Most companies expect the United States’ support for Ukraine to continue or increase (77%), while the rest predict its decrease (23%).
This is evidenced by the results of the survey “Doing Business in Military Ukraine. January 2025” by the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine (AmCham).
According to information on the website of the organization, when asked about the likelihood of a ceasefire in 2025, 61% of respondents said they believe it is possible, 31% – doubtful, and 8% – expect escalation on the front.
“85% of companies are fully operational and will continue to invest in Ukraine in 2025. This is a strong signal for those considering Ukraine as an investment destination. While 77% of businesses expect continued or increased US support, the momentum of Ukraine’s recovery is creating opportunities for forward-thinking investors,” AmCham President Andrei Gunder was quoted as saying by the organization.
It is emphasized that, compared to 2024, 53% of respondents forecast sales growth in 2025, with the majority expecting moderate growth of up to 15%. At the same time, 37% believe sales will remain at last year’s level, with 10% predicting a decline. Compared to the pre-war time, 39% of respondents expect growth, 34% – decline, and 27% – stability.
It is noted that investment in Ukraine remains a key priority for many companies. Despite difficult times, 35% of respondents plan to increase investments in 2025, while 48% plan to maintain them at the level of 2024. The European Union is expected to be the main source of investment (88%). This is followed by the United States (71%) and Asia (18%).
Regarding the location of employees and management, the survey showed that 45% of companies have employees in Ukraine, while 43% operate a hybrid model with employees in and outside Ukraine. In addition, 59% of management teams are based entirely in Ukraine, while 37% operate under a hybrid model.
According to the survey data regarding the economic forecast for 2025, it is cautiously optimistic. More than 40% of respondents expect growth in economic and business activity compared to 2024, almost 50% foresee stability, and 12% predict a decline.
The survey, conducted from January 8-16, 2025, surveyed 145 CEOs and senior executives of Chamber member companies across a variety of industries. Two-thirds of the respondents were CEOs.
As reported, in the previous survey conducted on December 5 among the participants of the annual meeting of members (AmCham) (230 respondents), more than three-quarters (77.8%) expected a ceasefire in 2025.
Interfax-Ukraine correspondent reported that almost 68% of respondents expected newly elected US President Donald Trump to come to Kiev in 2025, almost two-thirds – 62.7% – expected the resumption of international flights to Ukraine in 2025.
Zaporizhstal Iron and Steel Works is increasing the durability of its rolls by increasing the volume of rolled metal and improving its efficiency.
According to the company, the hot rolling shop systematically implements effective measures to improve production and reduce costs.
For example, last year, the rollers increased the stability of horizontal rolls at Slabbing 1150, which made it possible to roll 20 thousand tons more metal per coil. This resulted in an economic effect of about $18 thousand per year.
In addition, the specialists of the Cold Rolling Shop (CRS) implemented a combined technology for processing slabs, which led to a significant reduction in rejects. As a result, the economic effect amounted to $125 thousand per year.
We also worked productively on one of the most important indicators – the metal consumption ratio. A whole range of measures was implemented to reduce the amount of scrap metal by 2.2 kg per ton of rolled steel. These measures resulted in $475 thousand of economic effect per year.
“Zaporizhstal is one of the largest industrial enterprises in Ukraine, whose products are in great demand among consumers both in the domestic market and in many countries around the world.
“Zaporizhstal is in the process of being integrated into Metinvest Group, whose major shareholders are System Capital Management PrJSC (71.24%) and Smart Holding Group (23.76%).
Metinvest Holding LLC is the management company of Metinvest Group.
On the first day of his presidency, Trump intends to sign executive orders, including reinstating the death penalty at the federal level in the United States, which was abolished by Biden, and declaring a state of emergency on the southern border, representatives of the new administration told Reuters.
“Even before Trump was set to take office, his aides detailed a series of executive orders he would sign immediately, including 10 on border security and immigration, his top priority,” Reuters reported on Monday.
It is reported that on the first day, Trump will also declare a state of emergency on the southern border, send troops to the region and reinstate the policy that forces asylum seekers to wait in Mexico for a hearing in a US court. Will require that official U.S. documents, including passports, indicate the gender assigned to citizens at birth. Pardon 1,500 people involved in the Capitol storming case.
“On his first day, which also happens to be Martin Luther King Jr. Day, he will also sign an executive order ending diversity, equality and inclusion initiatives in the federal government, officials said,” the agency noted.
In the midst of the ceremony, Trump is expected to begin “signing his first executive orders, many of which are likely to face legal challenges.”
Earlier, the Experts Club think tank, Brian Mefford and Maxim Urakin, released a video analysis of what changes await US domestic and foreign policy under Trump, the video is available on the Experts Club YouTube channel – https://youtu.be/W2elNY1xczM?si=MM-QjSqGce4Tlq6T
Dnipro Aluminium Plant (Dnipro), which produces aluminum profiles, intends to allocate 64.93% or UAH 10 million of its net profit for 2023 as dividends at the rate of UAH 6,440 per ordinary registered share with a par value of UAH 1,846.1.
The relevant issue was included in the agenda of the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders scheduled for February 4 this year, which was published in the system of the National Securities and Stock Market Commission (NSSMC).
The dividend payment period is proposed to be set from February 21 to August 4, 2025.
According to the company, the remaining UAH 5.402 million of net profit (or 35.07%) is proposed to be left undistributed.
The agenda also includes the issue of shareholders’ prior consent to enter into transactions during the year with a total maximum amount of UAH 130 million, including contracts for the supply of car windows for Ukrzaliznytsia and Kyiv Electric Car Repair Plant, industrial enterprises for up to UAH 100 million, as well as contracts for the provision of banking services for UAH 30 million.
In addition, the shareholders intend to consider entering into a general agreement with the First Ukrainian International Bank for the provision of banking services with a general limit (lending/overdraft/guarantees/bill avalization) of UAH 30 million and valid until September 25, 2029.
Dnipro Aluminium Plant was registered in July 1997. It produces aluminum profiles using Italian equipment, including general-purpose profiles and TEKNO building profile systems under the license of the Italian S.L.L. SPA.
According to the Clarity Project, in 2023, the plant’s net income increased by 57% compared to 2022, with net profit increasing more than 7 times to UAH 15.4 million.
Retained earnings amounted to UAH 48.67 million.
As of the third quarter of 2024, the company’s CEO Oleh Danchenko owns 28.3323% of the company’s shares, his son Oleksandr owns 6.5035%, Mykhailo Senektutov owns 19.2531%, Ivan Sosnovsky owns 14.2949%, and Igor Levin owns 14.2305%.
The authorized capital of the company is UAH 19.95 million.
Today, Donald Trump will officially begin his term as the 47th President of the United States of America. His possible actions and strategies in the international arena were the main topic of discussion at a meeting of experts organized by the Atlantic Council and Experts Club. Brian Mefford, Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center, and Maksym Urakin, founder of the Experts Club, discussed key issues that will affect the geopolitical situation in the world, including Ukraine.
Brian Mefford noted that Trump’s first months in office will be focused on resolving domestic issues, such as the confirmation of his cabinet members in the Senate. However, the expert emphasized that Ukraine will remain an important issue in US foreign policy.
“Ukraine already has a special envoy, General Kellogg. Although his visit to Kyiv was postponed, it shows that Ukraine remains a priority. Its security is crucial for stability in the region,” Mr. Mefford said.
One of the key topics of discussion was Ukraine’s membership in NATO, which was first promised at the Bucharest Summit in 2008. According to Brian Mefford, this decision could have prevented many of the current problems.
“It was a serious mistake at the time. Russia used this uncertainty: first in Georgia and then in Ukraine. Now, because of the war on its own territory, the NATO issue for Ukraine is being postponed indefinitely. At the same time, there is a need for long-term security guarantees. Ukraine needs modern weapons, so the United States and European partners must remain reliable allies of Ukraine,” he explained.
At the same time, according to the expert, the issue of NATO funding became one of the most discussed during Trump’s first presidency, when he called on European countries to increase their defense spending.
“The United States spends more on defense than the next nine countries combined. Trump was right to insist that European countries spend at least 2% of GDP on defense. And now these requirements are being met. Increasing defense spending in Europe is in everyone’s interest. The alliance remains a powerful tool for ensuring stability,” Mr. Mefford emphasized.
According to him, the US withdrawal from NATO is currently an unlikely scenario.
Mefford suggested that the Trump administration will continue its tough economic policy towards China, including trade wars.
“China does not follow fair rules in international trade. Support for Taiwan will remain unchanged, as the United States has strategic interests in the region. Although China often demonstrates strength, its economy is on the verge of recession and its military power is exaggerated,” he explained.
The expert also touched upon the issue of sanctions against Russia, which remain an effective tool of international pressure.
“Trump imposed more sanctions against Russia during his previous term than Obama did. Their mitigation is possible only if the war ends. This is a long-term mechanism that cannot be ignored,” emphasized Mefford.
Maksym Urakin, founder of the Experts Club think tank, in turn, emphasized the importance of Donald Trump’s election for Ukraine and the world and reminded of other important elections for Ukraine and the region in 2025:
“For Ukraine, partnership with the United States is crucial. However, we need to be prepared for different scenarios and strengthen our economic resilience and diversify our foreign policy, given the very important elections this year in Germany, Poland, Romania, Moldova, and Canada. The world is becoming very dynamic in the future,” said Maxim Urakin.
The experts’ analysis showed that Trump’s policy toward Ukraine will be shaped by both internal and external factors. At the same time, Ukraine’s role in global security will only grow, and international support will remain critical for security on the European continent.
The full version of the video is available here:
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Atlantic Council, EXPERTS CLUB, NATO, SECURITY, TRUMP, UKRAINE, URAKIN, USA, Меффорд
The bitcoin rate set a new record on Monday, rising above $109 thousand before the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump.
During the election campaign, the politician publicly spoke in support of the cryptocurrency market, and traders expect him to ease regulations in this sector.
On Monday, the price of bitcoin rose to $109,241 thousand, Barron’s writes. According to CoinDesk, as of 10:00 a.m., the rate is $107.617 thousand.
Last weekend, Trump and his wife Melania launched their own cryptocurrencies on the Solana blockchain.
The politician himself introduced his TRUMP memecoin on the X social network and on his own platform, The Truth Social, on Saturday. At one point, the capitalization of this cryptocurrency rose to $15 billion, but fell below $8 billion after the launch of the MELANIA memecoin on Sunday, which diverted some of the funds of crypto investors.
The total number of TRUMP memecoins is limited to 1 billion, with 200 million tokens available initially, according to the official website. 80% of the memecoins are owned by CIC Digital, a subsidiary of the Trump
Organization, as well as Fight Fight Fight Fight LLC (corresponding to the Trump campaign slogan “Fight, fight, fight!”), in which CIC Digital is a co-owner.
CIC Digital used to sell Trump’s NFTs and campaign merchandise.
