The full integration of Ukrainian business into the European market remains a key strategic goal of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for 2024–2025. This was announced by the head of the CCI, Gennady Chizhikov, in an exclusive interview with the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.
“We are supporting the processes of certification, adaptation of logistics, labeling, and marketing materials for companies entering the EU markets. There are already specific cases where, thanks to this work, Ukrainian goods are being sold in Germany and Belgium,” Chizhikov said.
For more details, see the interview at https://interfax.com.ua/news/interview/1069297.html
Serbia is one of the few European countries towards which Ukrainians demonstrate a predominantly reserved or negative attitude. These results were obtained during a public opinion poll conducted by the sociological company Active Group in April 2025 in conjunction with the analytical center Experts Club.
According to the survey, 19.3% of Ukrainians have a negative attitude toward Serbia (15.3% — mostly negative, 3.9% — completely negative). A positive opinion was expressed by 16.4% (12.9% — mostly positive, 3.6% — completely positive). However, the largest share — 59.8% — chose a neutral position, and another 4.5% were unable to answer.
“Unlike attitudes toward Hungary or Slovakia, negative and positive attitudes toward Serbia are almost equal, with a neutral position prevailing at 60%. Serbia is balancing between the EU and Russia and China for a comfortable political and economic existence. Despite its geographical proximity and cultural affinity, Serbia’s image in Ukraine needs to be rethought and reoriented to improve bilateral relations,” emphasized Maksim Urakin, founder of Experts Club.
The presentation of the study is available at the link.
ACTIVE GROUP, DIPLOMACY, EXPERTS CLUB, Pozniy, SOCIOLOGY, URAKIN
Ukraine’s state budget revenues in April 2025 amounted to UAH 336.2 billion, including UAH 274.7 billion from the general fund, which is 65.2% and 77.7% more than in April 2024, according to preliminary data from the State Treasury published on the Ministry of Finance website on Monday.
The agency specified that value added tax (VAT) on goods produced in Ukraine in April this year brought in UAH 27.6 billion compared to UAH 23.2 billion last year, while VAT refunds increased to UAH 13.0 billion from UAH 12.0 billion.
Import VAT added another UAH 40.6 billion to the budget (UAH 39.3 billion in February 2024), corporate income tax – UAH 5.6 billion (UAH 3.2 billion), personal income tax and military tax – UAH 29.7 billion (UAH 16.8 billion), rent payments for subsoil use amounted to UAH 3.2 billion (UAH 5.3 billion). Excise tax brought in another UAH 24.2 billion (UAH 17.3 billion), import and export duties amounted to UAH 4 billion (UAH 4 billion).
Revenues from the Unified Social Tax to the Pension Fund and social insurance funds in April this year increased to UAH 54.9 billion from UAH 44.4 billion last year, the Ministry of Finance added.
It is noted that the State Tax Service exceeded the monthly revenue target by 14.3%, or UAH 10.4 billion, while the State Customs Service fell short by 8.0%, or UAH 4.6 billion.
In addition, in April 2025, the general fund of the state budget received UAH 63.9 billion from the National Bank of Ukraine, which transferred part of its profits to the state budget, and UAH 69.2 billion in international aid (grants), while in April last year these revenues amounted to UAH 38.6 billion and UAH 2.7 billion, respectively.
In total, over the first four months of this year, Ukraine’s state budget revenues amounted to UAH 1 trillion 262.4 billion, including UAH 856.3 billion in the general fund, which is 49.3% and 37.3% more than in 2024, respectively. Among other things, international assistance in the form of grants increased more than fourfold, from UAH 40.3 billion to UAH 167 billion.
The Ministry of Finance also indicates that actual government borrowing to the general fund of the state budget in January-April 2025 amounted to UAH 604.0 billion, or 104.0% of the planned amount for this period, while in the same period last year, it amounted to UAH 564.1 billion, or 96.5% of the plan.
At the same time, the placement of government bonds increased to UAH 154.0 billion from UAH 143.3 billion, while in foreign currency it even decreased to $642.0 million and EUR188.8 million from $749.5 million and EUR552.1 million last year. In addition, sales of military government bonds fell to UAH 77.3 billion from UAH 111.4 billion.
External sources provided UAH 450.0 billion (or about $10.8 billion) in the first four months of this year, compared with UAH 420.8 billion ($10 billion) in the first four months of last year.
Payments on state debt repayment for January-April 2025 increased to UAH 225.2 billion compared to UAH 146.7 billion for January-April 2024, and service payments increased to UAH 92.5 billion from UAH 64.5 billion.
As reported, the 2025 state budget was approved with revenues of UAH 2 trillion 327.1 billion, including the general fund of UAH 2 trillion 133.3 billion (excluding grants and international aid), and expenditures of UAH 3 trillion 929.1 billion, including the general fund – 3 trillion 591.6 billion UAH.
According to the Ministry of Finance, in 2024, the state budget received 3 trillion 120.5 billion UAH in revenues, which is 448 billion UAH, or 16.8%, more than the 2023 state budget. The general fund’s revenue grew by 513.9 billion UAH, or 30.9%, to 2 trillion 177 billion UAH, including international financial assistance in the form of grants amounting to 453.6 billion UAH compared to 433.9 billion UAH in 2023.
State budget expenditures in 2024 increased by UAH 464.5 billion, or 11.6%, compared to 2023, to UAH 4 trillion 479.3 billion, including the general fund increased by 15%, or UAH 454.5 billion, to UAH 3 trillion 488.8 billion.
Despite strategic partnership and large-scale support during the war, Ukrainians’ attitudes toward the US are becoming increasingly complex and ambiguous. This is evidenced by the results of a nationwide poll conducted by Active Group in conjunction with the Experts Club information and analytical center in April 2025.
According to the survey, 36.1% of Ukrainian citizens have a generally positive view of the United States (29.3% mostly positive, 6.7% completely positive). At the same time, 29.9% of respondents have a negative attitude (25.8% mostly negative, 4.1% completely negative). Another third — 31.2% — remain neutral, and 2.8% were unable to give a definite answer.
“For many Ukrainians, the US is still a guarantor of support, but it is also a country with an ambivalent role in global conflicts, which can cause mixed reactions in society,” said Experts Club founder Maxim Urakin.
“These data show that Ukrainians recognize the important role of the US in supporting our country during the war, but at the same time remain critical of Washington’s current actions in global politics,” said Alexander Pozniy, co-founder of Active Group.
The poll was part of a broader study examining Ukrainians’ international sympathies and antipathies in the context of contemporary geopolitics.
The study can be found at the link.
ACTIVE GROUP, DIPLOMACY, EXPERTS CLUB, Pozniy, SOCIOLOGY, URAKIN
The Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is advocating the creation of military risk insurance mechanisms for exporters and investors. As Chamber President Gennady Chizhikov said in an exclusive interview with the Interfax-Ukraine news agency, this will stimulate the return of international capital to the Ukrainian economy.
“This is critically important in times of instability. Investors need to see predictability and have guarantees that their assets will be protected. We are putting together proposals for the government and international partners,” he said.
For more details, see the interview at https://interfax.com.ua/news/interview/1069297.html
OTP Bank (Kyiv) received UAH 1.19 billion in net profit in January-March 2025, which is 24% or UAH 0.37 billion less than in the first quarter of 2024.
According to the bank’s financial statements for the first quarter of 2025, pre-tax profit amounted to UAH 1.59 billion, which is 23.7%, or UAH 0.49 billion, less than in the same period of 2024.
OTP’s net interest income for the reporting period increased by 5.5% to UAH 2.26 billion, while net commission income increased by 10.7% to UAH 0.27 billion.
It is noted that in the first quarter of 2025, the bank’s profit from foreign currency transactions decreased by 21.4% to UAH 0.05 billion, while profit from foreign currency revaluation amounted to UAH 0.25 billion, compared to a loss of UAH 0.14 billion in the first quarter of 2024.
At the same time, in January-March this year, OTP recorded a net loss from transactions with financial instruments at fair value and an impairment loss of UAH 0.28 billion and UAH 0.15 billion, respectively, while in January-March last year, profits from these two items amounted to UAH 0.20 billion and UAH 0.28 billion, respectively.
The bank’s expenses for employee compensation increased by 12.5% to UAH 0.51 billion, while other operating and administrative expenses increased by 8.8% to UAH 0.16 billion.
According to the report, OTP increased its loans and advances to banks from UAH 10.8 billion to UAH 24.22 billion during the reporting period, while investments in securities decreased from UAH 62.37 billion to UAH 50.73 billion. Loans and advances to customers increased by 3.6% and amounted to UAH 32.41 billion.
OTP’s total assets since the beginning of the year increased by 4.7%, or UAH 5.34 billion, to UAH 119.25 billion, while liabilities increased by 4.2%, or UAH 3.93 billion, to UAH 93.20 billion.
Thanks to profitable operations, the bank’s equity increased by 6.8%, or UAH 1.4 billion, to UAH 22.01 billion in the first three months of this year, including retained earnings of UAH 13.39 billion.
According to the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU), as of early February 2025, OTP Bank ranked among the top 10 leaders in terms of total assets among 61 banks, with UAH 121.97 billion.
