Ukraine’s European integration is entering a new practical stage, at which dialogue between the state and business is becoming one of the key tools for preparing the country for future EU membership.
This is stated in a column by Viktoriia Lobun, adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, published by the Interfax-Ukraine agency.
According to her, a historic step was the opening on June 15, during the Second Intergovernmental Conference between Ukraine and the EU in Luxembourg, of Cluster 1 “Fundamentals of the EU accession process.” This cluster is fundamental for the entire negotiation process, opens it and will remain open until the completion of the negotiations.
“Today Ukraine faces an ambitious task — to ensure the high-quality preparation of the state for future membership and to implement the changes that will allow it to function fully within the European Union,” Lobun noted.
She emphasized that European integration is not limited to the adoption of legislation or the fulfillment of formal negotiation conditions. It is about how changes will affect the economy, individual sectors, communities, citizens, state institutions, local self-government and business.
Some Ukrainian companies are already effectively operating in a single economic space with the EU: entering European markets, looking for partners, adapting to common rules and changing their own business processes. At the same time, the perception of Ukraine by European business is also changing: Ukrainian partners are increasingly viewed not only as an opportunity, but as a factor of competitive advantage in restructuring supply chains, developing new production facilities and strengthening Europe’s economic resilience.
The EU remains Ukraine’s largest trading partner — accounting for more than 63% of foreign trade in goods. The next step, according to Lobun, should be the transition from perceiving Ukraine as an external partner to perceiving it as part of the common market.
Platforms for discussing Ukraine’s economic integration with the EU play a separate role in this process. In particular, these issues were raised at the EU-Ukraine Business Summit in Brussels and will be discussed during the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdańsk. As part of the conference, a workshop is planned on how to combine Ukraine’s recovery with preparation for EU membership.
One of the practical tools for preparing for European integration has been a series of regional dialogues with business. In the first half of the year, such dialogues have already taken place for the agricultural sector, the metallurgical industry and the pharmaceutical industry. They were joined by representatives of business, sectoral associations, authorities, parliament and the expert community from different regions of Ukraine.
In fact, this is about creating a permanent mechanism of interaction between the state and business on issues of European integration.
One of the main questions of such dialogues is what Ukraine’s integration into the EU internal market will look like in practice. The transition from the model of external partnership to the model of the common market requires a new balance between competition and integration.
In some areas, this process already has practical examples — in particular in the energy market and roaming. At the same time, there are more complex areas where Ukraine is a strong player, in particular the agricultural sector and metallurgy. It is precisely here that it is important to ensure integration into the EU internal market without losing the competitive advantages of Ukrainian producers.
Lobun notes that dialogue with business makes it possible to better understand the expectations and concerns of companies regarding individual areas of integration. Meetings in the regions where business operates under conditions of constant risks are especially important. This makes it possible to shape policy focused not only on compliance with European requirements, but also on the real capabilities of the Ukrainian economy.
Ahead, Ukraine is expected to fulfill the conditions and benchmarks of the “Fundamentals” Cluster, as well as to work on opening the next negotiation clusters. They cover a significant part of the economic component of future membership — the internal market, competition policy, freedom of movement of goods and services, and other areas important for Ukrainian business.
Thus, dialogue between the state and business is becoming not only a communication tool, but one of the mechanisms for Ukraine’s practical preparation for membership in the European Union.
The success of the negotiation process, as Lobun emphasizes, will be determined not only by the number of opened or closed clusters. Its real result should be the creation of a modern, competitive and resilient state, ready to function fully as part of the European community.
Source: Interfax-Ukraine, Viktoriia Lobun’s column “European integration is moving into the practical dimension: why dialogue with business is becoming critically important.”
Ukrainian citizens ranked second among the largest groups of foreign residents in Germany as of the end of 2025, trailing only Turkish citizens.
According to data from the German Federal Statistical Office, 1.409 million Ukrainian citizens were living in the country as of the end of 2025. This is an increase from the previous year, when the figure stood at 1.334 million.
Turkish citizens remain the largest foreign group in Germany, numbering 1.520 million people. They are followed by Ukrainians, then Syrian citizens (936,3 thousand), Romanian citizens (903,8 thousand), and Polish citizens (839,7 thousand).
Thus, Ukrainians have become the second-largest foreign community in Germany. This is a direct consequence of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine and the mass displacement of Ukrainians to EU countries after 2022.
At the same time, the overall demographic situation in Germany has deteriorated. According to Destatis, the country’s population in 2025 declined for the first time since 2020—to 83.5 million people. Net immigration of 235,000 people was no longer sufficient to offset natural population decline: the number of deaths exceeded the number of births by 352,000.
For Germany, Ukrainian migration remains an important demographic and labor factor. Against the backdrop of an aging population and a labor shortage, Ukrainians have already become one of the key groups of foreigners in the country, and their integration into the labor market, education system, and social welfare system will have long-term significance for the German economy.
According to Serbian Economist, several major wildfires have been reported in Croatian Dalmatia—on Hvar, in the Šibenik area, in Teljašica Nature Park, in Plata, and near the border with Montenegro, regional media report.
One of the fires near the border with Montenegro has partially spread into Croatian territory. In the Plata area, a forest fire broke out near a power line; local fire departments and emergency services were dispatched to the scene.
On the island of Hvar, a fire broke out in the area of Sv. Nedelja. According to Croatian media reports, the fire engulfed about 10 hectares of pine forest and approached the edges of vineyards. Local firefighters and additional units from the island participated in extinguishing the blaze.
In the Šibenik area, preliminary data indicate that the fire engulfed about 100 hectares of grass, low vegetation, and pine forest. In Telasčića Nature Park, two hotspots remained active—in the area of Jaz Bay and near Mala Proversa, on the eastern side of the park toward the Kornati Islands.
Firefighters, water bombers, an Air Tractor, and other emergency services are involved in extinguishing the fires. In some areas, the situation is complicated by dry vegetation, wind, and difficult-to-access terrain.
For the region, this marks the beginning of a challenging summer period: Dalmatia traditionally remains one of Croatia’s most vulnerable areas in terms of wildfires. The risks are particularly high on the islands, in coastal pine forests, and in areas with high tourist traffic.
There is no talk of a large-scale evacuation of tourists at this time, but authorities and fire departments are urging residents and visitors to the region to monitor official warnings.
TAS Group is considering new acquisitions in the agricultural sector and would like to expand its land bank by another 20,000–25,000 hectares, said the group’s founder, Serhiy Tihipko.
“We are interested in agriculture. We would gladly acquire 20,000–25,000 hectares right now. We are strengthening our grain elevator operations,” he said at the Concorde Capital investment conference in Kyiv.
The agricultural sector remains one of the areas where the group sees potential for expansion. Earlier, Oleg Zapletnyuk, CEO of the TAS Agro agricultural holding, reported that the strategic plan calls for increasing the land bank from the current 80,000 hectares to 100,000 hectares by the end of 2026.
The next stage, he said, is to grow to 120,000 hectares by 2028.
Strengthening its grain storage infrastructure is important for the agricultural holding in terms of controlling logistics, storing the harvest, and ensuring sales flexibility. Given unstable export logistics and pressure on margins, having its own storage capacity is becoming one of the key factors in competitiveness.
The TAS Group is already active in the agricultural sector through TAS Agro. For the group, expanding its land bank and grain storage capacity could be a way to strengthen vertical integration and reduce dependence on external infrastructure.
agricultural sector, grain storage facility, LAND BANK, TIGIPKO, ТАСС
The Ukrainian fintech market is entering a phase in which the automation of compliance, financial monitoring, and sanctions control is no longer a support function but rather a core component of a business’s financial resilience infrastructure.
This is discussed in a column by the CEO of AML.point, Oksana Gubina, an advisor on RegTech projects at AI FINTECH, for the Interfax-Ukraine news agency, prepared in the context of the Fintech Catalog UA 2026 presentation.
According to the catalog, there are over 300 fintech companies operating in Ukraine. A significant portion of them have already achieved operational self-sufficiency, nearly half are expanding their presence in international markets, and the majority continue to grow using their own resources.
The Fintech Catalog UA 2026 was prepared by the Ukrainian Association of Fintech and Innovative Companies with the support of the National Bank of Ukraine, IFC, SECO, and Sense Bank. The study was conducted in April–May 2026 among fintech companies, banks, and Ukrainian branches of international fintech companies, with 150 respondents participating.
According to Gubina, the Ukrainian fintech sector is developing in an environment where issues of transparency, risk management, and regulatory compliance are no longer secondary. Tighter sanctions controls, financial monitoring, and requirements for transparency regarding the origin of funds and ownership structure have made compliance one of the key elements of corporate resilience.
“Financial companies are increasingly viewing compliance not as external coercion by regulators, but as a tool for building trust, reputation, and long-term competitiveness. That is why investments in RegTech are increasingly seen not as expenses, but as investments in the company’s future stability,” she noted.
RegTech solutions are gradually shifting from the category of ancillary services to that of critical business infrastructure. For banks, financial companies, payment services, credit institutions, and other market participants, the automation of KYC, AML, and sanctions control is already a matter of operational speed, the quality of risk management, and the ability to meet regulatory requirements in near real time.
At the same time, the automation of financial monitoring is not limited to installing software. It requires the integration of various information systems, high-quality data, the establishment of reliable information processing workflows, change control, the preservation of decision histories, and a balance between customer convenience and compliance with regulatory requirements.
One of the emerging market trends is the convergence of ERP and RegTech. ERP systems are responsible for managing a company’s resources and operational processes, while RegTech handles regulatory compliance, financial monitoring, and risk control. However, both areas are increasingly working with large datasets, integrating into operational processes, and helping management make informed decisions.
In practice, this approach allows for the automation of counterparty risk assessments, KYC checks, sanctions screening, transaction monitoring, and the preparation of regulatory reports without placing an excessive burden on staff.
At the same time, according to Gubina, technology does not replace a compliance culture. Automation is effective only when a company has clear internal policies, high-quality data, accountable personnel, and a willingness to systematically manage risks. RegTech does not eliminate the role of the compliance officer but transforms it—shifting the focus from manual verification to managing processes, data, and risk models.
The further development of Ukrainian fintech will be largely driven by integration solutions in the areas of compliance, financial monitoring, and risk management. As requirements for business transparency, sanctions control, and regulatory reporting tighten, the role of RegTech will only grow.
For Ukrainian financial companies, automated compliance is gradually becoming not just an added advantage, but a basic standard for doing business. In the next stage of market development, companies that can combine technological capabilities, transparency, high-quality data, and systematic risk management will gain a competitive advantage.
Sources: Oksana Gubina’s column for “Interfax-Ukraine”, Fintech Catalog UA 2026, Ukrainian Association of Fintech and Innovative Companies.
92% of American Chamber of Commerce member companies in Ukraine continue to operate at full capacity after more than four years of full-scale war, according to the results of the “Doing Business in Wartime Ukraine” survey conducted by AmCham Ukraine in partnership with Citi Ukraine.
According to the study, nearly 70% of the companies that participated in the survey have been operating in Ukraine for more than 20 years. AmCham believes this demonstrates the resilience of these businesses and their long-term commitment to the Ukrainian market.
Despite the risks posed by the war, 87% of companies reported that their financial results in the second quarter of 2026 remained the same or improved compared to the second quarter of 2025. Only 13% of respondents reported a decline in performance.
Compared to 2021, before the war, nearly two-thirds of companies—63%—reported that their financial results remained stable or improved. At the same time, 37% of companies are still operating below pre-war levels.
Investment plans also remain stable: 87% of companies stated that their investments in Ukraine in 2026 will remain unchanged or increase compared to 2025. Of these, 54% plan to maintain their investment levels, while 33% plan to increase them.
The war continues to directly impact business. 47% of companies reported that their factories, production facilities, warehouses, offices, or other sites were damaged during the war. Among the affected companies, 46% have already fully restored their damaged assets, while 39% have completed partial repairs.
Half of the surveyed companies reported cases of employees being injured as a result of the war, and 37% reported employee fatalities. At the same time, 87% of companies have employees who are currently serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and 60% are already hiring veterans.
71% of companies have already implemented, are developing, or have begun to roll out support and reintegration programs for veterans following demobilization. Specifically, 24% of companies have comprehensive policies for reintegrating veterans into the workforce, 20% are developing such policies, and 27% have already introduced initial support measures.
The main challenges for businesses remain employee safety (82%), issues related to mobilization and reserving employees (71%), and the threat of Russian missile attacks on critical infrastructure and business assets (63%). Among other challenges, companies cited the health and mental well-being of employees—50%—as well as attracting and retaining qualified personnel—44%.
At the same time, most companies do not plan to fill staffing shortages on a large scale with foreign workers. 63% of respondents stated that they are not considering hiring non-Ukrainian employees to address staffing issues, 25% are undecided, and only 12% are actively considering this option.
According to the business community, Ukraine will remain a stable but unpredictable market in 2026. This view is shared by 45% of respondents. Another 21% view Ukraine as one of the most promising markets for future growth in Europe, 18% consider it primarily a high-risk market focused on survival, and 16% see it as a market preparing for recovery.
Fifty percent of companies expect Ukraine’s economic recovery to become clearly visible 2–3 years after the end of the war. Another 18% believe that a gradual recovery is already underway, 16% see 2026–2027 as a possible turning point toward growth, and 16% believe that the recovery has not yet begun.
Respondents identified defense and military tech (78%), infrastructure and construction (71%), energy and distributed generation (50%), and agriculture and food processing (45%) as the key sectors for post-war recovery.
Companies consider Ukraine’s long-term growth potential to be the main factor driving investment attractiveness. 76% of respondents cited the vast opportunities for reconstruction and post-war economic growth as the primary driver of investment, 49% cited Ukraine’s path toward EU accession and integration into the European market, and 39% cited the potential of the defense and military tech sector.
Among the main barriers to business participation in reconstruction projects, respondents cited the security of reconstruction sites (56%), a lack of information and transparency regarding projects (55%), and an unclear legal and tender framework (55%).
The business community also outlined priorities for the government for 2026. Eighty percent of companies cited support for the rule of law, the fight against corruption, and genuine judicial reform as the top priority. Fifty-five percent pointed to the need to strengthen national security, defense, and demining efforts, while 44% emphasized the need for predictability and stability in tax legislation.
The “Doing Business in Wartime Ukraine” survey was conducted by AmCham Ukraine and Citi Ukraine from May 21 to June 16, 2026. It included 112 executives from AmCham member companies across various industries; 69% of respondents hold CEO positions.
Source: American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine, Citi Ukraine
