On behalf of the top leadership of the Republic of Azerbaijan, a new batch of humanitarian aid is being urgently sent to Ukraine on Tuesday, January 20, to restore the country’s energy infrastructure.
According to the Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of Azerbaijan Yuriy Huseyev, the cargo includes: 11 powerful generators and 5 transformers; more than 27,000 meters of cable and wires; 12 low-voltage panels.
The embassy emphasized that this aid package is a very timely and extremely important contribution to the restoration of the power system and strengthening of Ukraine’s energy security after the Russian terrorist attacks.
Huseyev sincerely thanked President Ilham Aliyev, the entire leadership and people of Azerbaijan for their continued support and solidarity with the Ukrainian people.
“This once again confirms the true strategic partnership and strong friendship between our countries, as well as the readiness to support each other in difficult times and jointly bring a just peace closer,” Huseyev said.
https://interfax.com.ua/news/diplomats/1137962.html
Ukraine is ready to privatize large state-owned companies, in particular to sell 25% of the shares of NAEK Energoatom, but this requires the involvement of financial institutions and the readiness of European partners, said Alexei Sobolev, Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture.
“We must be ready for privatization, but this also requires a serious approach, on the other hand, and certain assistance from financial institutions to finance these transactions. For example, in the case of Energoatom, we are ready to sell a quarter of the company,” he said at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
At the same time, Sobolev noted that large European companies involved in nuclear energy are currently experiencing their own difficulties, which makes it difficult to acquire a stake in Ukrainian assets during or after the war. According to him, the implementation of such projects requires a joint agreement that the European Union will agree to.
The head of the ministry also stressed the need for large-scale domestic financing. To this end, he said, the government plans to focus on fighting corruption, increasing the legal sector of the economy, and collecting more taxes.
“We are expanding the legal economy and collecting more taxes. But now, if you look, Ukraine distributes about 50% of its GDP. So we are earning money and doing our job,” Sobolev added.
According to Serbian Economist, associations of truckers from Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia have announced their intention to start protest actions on January 26, 2026, by blocking freight terminals at border crossings in the direction of Schengen countries. The planned actions were reported by regional media outlets, citing statements from the relevant associations.
The carriers cite the practical application and future tightening of controls in connection with the introduction of the Entry/Exit System (EES) as the reason for their actions. According to them, professional drivers from non-EU countries will effectively be subject to the 90-day rule within a 180-day period for short stays in the Schengen area, just like ordinary tourists. Carriers warn that with the “strict” application of the rules from spring 2026, some drivers may quickly exhaust their stay limit, which will create risks for supply chains and freight traffic between the EU and the Western Balkans region.
The European Commission has stated that it is monitoring the situation and is in contact with its Western Balkan partners, while pointing out that the rules for short stays in Schengen are “clear” and that practical decisions at the external borders are the responsibility of the member states.
EES is an automated EU IT system for registering the entry and exit of non-EU citizens on short-term trips, including recording document and biometric data, with the aim of improving the efficiency of external border controls and detecting overstays. The European Commission has announced that the system is being implemented in stages, with full deployment at all border crossing points planned for April 10, 2026, when electronic records are to finally replace stamps in passports.
If blockades are implemented at freight terminals, queues and delays are possible in a number of EU-Western Balkans directions, which may affect the timing of commercial deliveries in the region and throughout Europe.
Blockade, Bosnia, CARGO, Macedonia, MONTENEGRO, Schengen, SERBIA, Trucking company
At the end of the second half of 2025, Ukraine ranked 111th out of 147 economies in the AI diffusion ranking prepared by Microsoft’s AI Economy Institute. According to the report, Ukraine’s AI Diffusion index for the second half of 2025 was 9.0%, compared to 9.1% in the first half of the year (a change of -0.1 p.p.).
For comparison, the index is significantly higher in a number of countries in the region: Poland – 28.5%, Romania – 16.2%, Moldova – 17.0% (H2 2025). At the bottom of the list, next to Ukraine, are Belarus (8.4%) and Russia (8.0%, 119th place).
The research methodology describes the indicator as an estimate of the share of the working-age population actively using AI tools, based on anonymized Microsoft telemetry and adjustments for device access; the authors also note a strong link between the spread of AI and the level of economic development.
The top ten in the ranking include the UAE (64.0%), Singapore (60.9%), Norway (46.4%), Ireland (44.6%), France (44.0%), Spain (41.8%), New Zealand (40.5%), the Netherlands (38.9%), the United Kingdom (38.9%), and Qatar (38.3%).
The bottom ten include Laos (6.7%), Armenia (6.6%), Sri Lanka (6.6%), Uzbekistan (6.3%), Rwanda (6.3%), Cuba (6.1%), Afghanistan (5.6%), Tajikistan (5.6%), Turkmenistan (5.6%), and Cambodia (5.1%).
On January 20, the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection (SSSPZZI) announced its intention to conclude a contract of compulsory civil liability insurance of owners of land vehicles (MTPL) with IC “VUSO” (Kiev)
As reported in the system of electronic procurement Prozorro, the company’s price offer amounted to UAH 289.5 thousand against UAH 850.7 thousand of the expected cost of purchasing services.
The tender was also attended by the insurance company “Guardian” with a proposal of UAH 381.2 thousand, “Arsenal Insurance” with a proposal for a hryvnia more than that of ‘Guardian’, and IC “Unica” – UAH 666.6 thousand.
Gospetsvyaz, IC VUSO, INSURANCE, Motor transport, MTPL, TENDER
Ensuring the security and maintenance of the army in Ukraine’s current composition over the next 10 years could cost up to $700 billion if Russia’s aggression continues, said Taras Kachka, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine.
“If the situation does not change, that is, if Russia’s aggressive behavior towards Europe and the world continues, it could cost up to $700 billion over the next 10 years to maintain the Ukrainian army in its current size and provide it with military personnel,” Kachka said during a panel discussion entitled “Ukraine: On the Front Lines of the Future” at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As noted by the head of the Ministry of Economy, Ecology and Agriculture, Alexei Sobolev, the $700 billion mentioned is off-budget defense spending. In addition, according to him, more than $500 billion over the next decade should be allocated directly from Ukraine’s state budget for defense needs.
Sobolev stressed that to this end, Ukraine will fight corruption, reduce the share of the shadow economy, and try to collect more taxes.
“We must develop the economy so that it can support security, which, in turn, will allow the economy to grow,” Sobolev said, emphasizing the interdependence of economic prosperity and defense capabilities.
Government representatives also added that, despite significant defense spending, Ukraine continues to implement the reforms necessary for EU accession and is working to create tools to reduce risks for private investors.
