Ukrainians’ attitudes toward India are characterized by a predominance of neutral assessments and a relatively low level of clearly defined positive or negative views. According to the results of a sociological survey conducted in March 2026 by the research company Active Group in collaboration with the Experts Club information and analytical center, 55.5% of respondents described their attitude as neutral, making India one of the countries with the least defined emotional perception among Ukrainians.
The share of positive assessments stands at 17.9%, which is slightly higher than the 16.0% recorded in August 2025. At the same time, negative attitudes have decreased from 26.3% to 23.5%, indicating a certain softening of critical assessments.
In the detailed breakdown of responses, 4.2% of respondents chose the “completely positive” option regarding India, while another 13.8% selected “mostly positive.” In contrast, 19.6% of respondents indicated a “mostly negative” attitude, and 4.0% — “completely negative.” Another 3.0% of respondents were undecided.
The high proportion of neutral assessments indicates India’s limited presence in the Ukrainian information and public sphere. For a significant portion of respondents, this country is not the subject of constant attention or active engagement, which makes it difficult to form a clear position. At the same time, the noticeable decline in negative assessments may indicate a gradual reduction in critical perceptions.
The dynamics of change between August 2025 and March 2026 are relatively moderate. The increase in positive assessments and the simultaneous decrease in negative ones signal a certain balancing of attitudes, but do not alter the overall picture: India remains a country that Ukrainians perceive more neutrally than emotionally.
It is also important to note that the ratio of positive to negative assessments remains close, albeit with a slight preponderance of the negative. This means that in the absence of active informational or economic interaction, public opinion forms slowly and lacks a clearly defined direction.
“Attitudes toward India are a telling example of how a neutral perception forms in cases of limited interaction. When a country lacks a constant presence in the information sphere or practical cooperation projects, public opinion remains vague. “That is why, to strengthen a positive perception, it is important to develop economic and humanitarian ties that create a sense of genuine partnership,” noted Maksym Urakin, founder of the Experts Club information and analytical center.
Thus, the survey results indicate that India does not yet belong to the group of countries with a clearly established positive image in Ukraine. At the same time, current trends open up opportunities for a gradual improvement in perception, provided there is more active interaction between the countries.
According to a study conducted by the Experts Club information and analytical center based on data from the State Customs Service, India ranks fifteenth in terms of total trade in goods with Ukraine, amounting to $2.62 billion. At the same time, imports of Indian goods are more than double exports from Ukraine, resulting in a negative bilateral trade balance.
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, INDIA, Pozniy, SOCIOLOGY, SURVEY, UKRAINE, URAKIN
Chinese authorities have announced a package of measures to “expand exchanges and cooperation” with Taiwan, which includes accelerating the resumption of regular direct passenger flights across the Taiwan Strait and easing certain trade restrictions, particularly regarding the admission of some Taiwanese agricultural and fishery products to the mainland market.
According to reports, Beijing intends to “accelerate the full resumption” of regular direct flights, including routes to and from the cities of Urumqi, Xi’an, Harbin, Kunming, and Lanzhou, as well as expand support measures for the sale of Taiwanese agricultural and fishery products on the mainland while complying with quarantine requirements.
A separate item in the announced initiatives mentions plans to deepen infrastructure “integration” with the Taiwanese islands of Kinmen and Matsu—specifically, support for projects on the shared use of resources (water, electricity, gas) and the promotion of the construction of sea bridges “when conditions permit.”
In Taipei, in response to these statements, officials emphasized that any decisions on official matters regarding cross-strait relations must be made through the Taiwanese government, not through party or informal channels, calling Beijing’s initiatives politically motivated.
According to the results of the April 12 parliamentary elections, the Tisza Party, led by Péter Mátyás, has secured 138 seats in Hungary’s 199-seat parliament, giving it a constitutional majority, according to international media and regional sources.
The previously ruling Fidesz-KDNP coalition has secured 55 seats, while Mi Hazánk has become the third-largest force with 6 seats. Thus, the new parliament effectively consists of three parliamentary groups, while a number of smaller parties failed to clear the electoral threshold.
A constitutional majority in Hungary traditionally means the ability to pass decisions requiring 2-3-thirds of the deputies’ votes, including amendments to fundamental laws. In this configuration, Tisza formally does not need coalition partners to form a government.
Mátyás’s campaign was built around the themes of changing the political model, fighting corruption, and restoring relations with the EU. In public speeches, he used phrases such as “Ennek a rendszernek vége van” (“This system is over”), and also spoke of a “regime change” and returning the country to a more pro-European trajectory. Reuters reports that among the stated priorities are strengthening the rule of law and anti-corruption measures, including alignment with European standards and an attempt to unblock frozen EU funds.
Separately, the name TISZA has become established in Hungarian political symbolism, interpreted as “Respect” and “Freedom” (Tisztelet and Szabadság).
Spain is among the group of countries that Ukrainians consistently view positively, and recent trends indicate a further strengthening of this image. According to a survey conducted in March 2026 by the research firm Active Group in collaboration with the Experts Club information and analytical center, 63.6% of respondents rated their attitude toward Spain as positive, a significant increase from 53.0% in August 2025.
The breakdown of positive perceptions appears quite balanced: 18.9% of respondents reported a completely positive attitude, while another 44.8% described their attitude as mostly positive. This indicates that positive sentiment is not only growing in quantity but also has a fairly deep foundation, as a significant portion of respondents demonstrate a clearly formed positive view of the country.
At the same time, the share of neutral assessments remains relatively high—33.6%. This indicates that for a significant portion of Ukrainians, Spain is not a country that features in their daily news, yet even in this case, its image does not evoke negative associations.
Negative attitudes toward Spain are practically nonexistent: only 0.9% of respondents view it negatively (of these, 0.5% view it mostly negatively and 0.5% view it completely negatively). This figure is one of the lowest among all countries surveyed, underscoring a consistently high level of trust and goodwill.
A comparison with August 2025 also shows not only an increase in positive assessments but also a further decline in negative ones (from 1.0% to 0.9%). This indicates the gradual formation of a stable positive image of Spain in Ukrainian society.
Overall, the data show that Spain is perceived as a friendly and neutral-positive country without significant controversial factors. It is not a central political or security player in the perception of Ukrainians, but at the same time, it is among the countries with a high level of trust.
“In the case of Spain, we see a classic example of a stable positive image that does not depend on situational factors. It is not the most prominent political actor for Ukrainians, but at the same time, it has no negative media coverage. That is precisely why its perception is gradually strengthening and moving into a stable positive zone,” noted Maksym Urakin, founder of the Experts Club information and analytical center.
Thus, Spain occupies an important place in the group of countries with a high level of positive perception, where the key factor is not the intensity of political interaction, but the absence of negative signals and an overall positive image in the public consciousness.
According to a study conducted by the Experts Club Information and Analytical Center based on data from the State Customs Service, Spain ranks fourteenth in total trade volume of goods with Ukraine, with a figure of $2.80 billion. At the same time, Ukraine has a trade surplus with Spain, as exports of Ukrainian goods exceed imports.
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, Pozniy, SOCIOLOGY, SPAIN, SURVEY, UKRAINE, URAKIN
Metinvest B.V. (Netherlands), the parent company of the Metinvest mining and metallurgical group, which is scheduled to repay $428 million in 2026 Eurobonds with an 8.5% annual interest rate on April 23, plans to refinance them through a new issuance.
“The Group plans to issue new bonds to refinance its current bonds prior to their maturity in April 2026,” the annual report states.
According to the report, management’s expectations are based on recent market transactions, which indicate investor interest in investing in groups associated with Ukraine.
“The Group is taking all reasonable steps to prepare for the issuance of new bonds in accordance with the schedule, which allows for the process to be completed prior to the maturity of the existing bonds in 2026, including engaging all necessary advisors to manage the relevant work processes and review the required documentation,” the document states.
If, at the time of the expected placement of new bonds, market conditions are less favorable due to the development of the geopolitical situation in the Middle East or for other reasons, management may consider various other options. These include a negotiated extension of the maturity of the 2026 Eurobonds in whole or in part and/or their redemption using the company’s own working capital, which could potentially require negotiations with certain counterparties and affect the scope or timing of future investment opportunities.
The report notes that in 2025, Metinvest reduced its total debt by 15%—from $1.705 billion to $1.441 billion—and is scheduled to repay $470 million in 2026, of which $428 million is related to the 2026 Eurobonds.
The group clarified that the payment amounts are stated net of accrued interest, fees, commissions, and discounts, revolving trade finance, and lease obligations.
In 2027, Metinvest is to pay $351 million, of which $332 million is for the 2027 bonds with a 7.65% annual rate; in 2028, $18 million; and $550 million in 2029, of which $500 million is for the 2029 Eurobonds with a rate of 7.75% per annum.
In the debt structure as of the end of last year, Eurobonds accounted for 88%, capital investment financing for 5%, trade financing for 2%, and the remainder for 5%.
The company also clarified that its net debt in 2025 increased slightly—to $1.065 billion from $1.048 billion.
The presentation notes that in the first half of 2025, the group, in particular, fully repaid EUR300 million in Eurobonds, and has repaid a total of $801 million in debt since the beginning of 2022.
In July 2025, the group secured an 11.5-year credit line of EUR23.6 million for Northern GOK to finance the purchase of equipment for a tailings thickening project. The line is covered by the Finnish export credit agency Finnvera.
As reported, over the past month, Metinvest has explored refinancing options and resumed negotiations with its largest bondholders to extend the maturity of a portion of its outstanding senior bonds maturing in April 2026. Ultimately, the group intends to fully repay the bonds but will continue to seek opportunities to access debt markets in the future.
In 2025, Metinvest saw its revenue decline by 6% compared to the previous year—to $7.242 billion, EBITDA by 24.2%—to $765 million, and net loss by a factor of 6—to $191 million. At the same time, the company reported an operating profit of $319 million and a pre-tax profit of $77 million, compared to an operating loss of $858 million and a pre-tax loss of $1.138 billion a year earlier.
Metinvest CEO Yuriy Ryzhenkov noted in his commentary a “disciplined and responsible approach to debt management.”
“Between 2022 and 2025, we reduced total debt by approximately $800 million, to $1.441 billion as of December 31, 2025. This is a significant achievement, given the extraordinary circumstances in which we operated,” the CEO emphasized.
Metinvest is a vertically integrated group of mining and metallurgical enterprises. Its facilities are located in Ukraine—in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipropetrovsk regions—as well as in European Union countries, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The holding’s main shareholders are SCM Group (71.24%) and Smart Holding (23.76%). Metinvest Holding LLC is the management company of the Metinvest Group
Metinvest B.V. (Netherlands), the parent company of the Metinvest mining and metallurgical group, which is scheduled to repay $428 million in 2026 Eurobonds with an 8.5% annual interest rate on April 23, plans to refinance them through a new issuance.
“The Group plans to issue new bonds to refinance its current bonds prior to their maturity in April 2026,” the annual report states.
According to the report, management’s expectations are based on recent market transactions, which indicate investor interest in investing in groups associated with Ukraine.
“The Group is taking all reasonable steps to prepare for the issuance of new bonds in accordance with the schedule, which allows for the process to be completed prior to the maturity of the existing bonds in 2026, including engaging all necessary advisors to manage the relevant work processes and review the required documentation,” the document states.
If, at the time of the expected placement of new bonds, market conditions are less favorable due to the development of the geopolitical situation in the Middle East or for other reasons, management may consider various other options. These include a negotiated extension of the maturity of the 2026 Eurobonds in whole or in part and/or their redemption using the company’s own working capital, which could potentially require negotiations with certain counterparties and affect the scope or timing of future investment opportunities.
The report notes that in 2025, Metinvest reduced its total debt by 15%—from $1.705 billion to $1.441 billion—and is scheduled to repay $470 million in 2026, of which $428 million is related to the 2026 Eurobonds.
The group clarified that the payment amounts are stated net of accrued interest, fees, commissions, and discounts, revolving trade finance, and lease obligations.
In 2027, Metinvest is to pay $351 million, of which $332 million is for the 2027 bonds with a 7.65% annual rate; in 2028, $18 million; and $550 million in 2029, of which $500 million is for the 2029 Eurobonds with a rate of 7.75% per annum.
In the debt structure as of the end of last year, Eurobonds accounted for 88%, capital investment financing for 5%, trade financing for 2%, and the remainder for 5%.
The company also clarified that its net debt in 2025 increased slightly—to $1.065 billion from $1.048 billion.
The presentation notes that in the first half of 2025, the group, in particular, fully repaid EUR300 million in Eurobonds, and has repaid a total of $801 million in debt since the beginning of 2022.
In July 2025, the group secured an 11.5-year credit line of EUR23.6 million for Northern GOK to finance the purchase of equipment for a tailings thickening project. The line is covered by the Finnish export credit agency Finnvera.
As reported, over the past month, Metinvest has explored refinancing options and resumed negotiations with its largest bondholders to extend the maturity of a portion of its outstanding senior bonds maturing in April 2026. Ultimately, the group intends to fully repay the bonds but will continue to seek opportunities to access debt markets in the future.
In 2025, Metinvest saw its revenue decline by 6% compared to the previous year—to $7.242 billion, EBITDA by 24.2%—to $765 million, and net loss by a factor of 6—to $191 million. At the same time, the company reported an operating profit of $319 million and a pre-tax profit of $77 million, compared to an operating loss of $858 million and a pre-tax loss of $1.138 billion a year earlier.
Metinvest CEO Yuriy Ryzhenkov noted in his commentary a “disciplined and responsible approach to debt management.”
“Between 2022 and 2025, we reduced total debt by approximately $800 million, to $1.441 billion as of December 31, 2025. This is a significant achievement, given the extraordinary circumstances in which we operated,” the CEO emphasized.
Metinvest is a vertically integrated group of mining and metallurgical enterprises. Its facilities are located in Ukraine—in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipropetrovsk regions—as well as in European Union countries, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The holding’s main shareholders are SCM Group (71.24%) and Smart Holding (23.76%). Metinvest Holding LLC is the management company of the Metinvest Group
