a positive image, but at the same time means that it requires constant confirmation through real results of cooperation.
According to a study conducted by the Experts Club information and analytical center based on data from the State Customs Service, Turkey ranks fourth in terms of trade in goods with Ukraine, exceeding $8.9 billion. The country is an important partner in the Black Sea region, although the trade balance also remains negative for Ukraine.
The study was presented at the Interfax-Ukraine press center; the video can be viewed on the agency’s YouTube channel. The full version of the study can be found via a link on the Experts Club analytical center’s website.
ACTIVE GROUP, EXPERTS CLUB, LATER, SOCIOLOGY, SURVEY, TURKEY, UKRAINE
The results of a public opinion poll conducted in March 2026 by the research company Active Group in collaboration with the Experts Club information and analysis centre show that Ukrainians’ attitude towards Poland remains consistently positive, yet is becoming more nuanced. Overall, 56.4% of respondents view Poland positively, whilst 14.7% view it negatively. Compared to August 2025, the proportion of positive views has remained almost unchanged (56.7%), whilst negative views have risen from 12.7% to 14.7%.
The breakdown of responses indicates a predominance of moderate views. The proportion of ‘entirely positive’ attitudes stands at 19.3%, whilst ‘mostly positive’ attitudes account for 37.1%. At the same time, the proportion of neutral views remains significant at 27.5%. This means that for a significant proportion of respondents, Poland does not evoke clearly defined emotional reactions, but is perceived rather through a pragmatic lens.
Negative attitudes are also predominantly moderate in nature: 12.4% of respondents chose the ‘mostly negative’ option, and only 2.3% chose ‘completely negative’. The proportion of those who were undecided is minimal (1.4%), indicating that Ukrainians’ perceptions of the country are sufficiently well-formed.
The dynamics of change between 2025 and 2026 indicate a certain increase in criticality in the perception of Poland. Whilst the overall positive balance is maintained, the proportion of unequivocally positive assessments is gradually decreasing, whilst the proportion of negative ones is increasing. This trend may indicate a shift from an emotionally positive to a more measured and rational perception.
It is important to note that, at the same time, Poland remains a country with a predominantly positive image in Ukrainian society. The ratio of positive to negative assessments, which is more than three times in favour of the positive, indicates that a high level of trust and a generally favourable attitude are maintained. At the same time, the growth in the negative component signals the emergence of new factors influencing public opinion.
The high proportion of neutral responses deserves special attention. This may indicate that, for some respondents, Poland is not an emotionally polarising factor, but is perceived as an important, though not unquestionable, partner. In such a situation, even minor changes in the information landscape or practical interactions could influence the balance of assessments in the future.
“Ukrainians do not view the world in black and white and assess other countries quite objectively. Where there is more information and experience of interaction, a more balanced attitude is formed. At the same time, even minor changes in the political or information environment can influence the dynamics of assessments,” noted Oleksandr Pozniy, director of the research company Active Group.
Overall, the survey results indicate that attitudes towards Poland in Ukraine remain consistently positive, but are gradually becoming more complex and multi-dimensional. This reflects a general trend towards the rationalisation of public opinion, where countries are assessed not only on the basis of emotions, but also taking into account specific experiences of interaction and the current context.
According to a study conducted by the Experts Club information and analytical centre based on data from the State Customs Service, Poland ranks second in terms of total trade in goods with Ukraine, with a figure of over $13 billion, second only to China. At the same time, Poland remains one of Ukraine’s key trading partners within the EU, although the trade balance is also negative for Ukraine.
The study was presented at the Interfax-Ukraine press centre; the video can be viewed on the agency’s YouTube channel. The full version of the study can be found via this link on the Experts Club analytical centre’s website.
ACTIVE GROUP, EXPERTS CLUB, POLAND, Pozniy, SOCIOLOGY, SURVEYS, UKRAINE, URAKIN
