According to the Relocation project, five Eastern Caribbean nations—Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Saint Kitts and Nevis—plan to send a joint delegation to Brussels for negotiations on the future of citizenship-by-investment (CBI) programs, Prian reports, citing Investment Migration Insider.
Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit stated that the negotiations are scheduled to take place toward the end of September 2026, although the exact date of the meeting has not yet been agreed upon. The delegation expects to hold consultations with the leadership of the European Commission, the European Council, and the European External Action Service.
The decision to launch the joint mission was made on July 10 at a meeting of leaders from the Eastern Caribbean at Roseau, Dominica. In an official statement, the meeting participants emphasized the economic importance of investment citizenship programs for small island states and the need to take into account their dependence on CBI-related revenues.
The negotiations are taking place against the backdrop of the European Union’s hardline stance on such programs. As previously reported, on June 25, European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner sent a letter to Antigua and Barbuda proposing that the investment citizenship program be phased out by June 1, 2028, with a 24-month transition period. According to industry sources, similar demands were also sent to four other countries.
The reason for the pressure from Brussels is primarily linked to visa-free access for citizens of these countries to the Schengen Area. The updated EU mechanism allows for the existence of a program that grants citizenship in exchange for investment—without the applicant having a substantial connection to the country—to be considered grounds for suspending the visa-free regime. EU documents also emphasize the need to strengthen vetting of applicants and to phase out such schemes.
As early as September, Caribbean states are to strengthen vetting of candidates and completely exclude individuals subject to EU sanctions from these programs. At the same time, the countries are working to establish a single regional supervisory body—Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority (ECCIRA). The decision to form a common regulator was adopted by five states back in 2025.
ECCIRA is expected to set common standards for vetting investors, monitor the activities of national programs, and facilitate the exchange of information between countries. The regulator’s headquarters is to be located in Grenada.
Citizenship-by-investment programs remain an important source of revenue for small Caribbean economies. Foreigners can obtain citizenship after making a specified contribution to a government fund or investing in approved projects, particularly in real estate. As of 2026, all five programs continue to accept applications, and the minimum investment threshold starts at approximately $200,000, although specific requirements vary by country.
Caribbean governments intend to persuade the EU not to abruptly terminate the programs and are proposing that the EU take into account their role in financing infrastructure, climate projects, education, healthcare, and recovery from natural disasters.
According to Skerrit, the goal of the upcoming mission is to work with Brussels to find “practical and mutually beneficial solutions” that will allow for both the EU’s security requirements and the interests of small island economies to be taken into account.
Kyiv region became the largest among the regional new housing construction markets specified by the State Statistics Service in January-June 2026, with 599.3 thousand sq. m, while 437.9 thousand sq. m were declared in Kyiv.
According to the Experts Club information and analytical center, around 9.1 thousand apartments were declared at the construction commencement stage in Kyiv region. In annual terms, the area of new construction remained virtually unchanged, decreasing by only 0.3%.
In Kyiv, the area of declared new housing decreased by 10.7% — to 437.9 thousand sq. m.
At the same time, the statistics on the number of apartments in the capital look unusual: the State Statistics Service indicates around 1.4 thousand declared apartments despite the significant total area. This may be related to the structure of specific projects and the specifics of the published data.
Lviv region became the third major market, where 501.5 thousand sq. m of housing and around 7.2 thousand apartments were declared in the first half of the year.
In Ivano-Frankivsk region, the area of new construction amounted to 248.4 thousand sq. m, decreasing by 20.5% year on year. At the same time, around 5.8 thousand apartments were declared.
In Odesa region, the figure reached 328.7 thousand sq. m and around 1.1 thousand apartments, but the State Statistics Service does not disclose comparable figures for the previous year.
Thus, in terms of the volume of declared new construction, the largest markets continue to be concentrated around Kyiv and the western regions of the country.
In January–August of this year, Ukraine’s exports of processed pig iron decreased by 16.4% in volume terms compared to the same period last year—down to 1,033,034 metric tons from 1,235,648 metric tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS), 34 metric tons of pig iron were exported in August, 51,539 metric tons in July, 183,780 metric tons in June, in May—159,378 thousand metric tons; in April—181,670 thousand metric tons; in March—168,493 thousand metric tons; in February—194,345 thousand metric tons; and in January—93,795 thousand metric tons.
From January through August 2026, pig iron exports in monetary terms fell by 15.3% to $413,041 million.
Over the first eight months of this year, the country imported 15 metric tons of pig iron worth $35,000, compared to 38 metric tons worth $76,000 during the same period last year.
As previously reported, in 2025 Ukraine increased its pig iron exports by volume by 53.5% compared to 2024—to 1,980,620 thousand metric tons—and by value by 51.9%, to $759,882 million. Exports were primarily shipped to the United States (68.25% of shipments by value), Italy (20.26%), and Turkey (3.63%).
Last year, the country imported 39 thousand metric tons of pig iron worth $78 thousand from Germany (51.95%) and Brazil (48.05%), while in January–December 2024, 38 metric tons worth $90 thousand were imported.
Starting March 12, 2025, in accordance with a decision by President Donald Trump, a 25% tariff began to be levied on imports of Ukrainian steel products, excluding pig iron.
The Republic of South Africa has included Ukraine in the list of countries whose citizens can apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter the country, the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Mozambique reported.
The innovation allows Ukrainian citizens to submit an application remotely without personally visiting the South African embassy or a visa center. The applicant must register in the electronic system, complete the application form, upload the necessary documents and a photograph.
According to the Ukrainian diplomatic mission, after submission of a complete package of documents, the application should be processed within no more than 24 hours.
At the current stage, ETA is available to Ukrainians for trips to South Africa for tourism or private purposes. The maximum duration of stay under such an authorisation is up to 90 days.
The issued electronic entry authorisation can be used within 180 days from the date of issuance.
An application can be submitted on the official website of the Department of Home Affairs of the Republic of South Africa: South African ETA. The official system confirms the possibility of applying for an Electronic Travel Authorisation online.
At the same time, at the initial stage, ETA cannot be used at all border crossing points. Entry with an electronic authorisation is available through four international airports in the country: O. R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, Cape Town International Airport, Lanseria International Airport and King Shaka International Airport in Durban.
These airports are equipped with the necessary systems for checking electronic authorisations and passengers’ biometric data.
The embassy recommends that Ukrainians additionally check the current ETA requirements and the conditions for entry into South Africa before traveling, as the procedure for using the electronic system may change as it is further implemented.
The introduction of ETA significantly simplifies the organization of tourist and private trips by Ukrainians to South Africa, since previously obtaining permission required going through the traditional visa procedure.
According to Experts.news, Ukrainian citizens planning to travel abroad or return to the country with their pets must prepare veterinary documents in advance, verify that the animal has a microchip and a valid rabies vaccination, and in some cases, also provide the results of an antibody test, the Embassy of Ukraine in the Slovak Republic reported.
As diplomats note, the movement of an animal is considered non-commercial if it is not for the purpose of sale or transfer to another owner. For such trips, the main requirements include identification of the animal via a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination, an international veterinary certificate, and a veterinary passport of the prescribed format. Typically, no more than five animals may be transported as part of a non-commercial movement.
Additional requirements must be taken into account for trips from Ukraine to EU countries. As of April 22, 2026, updated rules for the non-commercial movement of pets from third countries will be in effect in the European Union. For Ukraine, the basic requirements have not changed significantly: a dog, cat, or ferret must be microchipped, have a valid rabies vaccination, and, as a rule, a test result confirming sufficient levels of antibodies to the rabies virus.
An important detail concerns the sequence of procedures. The microchip must be implanted before the rabies vaccination or on the day of vaccination. At the time of the initial vaccination, the animal must be at least 12 weeks old, and such a vaccination typically becomes valid for travel no earlier than 21 days afterward.
For Ukrainian animals entering the EU, a rabies antibody titer test is required. The State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection recommends drawing blood for analysis no earlier than 30 days after vaccination and taking into account the mandatory waiting period of at least 90 days before obtaining the necessary travel documents. The test itself must be conducted in an EU-approved laboratory.
If the test has already yielded a positive result, it does not need to be repeated for each trip, provided that the animal is revaccinated in a timely manner before the previous vaccination expires.
An international veterinary certificate must be obtained before crossing the border. For entry into the EU from a third country, it is valid for 10 days from the date of issuance until the document and identification checks are completed at an official point of entry. After passing inspection, the certificate may be used for further travel within the EU for up to six months or until the rabies vaccination expires—whichever comes first.
When crossing the EU’s external border with an animal, you must do so through state-designated Travellers’ Points of Entry, where authorized services can verify the animal’s documents and identification. Before traveling through Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, or Romania, it is advisable to check in advance whether the chosen border crossing is authorized for entry with pets.
Starting in 2026, another important detail has been introduced. If the animal is accompanied not by the owner but by a person authorized by the owner, the trip may be considered non-commercial only if the owner crosses the border no more than five days before or after the animal. A written declaration must be attached to the documents. Otherwise, stricter rules governing the commercial transport of animals may apply.
Ukraine has also changed the format of the veterinary passport. A new template, approved by Order No. 1366 of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy dated February 28, 2025, has been in effect since March 1, 2026. However, previously issued veterinary passports remain valid and do not need to be replaced.
The veterinary passport is issued by a state or authorized veterinarian after examining the animal and entering information regarding its identification, vaccinations, and other necessary preventive measures. For now, this document is issued in paper form in Ukraine.
Specific requirements may vary depending on the country of destination. For example, to import dogs into Finland, Ireland, Malta, Northern Ireland, and Norway, additional treatment against the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis is required, administered by a veterinarian within the specified time frame prior to entry.
A veterinary inspection is also conducted when the animal returns to Ukraine. Only clinically healthy animals accompanied by the owner or an authorized person and meeting the established requirements are permitted for import. Requirements regarding identification, vaccination, and veterinary documentation apply to dogs, cats, and ferrets. Separate rules apply to animals under 16 weeks of age.
If more than five dogs, cats, or ferrets are being transported, such a trip may be considered non-commercial only in certain cases—for example, to participate in exhibitions, competitions, or training sessions. In such cases, the animals must be older than six months, and the owner must confirm their registration for the relevant event.
The State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection recommends starting to prepare for travel with a pet several months in advance, especially if the animal has not yet received a rabies vaccination or undergone a laboratory antibody test. It is essential to check the specific rules for both the country of first entry and the final destination, as they may vary depending on the route, species, and age of the animal.
Source: Embassy of Ukraine in the Slovak Republic, State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection, European Commission.
According to Fixygen, Siroko Finance LLC, which provides factoring services and extends loans to individuals—and in which Serhiy Tihipko, one of the largest shareholders in the Ukrainian financial market, indirectly controls 20% of the shares—has fully placed a UAH 50 million Series C bond issue without conducting a public offering.
As indicated in information on the website of the National Securities and Stock Market Commission (NSSMC), the commission registered the report on the results of the issuance on August 18 of this year, although the issuance had originally been registered on July 17 of this year.
The face value of each bond is 1,000 UAH. Information on other parameters of the Series “C” issue is not yet available.
In July 2025, the NSSMC registered a report on the issuance of the debut series of five-year Series “A” bonds “Siroko Finance” Series “A” bonds totaling 20 million UAH with a six-month offer period and an interest rate of 17% per annum during the first six months of circulation, with quarterly interest payments. The list of 141 participants in the bond offering included 132 individuals, among them: Oleksandr Bandurko, Serhiy Belashov, Ihor Voronin, Anatoliy Holubchenko, Andriy Gubskyi, Rajiv Gupta, Oles Dovgyi, Volodymyr Dubey, Volodymyr Zhmak, Volodymyr Zagoriy, Vyacheslav Kapustin, Oleksandr Katsuba, Serhiy Koretskyi, Ihor Nikonov, Lev Partskhaladze, Illia Rybchych, Serhiy Tihipko, Heorhiy Tsagareishvili, Pavlo Tsaruk, Oleksandr Shlapak, and Mykhailo Shelemba.
In February 2026, the National Securities and Stock Market Commission (NSSMC) registered a report on the issuance of “Siroko Finance” Series B five-year bonds in the amount of 30 million hryvnias, also with a six-month maturity and an interest rate of 17% per annum for the first six months of circulation, with quarterly interest payments. Several companies were listed among the participants in the placement, including those from the “TAS” group.
The resolutions on the issuance of these two series stated that the funds raised were to be used to provide loans, including on the terms of a financial loan. For subsequent periods, the rate was maintained at 17% per annum.
According to data from YouControl, in the first half of 2026, “Siroko Finance” increased its revenue 2.5-fold compared to the same period in 2025—to 138.01 million UAH—and its net profit grew by 49.9%—to 10.09 million UAH.
As of the end of August this year, Natalia Gordienko held a 49.96% stake in the company, while Roman Katerynchyk held 30.04%. Tihipko indirectly controlled 20%.
