The first Central Asia-Republic of Korea Summit will be held in Seoul on September 16-17, 2026.
The summit is expected to be attended by the heads of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.
The main goal of the summit is to expand diplomatic horizons and qualitatively strengthen ties between Seoul and the region. The parties will pay special attention to diversification of supply chains and economic security, which is critical in the current geopolitical environment.
The new format of the dialogue is intended to move cooperation from the plane of individual projects to the plane of systemic multilateral interaction, covering energy, technology, and logistics.
The World Korea writes that the government of the Republic of Korea intends to use the upcoming summit as an opportunity to develop cooperation in the following areas:
– Partnership in critical minerals and energy;
– Industrial and digital transformation;
– Transportation and logistics ties;
– Cooperation in defense and security;
– Cooperation in Agriculture, Climate and Health.
Ukrnafta JSC became one of the largest importers of diesel fuel in January 2026 and ranked among the top two in terms of volume, the company reported on Monday.
“The state-owned company imported 68,000 tons of Arctic and winter diesel fuel into Ukraine, which is almost 15% of the total volume of imports during this period,” Ukrnafta said.
Most of the fuel was purchased from the Polish state-owned concern Orlen, with purchases also made from Romania’s OMV Petrom and Lithuania.
“The company is working to provide customers with high-quality Euro-5 fuel, so in January it focused on purchasing Arctic diesel, which is recommended for use in extremely low temperatures,” said Ukrnafta CEO Bohdan Kukura.
According to the consulting group A-95, a total of 455,600 tons of fuel were imported into Ukraine in January 2026, which is 44% more than in the same period last year.
As reported, according to the top 10 A-95’s top 10 largest importers of light petroleum products in 2025, Ukrnafta ranked seventh with an annual volume of 424,000 tons, increasing its imports by 288% (109,200 tons) compared to 2024.
JSC Ukrnafta is Ukraine’s largest oil production company and operates the largest national network of gas stations, UKRNAFTA. The company has 1,807 oil and 164 gas production wells on its balance sheet.
In 2024, the company entered into asset management with Glusco. In 2025, it completed an agreement with Shell Overseas Investments BV to purchase the Shell network in Ukraine. In total, it operates 663 gas stations.
The company is implementing a comprehensive program to restore operations and update the format of its network of gas stations. Since February 2023, it has been issuing its own fuel vouchers and NAFTA cards, which are sold to legal entities and individuals through Ukrnafta-Postach LLC.
The largest shareholder of Ukrnafta is Naftogaz of Ukraine with a 50%+1 share. In November 2022, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine decided to transfer the company’s corporate rights, which were previously owned by private owners, to the state, and they are now managed by the Ministry of Defense.
Walnut exports from Ukraine in 2025 fell by 90% compared to the average annual figures for the previous five years, to $9.2 million, according to Gennady Yudin, president of the Ukrainian Nut Association.
“The export security regime introduced in December 2024 established additional control requirements and minimum export prices for shelled and unshelled nuts. This measure effectively halted exports through official channels: shipments of shelled nuts fell by 97% in 2025, and in-shell nuts by 76%,” he wrote on Facebook.
According to the expert, Ukraine is rapidly losing its global leadership in walnut exports, despite its harvest and strategic logistical position. In 2020-2024, Ukraine exported more than 160,000 tons of walnuts worth $461.4 million (an average of $92.2 million per year – IF-U), which accounted for one-third of the horticultural sector’s total foreign exchange earnings. However, in 2025, against the backdrop of record walnut imports to the EU (over EUR 1 billion), Ukraine’s share amounted to only EUR 6.8 million.
At the same time, Ukraine lost its position in the Georgian market, where it had previously been one of the three largest suppliers. In 2025, nut imports from Ukraine to this country practically ceased, while China ($7.9 million) and Uzbekistan ($4.2 million) became the main players.
The head of the association emphasized that while global demand is growing, in particular, consumption in the EU has increased by 75% over the decade, the Ukrainian industry is becoming unprofitable.
Yudin pointed out the need for immediate adjustment of regulatory legislation regarding the preparation of primary documentation for nuts harvested in households. Since more than 90% of the gross walnut harvest in Ukraine comes from private plots, forest belts, and field plantations, the lack of a transparent and simplified mechanism for legalizing such purchases creates “bottlenecks” for official exporters.
The Ukrainian Nut Association emphasized that without solving this problem, legal businesses lose profitability, which reduces the investment attractiveness of the industry and allows new players in the nut market to displace Ukraine from the global market.
Ten high-power generators donated by the Italian Civil Protection Department have arrived in Ukraine as part of an agreement between Presidents Giorgia Meloni and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to the Facebook page of the Italian Embassy in Ukraine.
“As with the more than 300 boilers, Italy continues to support the Ukrainian people with concrete, coordinated assistance aimed at protecting the most vulnerable segments of the population. In winter, under constant pressure on civilian infrastructure, the ability to maintain a constant power supply can be crucial for people’s safety and dignity,” said Italian Ambassador Carlo Formosa.
It is reported that the generators, with a total capacity of 1,500 kVA, are mounted on wheels, allowing them to be quickly deployed and moved according to operational needs.
“Italy continues to make efforts to ensure the uninterrupted functioning of essential services for the Ukrainian population in conditions where Russian attacks continue and winter temperatures remain extremely low,” the embassy stressed.
The Umanpivo brewery (Cherkasy region) has expanded its logistics network and opened a new 2,000 sq m branch in Bila Tserkva, according to the company’s press service.
According to the report, this is the company’s third representative office in Ukraine after facilities in Uman and Vinnytsia. The company purchased a ready-made warehouse for the branch, which it converted to suit the specifics of the business. The new unit includes offices, a warehouse, and its own vehicle fleet. Five brand stores have already begun operating in Bila Tserkva.
The branch will provide direct deliveries to retail outlets in the region from Uman to Kyiv, including the city of Bila Tserkva itself, satellite cities, and surrounding areas.
“Our goal is to provide consumers with a full range of products. The branch gives retail outlets the opportunity to work directly without intermediaries,” said Igor Kisel, CEO of Umanpivo.
Umanpivo LLC was founded in 1998 in Uman (Cherkasy region). The company specializes in the production of beer, malt, cider, and non-alcoholic beverages, as well as the cultivation of grain and spice crops. The manufacturer’s range includes more than 40 types of beverages, including classic beer and experimental craft varieties such as tomato beer and “Spicy Mango” flavored beer, as well as ciders and lemonades.
According to Opendatabot, the brewery incurred a net loss of UAH 16.5 million in 2024, with revenues of UAH 998.5 million. Its debt obligations amount to UAH 567.3 million, while its assets are estimated at UAH 858.8 million. Revenue growth to UAH 1.45 billion was forecast for 2025. The company’s authorized capital is UAH 300 million.
The beneficiaries of the company are Ihor Kysil (58%) and Maria Kysil (42%).
Wheat exports from Ukraine in the 2025-2026 marketing year (MY, July-June) are expected to reach 17.6 million tons, which is 11.5% more than in the previous season, according to the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UAC).
The association estimates the gross harvest for the current season at 23.1 million tons, which is 2.9% more than in 2024/2025 MY.
According to analysts, the increase in production was made possible by the expansion of cultivated areas to 5.1 million hectares (by 4.8%), which offset the decline in average yield to 4.5 tons/hectare due to unfavorable weather conditions. At the same time, the current harvest is still 6.2% below the average for the last five years.
The UACB predicts that the increase in harvest will allow for an increase in shipments after a drop in exports in the previous season to 15.8 million tons. Experts cite the stable operation of Ukraine’s own sea route as the main factor in the recovery.
At the same time, domestic demand in Ukraine continues to decline due to the temporary occupation of territories and population migration. Total wheat consumption in 2025/2026 MY is forecast at 6.2 million tons, of which 3.7 million tons will be used for food, 1.5 million tons for feed, and 825,000 tons for seeds.
“The Ukrainian wheat market is demonstrating adaptability. Despite demographic challenges and weather conditions, farmers are managing to increase their acreage. Domestic needs are fully met, and the successful operation of export routes allows for the restoration of positive supply dynamics and guarantees Ukraine’s stable presence in key markets in Europe, Africa, and Asia,” the UCAAB concluded.
