The Ukrainian team won 23 medals (5 gold, 8 silver, and 10 bronze) and took 10th place in the overall standings at the 2025 European Youth Olympic Festival, which took place in Skopje (North Macedonia).
“This is Ukraine’s second most successful performance in the history of its participation in the Festivals since 1993! The blue and yellow team won more medals only in 2019, when it won 25 awards (8 gold, 7 silver, and 10 bronze),” the National Olympic Committee reported on its Telegram channel on Sunday.
A total of 78 young athletes in 12 sports represented Ukraine at the EYOF 2025. “This year, Ukrainians climbed the podium in seven sports. Judo: 2 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze. Swimming: 2 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze. Athletics: 1 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze. Taekwondo: 2 silver, 1 bronze. Shooting: 1 silver, 1 bronze. Artistic gymnastics: 1 silver, 1 bronze. Table tennis: 1 bronze,” the report said.
Agroholding Agrotrade has already threshed over 2,500 hectares, which is 14% of the total plan for early crops, with the largest areas processed in the Kharkiv and Sumy regions, the agroholding’s press service reported on Facebook.
Agrotrade reminded that in the 2025 season, winter wheat accounts for 85% of the harvest structure, and winter rapeseed accounts for 15%.
“In the Kharkiv region, winter wheat yields have been reduced due to frosts, but the Sumy and Chernihiv regions are gradually evening out the overall picture. We started harvesting on drier plots and expect higher yields on later varieties. Overall, we expect to meet the plan with a slight overrun. Winter rapeseed yields average about 3.5 tons per hectare — despite the weather, the results are in line with expectations,” said Oleksandr Ovsyanyk, director of the agro-industrial department at Agrotrade.
According to him, the best results are in Chernihiv region, where rapeseed yields are 111% of the plan, and in Kharkiv region, where winter wheat yields in some fields are over 5.4 tons/ha, so the plan is being met at 106%.
The Agrotrade Group is a vertically integrated holding company covering the entire agricultural cycle (production, processing, storage, and trade of agricultural products). It cultivates over 70,000 hectares of land in the Chernihiv, Sumy, Poltava, and Kharkiv regions. Its main crops are sunflower, corn, winter wheat, soybeans, and rapeseed. It has its own network of elevators with a total storage capacity of 570,000 tons.
The group also produces hybrid seeds of corn, sunflower, barley, and winter wheat. In 2014, a seed plant with a capacity of 20,000 tons of seeds per year was built on the basis of the Kolos seed farm (Kharkiv region). In 2018, Agrotrade launched its own brand, Agroseeds.
The founder of Agrotrade is Vsevolod Kozhemyako.
US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have reached a historic trade agreement that prevents the introduction of planned US-European tariffs on August 1 and establishes new rules for trade relations between the world’s two largest economies.
The US will impose a single tariff of 15% on most goods from the EU instead of the previously announced 30%. The exceptions are steel and aluminum, for which the tariff will remain at 50%.
In return, the EU commits to:
purchase $750 billion worth of energy from the US;
increase direct investment in the US economy by $600 billion;
purchase a significant amount of US weapons.
The negotiations took place in Scotland, at Trump’s golf course in Turnberry. After the meetings, strategists from both sides rushed to finalize the agreement, as multiple tariff measures of up to 50% were due to take effect on August 1.
Both sides acknowledged the compromise: Trump called it “the greatest deal ever made,” while von der Leyen stressed that it would bring stability and predictability for businesses in the EU and the US.
The agreement eases trade tensions between the US and the EU, which intensified after a series of tariff threats in the spring of 2025 — including car tariffs (25%) and corresponding EU measures of up to 25% on $21 billion worth of imports from the US. The principle of “mutual concessions”: the EU agreed to a 15% tariff and in return opened its energy and investment markets to the US.
Although some sectors, such as the European automotive and pharmaceutical industries, are awaiting further clarification, the agreement brings the parties closer together and reduces the risks of an escalating economic war.
The agreement between Trump and von der Leyen was a key milestone in US-EU trade relations in 2025. It locks in a 15% tariff, opens up opportunities for billions in US purchases and EU investments, and lays the foundation for long-term stability. Despite some restrictions (such as steel tariffs), the agreement provides the necessary economic predictability for both sides and reduces the risk of a transatlantic trade war.
An overview of the property tax system in Poland for foreign citizens and expats
Interest in Polish real estate among foreigners, including Ukrainian expats, continues to grow. At the same time, it is important to consider the tax burden associated with both the purchase and ownership and sale of a home. In this article, we will look at the key taxes related to real estate in Poland, as well as the current rates and features for individuals.
– Tax on the purchase of real estate: tax on civil law transactions (PCC)
When purchasing secondary real estate (from a private individual), the buyer is required to pay PCC at a rate of 2% of the property value.
Example: an apartment for €100,000 — the tax will be €2,000.
If the property is purchased on the primary market (from a developer), PCC is not payable, but VAT is charged (usually 8% or 23% depending on the type of housing and area).
Up to 150 m² for an apartment or 300 m² for a house — 8% VAT
Above these limits — 23% VAT on the excess
The purchase is accompanied by notary fees: drawing up the agreement, entry in the land register, registration fees. The average amount of additional costs is about 2–4% of the purchase price.
– Property tax (Podatek od nieruchomości)
This is an annual local tax paid by every property owner. It is determined at the commune (municipality) level and depends on the size of the property.
Maximum rates in 2025 (set annually by the Polish Ministry of Finance):
Apartments and houses: up to PLN 1.15 per m² (≈ €0.27)
Land plots for residential purposes: up to PLN 0.70 per m² (≈ €0.16)
Example: a 60 m² apartment in Warsaw → tax ~ €16 per year.
Important: the rate is lower in small towns and closer to the maximum in the capital.
– Tax on rental income
If the property is rented out, the income is taxable. Individuals can choose one of the following schemes:
Market rate (general PIT scale): 12% up to PLN 120,000 of income per year and 32% on the excess (2025)
Flat rate (ryczałt): 8.5% on income up to PLN 100,000 and 12% on the excess
The ryczałt regime is popular among small landlords, especially for short-term rentals.
– Capital gains tax (on sale)
When selling real estate earlier than 5 years after its acquisition, there is an obligation to pay 19% capital gains tax on the profit.
Exceptions:
The tax is not payable if the seller has owned the property for 5 years or more.
Exemption is also available if the entire amount is used to purchase a new home or for construction within 3 years.
– Other costs and fees
Property maintenance: utility bills, repair and management fees (especially in residential complexes)
Garbage collection fee: set by the municipality, depends on the number of residents
Management company fees: from PLN 2 to PLN 4/m² per month (€0.5–1/m²)
The Polish real estate taxation system is moderate and relatively transparent. Particular attention should be paid to the PCC tax when purchasing and the obligation to pay capital gains tax when selling. For foreign investors and relocators, it is important to take into account the total tax burden in advance when planning a purchase or lease.
relocation.com.ua recommends consulting a Polish tax advisor or lawyer before entering into a transaction to avoid unexpected costs and optimize the tax consequences.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko has linked the previously launched audit of government spending to deregulation and the moratorium on interference in business.
“In the economy, we have launched the implementation of the National Security and Defense Council’s decision on a moratorium on business inspections by law enforcement agencies. Business expects tangible steps from the government towards deregulation. Therefore, we are starting an audit of all government spending.
We plan to significantly reduce bureaucratic procedures,” Svyrydenko wrote on Facebook on Sunday morning.
She also said that she is currently meeting with each minister and working with them on specific plans that will be included in the government’s action program.
As reported, on July 23, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree to reduce bureaucratic procedures and conduct an immediate audit of government spending. He expects the government to report back within a month so that maximum state resources can be directed toward defense. He also announced “tangible steps toward deregulation to give people more freedom.” The relevant decree No. 544/2025 was published on the president’s website.
On the same day, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved a plan to implement the decision of the National Security and Defense Council on a moratorium on unfounded inspections and interference in business, among other things, instructing
the State Regulatory Service and ministries to submit proposals for deregulation and reduction of unnecessary permits within a month. “From July 24, the tax and customs authorities will limit inspections for low-risk enterprises. The exception is high-risk industries, such as the turnover of excisable goods, where control is necessary,” Svyrydenko wrote on Telegram.
According to her, by October 21, law enforcement agencies must agree on measures to identify assets subject to sanctions and ensure their return to the budget for defense and recovery needs.
“The plans include the launch of a digital control system and a quarterly review of the effectiveness of decisions,” Svyrydenko added.
She also noted that the government will prepare amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC): only the prosecutor general or regional-level officials will be able to open new proceedings against businesses.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko has named prosthetics as one of the main tasks of Ukrainian social policy and announced the launch of grants for manufacturers of bionic prostheses.
“Prosthetics is one of the main tasks in social policy today. Our task is to ensure that everyone who needs it, both military and civilian, receives a high-quality prosthesis on time,” Svyrydenko wrote on Facebook on Sunday morning.
She reported that last week she held meetings with rehabilitation specialists, manufacturers, and center directors. “We see that many people are forced to wait for prosthetics or face poor-quality care. Therefore, we have tasked the Ministry of Social Policy and the Ministry of Health with developing a clear plan to resolve these issues,” the head of government wrote.
Svyrydenko also visited the Ukrainian production facility Esper Bionics and called it “an example of technology that is truly changing lives.”
“We want this market to develop. We want to see more Ukrainian manufacturers. Therefore, the government plans to launch grants for bionic prostheses,” she said.
