Imagine this: you’re standing in the lobby of a hotel in Berlin, London, or New York. You’ve got a paper cup of hot coffee in your hands, a crowd of professionals buzzing around you, and business cards in your pocket just begging to change hands. You see a potential partner or an interesting speaker. You want to approach them. You have to approach them. But a thought keeps popping into your head: “What will I say? What if I get the time wrong? What if there’s an awkward silence?”
Welcome to the world of business networking in English. It’s not just about grammar. It’s about psychology, cultural codes, and the ability to turn small talk into big business.
In this article, we’ll break down networking into its basic components: from waiting in line for coffee to discussing professional publications. We’ll give you scripts that work and analyze real-life cases so that you feel confident regardless of your language level.
Many of us, especially in post-Soviet culture, consider small talk to be artificial, hypocritical, or a waste of time. “Let’s get down to business” is our internal motto. But in the English-speaking business environment (especially in the US and UK), small talk is social glue. It is a test of adequacy, emotional intelligence, and “friend or foe”.
If you immediately start by offering to sell your product, you are a spammer. If you start by talking about the atmosphere of the event, you are a pleasant conversationalist.
Coffee breaks are the safest place for networking. Everyone is relaxed, everyone’s hands are full (food/drinks), and everyone is looking for someone to talk to so they don’t have to stand alone, staring at their phone.
Your task is to make a “cold approach” warm.
1. Contextual Openers:
● “I am absolutely dying for a coffee. Long morning, isn’t it?” — Ideal for expressing solidarity.
● “Have you tried these pastries? They look dangerous.” (Have you tried these pastries? They look dangerously delicious.) — Humor always brings people together.
● “I suspect this queue is the most popular place at the conference.” (I suspect this queue is the most popular place at the conference.)
2. Event-related Questions:
● “So, how are you finding the conference so far?” (Well, how do you like the conference so far?) — A classic that works 100%.
● “Did you catch the keynote speech this morning? I found his point about AI fascinating.” (Did you attend the morning presentation? I found his opinion about AI fascinating.)
Situation: You are standing next to someone who is looking at the event program.
You: “Packed schedule today, right? Is there any session you are particularly looking forward to?”
Interlocutor: “Yeah, mostly the panel on Fintech trends.”
You: “Oh, really? That’s actually why I’m here too. I work in banking software. I’m [Your Name], by the way.”
Why did it work? You weren’t selling. You identified a common interest and only then introduced yourself.
In the title of the article, we mentioned “publishing.” In the context of modern networking, this means discussing content: articles, books, LinkedIn posts, or industry news. It’s a transition from “small talk” to “smart talk.” It shows that you are knowledgeable, you read, you are developing.
It is at this stage that the need for a high level of professional vocabulary often arises. Here, online English courses for managers can be a decisive factor in your success, because the ability to discuss trends in Forbes or Harvard Business Review requires a deeper vocabulary than ordering a pizza.
1. Referencing Content:
● “I was reading an article in The Economist yesterday about [Topic], and it reminded me of what the speaker just said.”
● “Have you seen the latest report on market trends published by [Company]? The statistics are mind-blowing.”
2. Asking for Opinions:
● “What’s your take on the new regulations discussed in the morning session?”
● “Do you think this trend is going to stick, or is it just a bubble?” (Do you think this trend will last, or is it just a bubble?)
Situation: You are talking to a colleague from another country during lunch. The conversation about the weather has run its course.
You: “By the way, I saw a lot of buzz on LinkedIn about remote work policies recently. Is your company pushing for a return to the office?”
Interlocutor: “Oh, don’t get me started. It’s a huge debate right now…”
Result: You touched on a “hot” topic (pain point) that affects everyone and provoked an emotional, lively discussion.
When someone asks you, “So, what do you do?”, the worst thing you can say is a dry job title: “I am a manager.” It’s boring. It kills the conversation.
Use this formula: I help [Target Audience] to [Solve Problem] by [Your Solution].
● Boring: I am an accountant.
● Cool: “I help small businesses survive the tax season without losing their minds.”
● Boring: I work in IT.
● Cool: “I develop apps that help doctors diagnose patients faster. Essentially, we save time for hospitals.”
Once you’ve established contact, you can carefully transition to business.
● “It sounds like we are facing similar challenges regarding…” (It seems that we are facing similar challenges regarding…)
● “I’d love to hear more about how you handled [Issue]. Would you be open to a quick chat later this week?” (I would like to learn more about how you handled… Would you be open to a quick chat later this week?)
● “Here is my card. Let’s connect on LinkedIn.”
Networking is a numbers game. You can’t talk to one person for two hours. You need to move on. But how do you end the conversation without offending the other person?
In English, it is important to use what is known as “pre-closing” before leaving.
Phrases for a polite ending:
○ “Please excuse me, I see an old colleague I need to say hi to.”
○ “I’m going to grab another coffee before the next session starts.”
○ “It was absolutely lovely meeting you, John. Enjoy the rest of the conference!” (It was very nice to meet you, John. Enjoy the rest of the conference!)
○ “Thanks for the chat. You gave me a lot to think about regarding [Topic].” (Thank you for the conversation. You gave me a lot to think about regarding…)
○ “I’ll send you that article we talked about via LinkedIn.” (I will send you the article we talked about on LinkedIn.)
When preparing for networking, keep the cultural context in mind. What works in New York may seem strange in London.
Tip: If you are talking to a Brit and they say your idea is “quite interesting”, it could mean either genuine interest or a polite refusal. With Americans, it’s simpler: “Let’s do it” usually means “Let’s do it”.
Even if you have perfect pronunciation, you can fail at communication if you make these mistakes:
Networking in English is a skill that can be trained like a muscle. Start small: smile in line for coffee, compliment the speaker, discuss an article. Each such conversation is a brick in the foundation of your international career. Don’t let the language barrier close the door of opportunity. The business world is open to those who dare to speak first.
Understanding the theory is good, but free communication requires practice under the supervision of a professional. At Business Language school, we understand the value of your time and reputation. We don’t offer magic pills, because quality education is a serious investment of effort and resources. Our courses are designed specifically for top managers and business owners who need not just “textbook grammar,” but lively, convincing business language for negotiations, networking, and management.
We will help you build confidence that translates into successful contracts. Join the professionals who have already chosen development:
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Ukrnafta is systematically upgrading working conditions. In 2025, one of the key focuses will be upgrading transport, special equipment, and domestic infrastructure for production teams.
169 units of new equipment and transport are already in operation in regional divisions.
These include trucks, bulldozers, weighbridges, tankers, methane tankers, steam heating units, buses for transporting personnel, and other critically important equipment for the smooth operation of production and the filling station network.
In total, since 2023, the company has updated more than 700 pieces of equipment, which has already had a tangible effect on production indicators.
“We are consistently replacing outdated equipment and transport. In 2026, we plan to acquire about 100 more units of new equipment, in particular through leasing and grant mechanisms,” said Bogdan Kukura, Chairman of the Board of JSC Ukrnafta.
The safety and comfort of employees is a top priority:
• 32 mobile shelters have been installed.
• 140 mobile homes, some of which had been in operation for 48 years, have been replaced with new ones.
• Personal protective equipment, furniture, wardrobes, and refrigerators have been updated.
• Repairs have been carried out in regional divisions.
Improving working conditions and technical infrastructure remains one of the company’s priorities for 2026, because efficiency starts with safety, comfort, and modern technology.
JSC Ukrnafta is Ukraine’s largest oil production company and operates the largest national network of gas stations, UKRNAFTA. 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 upgrade the format of its network of gas stations. Since February 2023, it has been issuing its own fuel vouchers and NAFTAKarta 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 to the state the corporate rights of the company that belonged to private owners, which is now managed by the Ministry of Defense.
According to Serbian Economist, the Ukrainian chain of seafood restaurants Chernomorka has announced the launch of a farm for growing mussels, sea bass, and sea bream in the Adriatic Sea near the city of Ston (Croatia).
According to the chain, the project is being implemented in the form of mariculture in collaboration with a Croatian team. It provides for constant monitoring of water quality and living conditions, as well as compliance with European food safety standards.
The first commercial deliveries of mussels, sea bass, and sea bream are planned for March 2026. The main sales channel will be the chain’s restaurants, with the possibility of expanding sales to the partner market in the restaurant segment.
Chernomorka was founded in Kyiv in 2013. The founder and co-owner of the project is Olga Kopylova. According to the chain’s website, in December 2025, Chernomorka operated 40 establishments in Ukraine, Moldova, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Poland.
https://t.me/relocationrs/2174
Standard Chartered analysts estimate that dollar-pegged stablecoins could take around $500 billion in deposits from US banks by the end of 2028, intensifying competition for funding between traditional banks and crypto infrastructure.
Regional credit institutions are considered the most vulnerable in the banking sector, as their revenues are more closely linked to net interest margins (the difference between the return on assets and the cost of deposits), so the outflow of funding has a greater impact on profitability.
The risk mechanism for banks is that the “safe layer” of money is partially transferred from deposits to tokens: payment functions and part of the transaction activity can be transferred to stablecoins, and issuers’ reserves are more often placed not in the banking system, but in US Treasury securities. In particular, according to Standard Chartered’s estimates, the largest issuers, Tether and Circle, hold the bulk of their reserves in US Treasuries, meaning that there is little “redeposit” into banks.
The accelerating factor is regulation. Reuters notes that the federal law on stablecoins passed in the US is expected to encourage their wider use; the document prohibits issuers from paying interest on stablecoins, but banks believe that there is still a “loophole” for paying returns through third parties (e.g., crypto exchanges), which intensifies competition for deposits.
If Standard Chartered’s assessment scenario is confirmed, part of the funding will shift from the banking system to the US government debt market, as the growth of stablecoins increases demand for short-term treasury bills, which are used to secure reserves.
BANK, DEPOSIT, stablecoins, US
India and the European Union announced the conclusion of negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) following the summit in New Delhi.
According to the European Commission, trade liberalization will cover 99.3% for the EU and 96.6% for India (taking into account the partial liberalization of a number of items), with the EU eliminating tariffs on more than 90% of tariff lines and India on 86%.
The Indian side stated that the agreement provides access to the EU market for more than 99% of Indian exports in value terms, noting that the document will undergo legal review and final approval procedures.
According to EU profile materials, European agri-food exports will see a reduction in current high tariffs, including on alcoholic beverages—up to 30% for most wines, 40% for spirits, and 50% for beer. A number of Indian and industry sources also indicate that for certain categories, including passenger cars, tariffs may be reduced from 110% to 10% within an annual quota of up to 250,000 cars, and for premium wines – up to 20%.
EU-India trade in goods in 2024 amounted to around EUR 120 billion, with India being the EU’s ninth largest trading partner; for India, the EU is the largest trading partner in goods. The Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry estimated bilateral trade in goods with the EU in the 2024-2025 financial year at $136.54 billion.
Source: https://expertsclub.eu/indiya-ta-yes-zavershyly-peregovory-shhodo-ugody-pro-zvt/
EU, FTA, INDIA, NEGOTIATIONS
Investments in the construction of new generation facilities will benefit both investors and Ukraine’s energy system, emphasized Vitaliy Zaychenko, head of NPC Ukrenergo, during his online participation in a meeting of the European Business Association’s board. During the meeting, he informed representatives of Ukraine’s largest financial and industrial groups about the current situation in the energy sector and prospects for the near future.
“Since October last year, the enemy has been carrying out comprehensive attacks on energy facilities, using a very wide arsenal of weapons: from rocket artillery to guided aerial bombs, strike drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. Many power generation, transmission, and distribution facilities in most regions of Ukraine have been damaged,” said Zaychenko.
According to him, there is an acute power shortage in the energy system, which cannot yet be covered by existing generation and imports of electricity. Under these conditions, it is very important for the Ukrainian energy sector to attract private investment in the construction of power generation facilities.
As the head of Ukrenergo recalled, thanks to special auctions held by the National Energy Company, 423 MW of new generating capacity appeared in the power system over the past year.
“We are grateful to businesses that invest in projects that strengthen the stability of the energy system in such difficult conditions,” he stressed.
In addition, Zaychenko noted the importance of connecting to the common grid those generating capacities that are currently used by businesses and industry exclusively as backup power sources in case of hourly or emergency outages.
“If they were operating on the electricity market, such facilities could cover part of the power deficit in the energy system and at the same time generate profits for their owners,” he said.
According to preliminary expert estimates, the total deficit of operational generating capacity in Ukraine currently exceeds 4 GW.
