The State Fund for Youth Housing Construction (Derzhmolodzhytlo) has provided housing for 2,240 families during the period of housing programs for internally displaced persons (IDPs), and plans to solve the housing issue of about 1,400 more families in 2025, the press service of Derzhmolodzhytlo told Interfax-Ukraine.
“In total, as of February 6, 2025 (and since 2017, when IDPs appeared as a separate category in state and local housing programs – IF-U), the State Youth Housing Agency has provided housing for 2,240 IDP families. In particular, 996 IDP families received a loan program funded by a grant from the German government through KfW Development Bank for a total of UAH 1.627 billion,” said Mykola Marchuk, Chairman of the Board of the State Agency for Housing and Urban Development.
In addition, 890 IDP families received loans under the program of providing citizens with affordable housing at the expense of the state budget, which was financed in 2017-2019. Another 138 families received government loans for IDPs and ATO (JFO) participants to purchase housing. Active lending took place in 2019. Today, new loans are provided through the repayment of previously issued loans. In addition, 110 families received loans through local targeted programs, and 106 families received loans at the expense of the authorized capital of the State Agency for Housing and Urban Development.
According to the agency, the active request is many times higher than the assistance provided. In particular, only for the program of providing soft loans at the expense of grant funds from the German government through KfW (CMU Resolution No. 451 of April 28, 2021), 30.5 thousand candidates were registered as of January 1, 2025, and as of February 1, 34.4 thousand candidates were registered in the register.
The grant program provides for the most favorable conditions for IDPs in Ukraine: a minimum down payment of 6%, a fixed loan rate of 3%, and a loan term of up to 30 years or until the borrower reaches retirement age. The loan object may be housing on the secondary market not older than 50 years from the date of commissioning. A family of one or two people can buy a 52.5-square-meter home and an additional 21.5 square meters for each additional family member.
As part of the grant agreement, the German government provided Ukraine with EUR 42.5 million in two tranches (EUR 25.5 million and EUR 17 million) on a non-refundable basis. Under this program, the State Agency for Youth and Housing has already selected 20 participants. In the coming days, the agency will issue the 1000th loan under this program.
“For 2025, the State Budget envisages an increase in the authorized capital of the State Agency for Housing and Urban Development by UAH 24 million. We also expect UAH 75 million to be repaid by borrowers from previously issued loans. And we expect that programs funded by local governments will be financed at the level of UAH 240 million this year. We will use these funds to meet the housing needs of young people and partially to lend to IDPs and combatants. We are working to preserve and continue the joint project with Germany,” Marchuk said.
He reminded that on January 31, 2025, the Council of Europe Development Bank (EBRD) decided to allocate a loan of EUR 50 million for a mortgage program for Ukrainian IDPs through the State Agency for Youth and Housing.
“Thanks to the EBRD funding, a new stage of the IDP program will be launched in the near future on terms completely similar to those of the program with KfW. According to estimates, EBRD funding will allow about 1.1 thousand IDP families to purchase housing this year, and state and local programs will help about 300 more,” Marchuk said.
In January 2025, Ukraine exported 8.1 thousand tons of dairy products, which is 12% more than in December 2024, and 23% more than in January 2024, the Association of Milk Producers (AMP) reported, citing data from the State Statistics Service.
The industry association noted that the main export categories were milk and cream, condensed – 29%, milk and cream, not condensed – 21%, whey – 18% and cheeses – 12%.
In January 2025, compared to December 2024, Ukraine increased natural exports of butter to 749 tons (+71%), ice cream to 490 tons (+37%), condensed milk and cream to 2.33 thousand tons (+16%), whey to 1.44 thousand tons (+12%), butter to 422 tons (+10%) and cheese to 935 tons (+9%). However, over the past month, Ukrainian exporters have reduced shipments of milk and cream, not condensed to 1.72 thousand tons (-9%) and did not supply casein to foreign markets.
The AMP noted that January exports in 2025 increased compared to January 2024 for the following products: butter (+198%), ice cream (+77%), whey (+55%), cheeses (+52%), butter (+42%), and condensed milk and cream (+38%). Ukrainian exporters shipped milk and cream, not condensed, by 32% less than last year.
AVM analyst Giorgi Kukhaleshvili suggested that Ukrainian companies stepped up export activity in January 2025, taking advantage of high prices for commodities in the world. In particular, the European market was in demand for large wholesale quantities of butter. Consequently, demand for butter, cheese, and milk powder increased in January on export markets, likely due to preparations for the Chinese New Year and Ramadan.
At the same time, in January 2025, Ukraine imported 5.02 thousand tons of dairy products, which is 34% less than in December and 6% less than in January 2024. Compared to December 2024, Ukraine increased imports of whey to 628 tons (+17%), butter to 615 tons (+165%) and ice cream to 51 tons (+53%), the AMP summarized.
The Ministry of Finance of Ukraine has reminded that as of January 1 of the reporting year 2025, an updated list of states (territories) for transfer pricing purposes came into force.
The Ministry notes that this is provided for by Law No. 3813-IX, adopted on June 18, 2024, on the peculiarities of tax administration during martial law for taxpayers with a high level of voluntary compliance with tax legislation. The list itself was approved by Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 1505 of December 27, 2024.
It is noted that when determining the list of states for transfer pricing purposes, the Government of Ukraine takes into account the following criteria states (territories) included in the list of offshore zones approved by the Cabinet of Ministers; states (territories) included in the list of states (jurisdictions) that do not implement or improperly implement the FATF recommendations; states (territories) whose competent authorities, based on the results of two consecutive reporting (tax) periods (years), do not ensure timely and complete exchange of information on tax policy with taxpayers, as well as do not exchange data on tax risks.
The Ministry of Finance believes that these changes are important for Ukrainian business, as they relate to the effective management of transfer pricing risks to ensure the financial stability of companies.
As reported, the updated list of states (territories) contains 46 states (territories) instead of 78. The list includes countries from the list of offshore zones approved by the government and the FATF blacklist. FATF, as well as states (territories) that do not ensure timely and complete exchange of tax and financial information.
We are talking about 9 states and territories: American Samoa, Guam, the DPRK, Myanmar, Namibia, the Netherlands Antilles, Alderney, Trinidad and Tobago, and Fiji.
According to the resolution, 41 countries or territories were removed from the list, including: Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Burundi, Cape Verde, Cape Verde, China Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (EU), Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ireland, the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands of the Kingdom of Spain, Cuba, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Kyrgyzstan, Cyprus, the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija of the Republic of Serbia, Cuba, Curacao, Laos, Lebanon, Mauritius, and Qatar.
The list also includes the Macao Special Administrative Region of China, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the Federated Territory of Labuan Malaysia, Morocco, Martinique, and the Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Montenegro, Oman, Paraguay, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Autonomous Region of Madeira of the Portuguese Republic, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Sudan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates.
Source: http://relocation.com.ua/ministry-of-finance-updated/
The US wants to trade further military and financial aid to Ukraine for access to the country’s vast rare earth reserves. But some might already be under Russian control, and the EU is moving in for its share, too.
US President Donald Trump has placed new conditions on further financial and military aid to Ukraine.
On Monday, he told reporters that Washington would only continue aiding Ukraine in warding off Russian aggression in exchange for rare earth minerals.
Kyiv had already indicated it would be willing to trade access to these valuable natural resources for Western support. In fact, it was one of the points Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had outlined in the “victory plan” that he presented late last year when it was still unclear who would occupy the White House in 2025.
At the time, Zelenskyy had been in talks with Trump, and had promised any country willing to support Kyiv that there would be “returns on investments” made in his country. While presenting his plan, he also mentioned Ukraine’s rich natural resources, which amounted to “trillions of US dollars’ worth of vitally important metals.”
Indispensable in modern industries
Rare earth minerals are needed to produce many modern devices, such as smartphones, electric vehicles, and other high-tech products. They are indispensable in weapons manufacturing and the aerospace industry.
China currently controls the lion’s share of industrially used rare earth minerals worldwide. According to a recent report
by the World Economic Forum, this covers about 40% of the European Union’s (EU) needs for these resources. Other key providers include Australia, South Africa, Canada and Brazil.
To reduce their dependency on China, the US and EU have been working together for years on expanding and increasing the production of vital resources in other countries. These metals, include, above all, uranium, titanium, lithium, graphite, nickel, and aluminum.
Last year, a study
by the NATO Energy Security Center of Excellence found that the market for critical minerals “has doubled to over $320 billion [€308.7 billion] in the last five years and is foreseen to double again in the next five.”
Enormous wealth of critical minerals
The NATO experts also noted that “the strategic importance of Ukraine’s critical materials cannot be overstated,” arguing that the country could become a key supplier of rare earth minerals, including titanium, lithium, beryllium, manganese, gallium, uranium, zirconium, graphite, apatite, fluorite and nickel. These vast reserves could “significantly contribute to the global supply chain for many, if not all,” prominent industries.
Ukraine’s titanium reserves are thought to be Europe’s largest, making some 7% of global reserves. It’s one of the few countries mining titanium, which is a key resource for the aerospace, medical, automotive and marine industries, for example.
Estimated at around 500,000 tons, Ukraine also holds some of Europe’s largest known lithium reserves. This material is critical for producing batteries, ceramics, and glass.
Ukraine is also the world’s fifth-largest producer of gallium, which is used for producing semiconductors and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Finally, Ukraine is a critical supplier of neon gas, required for producing semiconductors.
The World Economic Forum report further found that the European Commission had identified Ukraine as a potential supplier for over 20 critical raw materials. The body recommended that Europe continue to encourage Ukraine to export these materials, and concluded that Ukraine’s accession to the EU could strengthen the European economy.
Ukraine an important part of the EU resource strategy
Kyiv seems to be well aware of its key position as a potential global supplier of critical minerals needed for key industries. At a conference on strategic resources, the former Ukrainian infrastructure minister an co-founder of the investment think tank We Build Ukraine, Oleksandr Kubrakov, noted that, “we own crucial resources, we are strategically well-positioned within the EU context, our logistical infrastructure is well-developed and we are highly competent in discovering and exploiting resources.”
But critics say that optimal conditions for mining critical minerals would require governmental oversight, a stable regulatory framework, an economically tolerable tax policy, and investments. It’s uncertain if the US, should it gain access to some of Ukraine’s critical natural resources, would even be able to initiate such structural change.
Meanwhile, authorities in Kyiv are already reporting on first steps and concrete plans: “We are currently making data on these minerals public and have worked out many regulatory and legal measures,” Olena Kramarenko, Ukraine’s deputy minister of environmental protection said.
She added that the strategic goal was to “integrate Ukraine into the EU’s resource strategy.”
Some reserves occupied by Russia
The largest hurdle to exploiting rare earth minerals in Ukraine remains Russia’s war of aggression. There are no reliable numbers available of just how many rare mineral reserves are under Russian control, or dangerously near front lines.
Ukrainian experts told DW they believe that Russia could be trying to gain control over at least two lithium reserves. Of the four known across Ukraine, only two are sure to be under Ukrainian control.
The territories of Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk, where the other two reserves are located, are currently under Russian occupation.
https://www.dw.com/en/ukraines-rare-earths-are-key-to-its-bargaining-power/a-71531476
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) plans to invest at least EUR1.5 billion ($1.56 billion) this year to support Ukraine’s economy and businesses during the war, Reuters wrote on Thursday, citing the bank’s president Odile Renault-Basso.
She said the bank will focus on Ukraine’s private sector, especially the energy sector after repeated Russian attacks on the power grid and other infrastructure. “Our plan is to continue this level of investment. At a minimum, we are aiming for 1.5 billion euros of investment, but if we can do more…, we will,” Reno-Basso told reporters.
She also said that the bank’s activities are demand-driven and the EBRD is ready to increase its investments in Ukraine to about EUR3 billion a year after the war ends.
Renaud-Basso added that Ukraine’s energy sector was a key priority this year and also in the future, as projects to modernize the sector and develop renewable energy could drive private investment after the end of the war.
“There is a lot of potential, so this will generate a lot of interest from foreign investors and it will generate a lot of activity in the country – it will really drive the growth dynamics,” she said.
Renault-Basso reportedly met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other officials during her visit to Kiev on Thursday. They discussed banking, logistics, and support for Ukrainians.
Since the start of the full-scale invasion, the EBRD has disbursed EUR6.2 billion to Ukraine, notably EUR2.4 billion last year.
Economic development forecasts for the Netherlands for 2025 point to moderate growth, driven by domestic demand and investment.
According to the forecasts of the Central Planning Bureau of the Netherlands (CPB), after an expected modest economic growth of 0.6% in 2024, the country’s GDP could increase by 1.6% in 2025.
According to the Central Bank of the Netherlands (DNB), inflation in the country in 2025 is projected at around 3% per year, which is higher than the eurozone average.
In 2025, the Dutch government plans revenues of €425.1 billion and expenditures of €457 billion, which will lead to a budget deficit of about 2.5% of GDP, which is in line with European Union standards.
The Netherlands’ exports, which are a key driver of the economy, are expected to reach €70.5 billion in 2025.
According to forecasts, the growth of housing prices in the Netherlands will slow down from 13% in 2024 to 8-10% in 2025 and 6-8% in 2026.
Economic growth in the Netherlands may be at risk if trade conflicts escalate, especially between the United States and the European Union. The possible imposition of high import duties and retaliatory measures could negatively affect the country’s exports and investments.
In general, the outlook for the Dutch economy in 2025 remains positive, but the country should be prepared for possible external challenges and adapt its policies to the changing global economic situation.
Source: http://relocation.com.ua/forecast-economic-development-neder/
