In March 2026, Ukrainians’ attitudes toward Latvia were characterized by a high level of positive perception and a low proportion of negative assessments. According to the results of a survey conducted in March 2026 by the research company Active Group in collaboration with the Experts Club information and analytical center, a total of 71.6% of respondents expressed a positive attitude toward this country, which is only slightly less than in August 2025 (72.7%). At the same time, the share of negative assessments has more than halved—from 5.3% to 2.6%—indicating a further strengthening of the overall positive perception.
The breakdown of responses shows a clear dominance of positive assessments. The share of those who have a completely positive attitude toward Latvia stands at 42.4%, while another 29.1% selected the “mostly positive” option. Thus, it is the category of unconditionally positive perception that forms the foundation of the country’s image in Ukrainian society. A neutral attitude was reported by 24.5% of respondents, which is a relatively low figure for international studies of this type.
Negative assessments remain marginal. Only 1.6% of respondents expressed a mostly negative attitude, and another 0.9%—a completely negative one. At the same time, the share of those who could not decide on an answer is 1.4%, which also confirms the established and stable nature of public opinion regarding Latvia.
The dynamics of change over the past six months reveal an interesting trend. A slight decrease in the share of positive responses is accompanied by an even more significant reduction in negative assessments. This means that a portion of respondents who previously held a critical stance have shifted to either a neutral or positive stance, which generally improves the overall balance of perceptions of the country.
Compared to other European Union member states, Latvia remains among the countries with the highest levels of trust and favorability among Ukrainians. This result can be explained by a combination of political support for Ukraine, an active stance in international organizations, and clear communication at the level of state policy.
At the same time, a relatively significant share of neutral responses (24.5%) indicates that there remains potential for further strengthening the country’s image. For some Ukrainians, Latvia is not yet a country with a sufficiently deep informational or economic presence, which opens opportunities for strengthening contacts in the spheres of business, culture, and humanitarian cooperation.
“Ukrainians generally distinguish very well between countries that demonstrate consistent support for Ukraine. At the same time, the level of positive attitude is shaped not only by political statements but also by concrete actions that people can feel. That is why even small countries can have a very strong positive image,” noted Oleksandr Pozniy, director of the research company Active Group.
Thus, the survey results confirm that Latvia has established itself in Ukrainian public perception as a reliable and friendly partner. A high level of positive sentiment with minimal negativity creates favorable conditions for the further development of bilateral relations, particularly in the areas of the economy, security, and humanitarian cooperation.
According to a study conducted by the Experts Club information and analytical center based on data from the State Customs Service, Latvia ranks 35th in total trade volume of goods with Ukraine, with a figure of $522.7 million. At the same time, Ukraine has a positive bilateral trade balance, as exports of Ukrainian goods exceed imports from Latvia.
The study was presented at the Interfax-Ukraine press center; the video can be viewed on the agency’s YouTube channel. The full version of the study can be found at this link on the Experts Club analytical center’s website.
ACTIVE GROUP, EXPERTS CLUB, LATVIA, Pozniy, SOCIOLOGY, SURVEY, UKRAINE, URAKIN
The cost of agricultural production in Ukraine could increase by 20% by the end of 2026, which is double previous expectations, said Oleg Khomenko, CEO of the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UABC), during the Center for Economic Strategy’s (CES) economic review on Friday.
“The forecast of a 5–10% increase in costs is too optimistic a scenario. In fact, we are preparing for a 20% increase. The main factors are the surge in diesel and gas prices. The latter is critical not only for grain drying but also for fertilizer costs,” he emphasized.
Khomenko explained that farmers began the planting season using reserves from last year, having purchased fuel and fertilizers at old prices. However, to complete field work, they will have to purchase additional resources at high market prices, which will “eat into” the farms’ financial reserves.
The head of the UAC identified the shortage of mineral fertilizers as a separate problem. Due to the war, domestic production has halved—to 1 million tons per year—which has already caused a shortage of ammonium nitrate before the start of the season.
“Less fertilizer is a direct path to lower yields. Right now, the situation is somewhat mitigated by good soil moisture reserves, but if the summer is dry, especially in the south, weather risks will only amplify the impact of cutting corners on technology,” added the association’s CEO.
Touching on the topic of global prices, Khomenko noted that Ukraine, despite its large export volumes, is not a “game-changer.” The domestic costs of Ukrainian farmers do not influence global prices, so it will be difficult for farmers to pass on increased production costs to buyers. In his opinion, countries where governments provide compensation or eliminate excise taxes for farmers, as is practiced in the EU, will have a competitive advantage.
As previously reported, CES analysts predicted that rising logistics and fuel costs could add up to 10% to the final price of food.
The Ukrainian leasing company FinWin Financial Company LLC (TM FINWIN, Kyiv), owned by brothers Andriy and Oleksandr Shpyg of the LIZARD group, has completed the debut placement of its first issue of Series A corporate bonds in the amount of UAH 60 million.
“Under the terms of the agreement, 100% of the issue was effectively sold on the external market to professional investors,” – according to a statement on the company’s website.
It is noted that the investment company ICU played a key role in the debut bond offering, providing professional support for the issuer’s entry into the capital market, helping to effectively present the investment story to the external market, and effectively securing the bulk of the placement.
Saad Legal served as legal counsel for the bond issue—a specialized law firm focused on corporate law, securities trading, and the Ukrainian stock market.
“FinVin” also thanked its insurance partners, whose participation in the placement, according to the company, served as an additional positive signal to the market.
According to the statement, the company is directing all funds raised from the bond placement toward financing leasing projects for businesses. This includes machinery, equipment, transportation, energy solutions, and other assets.
Ruslan Kilmukhametov, head of the debt securities market division at ICU, added on Facebook that the FinVin bond issue was innovative, as the issuer, together with Saad Legal, utilized a new opportunity created by the National Securities and Stock Market Commission of Ukraine (NSSMC) in the latest revision of the regulations on corporate bond issuance.
“Namely, the ability to transfer bonds not sold during placement to an ‘for disposal’ account. This allowed us to resolve a significant problem of the past two decades, when issuers had to resort to so-called ‘technical placements.’ We are analyzing this experience and hope that future placements will proceed more smoothly,” noted Kilmukhametov.
According to information on the NSSMC website, it registered the debut issue of “FinVin” bonds with a total par value of UAH 60 million in August 2025, and the final certificate was issued in December. The par value of the bond is UAH 1,000.
In 2025, FinVin increased its revenue 20.5-fold—to UAH 663.25 million—and reported a net profit of UAH 3.30 million, compared to UAH 0.03 million a year earlier. The company’s registered capital at the end of last year was 20.10 million UAH, additional capital was 30 million UAH, and assets grew 14-fold during the year to 441.17 million UAH.
The LIZARD Group also includes the River Mall and Blockbuster Mall shopping and entertainment centers, the “Milk Alliance” group of companies, the “Planeta Kino” cinema chain and the Kidlandia entertainment center, Novoodessky Elevator LLC, the industrial and construction company “StoneLight,” and the IT company IWIS.
Starting April 25, Ukrzaliznytsia will begin selling tickets for “luxury” class cars based on new pricing factors—ticket prices will be adjusted according to four factors.
As reported on Ukrzaliznytsia’s Telegram channel on Saturday, these changes will apply exclusively to travel in SV (luxury) and first-class cars on domestic Intercity trains.
“Dynamic pricing for tickets in the premium segment—the relevant order has passed public review and is taking effect. Ticket sales based on the new coefficients will begin on April 25. The indexation of fares in SV (luxury) cars on international trains has also been approved,” according to a statement from Ukrzaliznytsia.
To improve seat availability—which is especially important during the peak season, which is just around the corner—ticket prices in the premium segment will be flexibly adjusted based on four factors:
1. Seasonality. During periods when trains are only 70–80% full, tickets will be cheaper. And during peak months, such as August, when demand is highest, the price will be higher. In total, there will be 16 seasonality zones reflecting the current calendar of holidays, vacations, etc. This will help passengers choose more cost-effective travel times, improve seat availability during peak periods, and increase train occupancy during off-peak periods.
2. Day of the week. The lowest prices will be on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and the highest when the travel date falls on Fridays and Sundays, when demand is highest. Passengers who can change their travel date will have an additional incentive to do so, and their seats will become available for others on the most popular days.
3. Advance Purchase. The number of days before the train’s departure for which a ticket is purchased. Today, nearly 30% of passengers buy tickets on the day of travel or two days before. The new approach will encourage planning trips in advance and buying tickets at a better price. This will allow for the most efficient use of rolling stock.
4. Occupancy. If a train is 90–100% full, the price may be higher. But if there are still empty seats before departure, the price will decrease. This will allow passengers who would otherwise choose a different travel class to travel in first class or SV at a more affordable price. Implementing this mechanism requires further development of IT systems and will be implemented separately.
According to Open4business, the Caribbean nation of Saint Lucia has seen a sharp increase in interest in its citizenship by investment program. In the 2023/2024 fiscal year, 5,642 applications were submitted under the Citizenship by Investment Program (CIP), which is 424% more than the previous year, when there were 1,076. This is stated in the program’s official statistics and annual report.
According to the report, the number of approved applications rose to 1,171 compared to 544 the previous year, while the number of rejections was 77 compared to 8 in the prior period. At the same time, the volume of applications in a single fiscal year exceeded the cumulative total of all previous years of the program’s operation, which was estimated at 2,768 applications over seven years.
The financial impact on the country was also significant. Program revenues reached 240.3 million East Caribbean dollars, or approximately $89 million, which is nearly four times higher than the previous year’s level. The bulk of the revenue came from due diligence fees and administrative charges, primarily related to real estate investments.
Thus, Saint Lucia has become one of the most dynamic players in the investment citizenship market in the Caribbean. At the same time, such a sharp surge may heighten scrutiny of the quality of due diligence, application processing times, and the sustainability of the model itself, especially given that certain Western countries have been taking a tougher stance on “passport-for-investment” programs in recent years. This conclusion is based on official program statistics and the market context described by industry publications.
Saint Lucia is an island nation in the eastern Caribbean and a member of the British Commonwealth. The country uses the East Caribbean dollar, and its economy relies primarily on tourism, real estate, and external services. The citizenship-by-investment program has been in effect here since 2015 and has become one of the tools for attracting capital to state funds and approved development projects.
On April 16, the municipal enterprise “Vinnytsia Transport Company” announced a tender for the procurement of liability insurance services for carriers covering harm caused to the life and health of passengers and damage to luggage during transportation by road (with more than 18 passengers) and on urban electric transport.
According to a notice on the Prozorro e-procurement system, the estimated cost of the services is 3.109 million UAH.
The deadline for submitting bids is April 24.
