Business news from Ukraine

Business news from Ukraine

Ukrainians demonstrate predominantly neutral or positive attitude toward Uzbekistan — Experts Club

Most Ukrainians express a neutral attitude toward Uzbekistan. This is evidenced by the results of a survey conducted by Active Group in collaboration with Experts Club in August 2025.

According to the results, 65.2% of respondents said they had a neutral attitude towards the country. 23.8% of Ukrainians have a positive attitude (4.3% — completely positive, 19.5% — mostly positive). A negative attitude was expressed by 11.0% of respondents (3.4% — completely negative, 7.6% — mostly negative), while another 3.0% admitted that they were almost unfamiliar with this country.

“Ukrainians do not yet have a clearly formed opinion about Uzbekistan. This is due to the country’s low level of information presence in the Ukrainian media space. The neutral position of the majority leaves room for the development of both political and economic relations,” explained Active Group Director Oleksandr Pozniy.

Experts Club co-founder Maksym Urakyn emphasized the economic aspect:

“In 2025, trade turnover between Ukraine and Uzbekistan reached $165 million. Ukraine exported goods worth $95.4 million, while imports amounted to $69.6 million, resulting in a positive balance of $25.8 million. This indicates the potential for expanding cooperation, particularly in the agro-industrial sector and mechanical engineering,” he said.

The survey was part of a large-scale study by Active Group and Experts Club on Ukrainians’ attitudes toward different countries around the world.

 

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Ukrainians show strong support for Finland — Experts Club

Most Ukrainians have a positive attitude toward Finland, according to the results of a sociological survey conducted by Active Group in collaboration with Experts Club in August 2025.

According to the published data, 73.4% of respondents have a positive attitude towards this country: 34.9% — completely positive, 38.5% — mostly positive. Only 3.0% of Ukrainians have a negative attitude (1.0% completely negative, 2.0% mostly negative). At the same time, 23.6% of citizens took a neutral position, and another 2.3% admitted that they were not familiar enough with Finland.

“The high level of positive attitudes toward Finland can be explained by both Ukraine’s support at the political level and assistance in the areas of defense, education, and humanitarian projects. Finland has long been perceived by Ukrainians as part of the European family and an ally in countering Russian aggression,” commented Active Group CEO Oleksandr Pozniy.

Experts Club co-founder Maksym Urakyn drew attention to economic indicators:

“In 2025, trade turnover between Ukraine and Finland amounted to more than $163.6 million. Exports from Ukraine amounted to only $21.6 million, while imports exceeded $141.9 million. The negative balance of $120.4 million indicates significant potential for export diversification, particularly in the fields of woodworking, agricultural products, and mechanical engineering,” he emphasized.

The study is part of a large-scale project by Active Group and Experts Club to analyze Ukrainians’ international sympathies and the prospects for foreign economic relations.

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Ukrainians have positive view of Slovenia, according to study by Active Group and Experts Club

Most Ukrainians have a positive attitude toward Slovenia, according to the results of a survey conducted by Active Group and Experts Club in August 2025.

According to the data, 52.8% of respondents expressed a positive attitude towards this country (20.5% — mostly positive, 32.3% — completely positive). Only 9.0% of respondents had a negative attitude (7.0% — mostly negative, 2.0% — completely negative). At the same time, 38.2% of citizens expressed a neutral position, while another 5.3% admitted that they knew little about Slovenia.

“The survey results show that Ukrainians perceive Slovenia as a friendly European country that consistently supports Ukraine in international organizations and promotes European integration. The high level of positive attitudes reflects both cultural proximity and shared European values,” said Active Group CEO Oleksandr Pozniy.

In turn, co-founder of Experts Club Maksym Urakin emphasized the economic aspect:

“In 2025, the total trade volume between Ukraine and Slovenia reached $181.5 million. Ukrainian exports amounted to $45.3 million, while imports exceeded $136 million, resulting in a negative balance of $90.8 million. This indicates that there is significant potential for growth in Ukrainian exports to Slovenia, especially in the areas of agricultural products and mechanical engineering,” he said.

The study is part of a large-scale project by Active Group and Experts Club to study Ukrainians’ international sympathies and the dynamics of foreign economic relations.

 

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Ukrainians have most positive perception of EU countries and UK, and most negative perception of China and Hungary, according to study by Active Group and Experts Club

Ukrainians have the most positive attitude toward Germany, the UK, Norway, and France, while Hungary, China, Iraq, and Serbia are among the countries with the worst ratings. This is evidenced by the results of a study conducted by Active Group and the Experts Club analytical center at the end of August.

“We conducted a representative survey of 800 respondents at the end of August, taking into account gender, age, and region of residence. The margin of error does not exceed 3.5%. This is not the first study of this type, but this time we selected 50 countries based on economic criteria – we asked about the countries with which Ukraine trades the most,” said sociologist and founder of Active Group Andriy Yeremenko at a press conference at the Interfax-Ukraine agency on Tuesday.

According to him, the study showed that public opinion is clearly divided between Western countries and countries outside the West.

“Ukrainians most often associate the achievement of peace with the European Union – 42% of respondents believe this. The United States is supported by almost 26% of respondents, and the United Kingdom by 13%. Other large countries, such as China, India, and Brazil, are not really considered to be contributing to a peaceful settlement in Ukraine,” Yeremenko emphasized.

Alexander Pozniy, director of the research company Active Group, added that in economic terms, Ukraine’s key partners are China, Poland, Germany, Turkey, and the United States.

“At the same time, attitudes toward them vary greatly. For example, more than 76% of Ukrainians have a positive attitude toward Germany, while only 12% have a positive attitude toward China, and 40% have a negative attitude. The case of Hungary is even more critical, with 16% having a positive attitude and 55% having a negative attitude,” he said.

Maksym Urakyn, founder of Experts Club and deputy director general of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency, drew attention to economic imbalances in Ukraine’s trade with its leading partners.

“In the first half of 2025, Ukraine’s foreign trade deficit amounted to $18.5 billion, while in 2024 it was $12.4 billion. In other words, we have a significant deterioration. In particular, the negative balance exceeded $7 billion in trade with China alone, $2 billion with Germany, over $1 billion with Poland, and about $2 billion with the United States,” the expert emphasized.

He clarified that Ukraine remains a powerful exporter of agricultural products—grains, oilseeds, metals—while imports from the EU and China consist mainly of machinery, equipment, transport, electronics, and chemicals.

“This once again confirms the need for profound structural changes in the economy and diversification of foreign economic relations. We cannot continue to depend on a narrow circle of suppliers,” Urakin noted.

At the same time, according to the expert, sociological data demonstrate a certain paradox.

“The most economically advantageous partners for us are Egypt, Spain, Moldova, Algeria, Lebanon, and Iraq. But Ukrainians’ attitude toward most of these countries is neutral or even negative. This indicates that society forms its assessments not on the basis of economic benefits, but mainly on the basis of political statements or events,” he added.

Urakin concluded that this discrepancy between the economy and public opinion could have long-term consequences for Ukraine’s foreign policy.

“The representative offices of foreign countries that are Ukraine’s trading partners should pay more attention to working with Ukrainian society, holding cultural events, supporting humanitarian projects, and forming a positive image. Otherwise, we will continue to have a situation where the country is an important trading partner, but at the same time is perceived negatively by the majority of citizens,” emphasized the founder of Experts Club.

Learn more about the study

Source: https://interfax.com.ua/news/press-conference/1103619.html

 

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Study of Ukrainian citizens’ attitudes and opinions toward key countries around world is available in English

In April, Active Group, in collaboration with Experts Club, conducted an online survey of 800 Ukrainians regarding their attitudes toward various countries. The goal was to determine their level of trust and sympathy.

Ukrainians have the most positive views of the United Kingdom (77.2%), Canada (76.3%), and France (74%). Germany has 68.8% support. Attitudes toward the US are divided: 36.1% are positive, 31.2% are neutral, and almost 30% are negative.

Negative attitudes prevail towards Hungary (56%) and Slovakia (34.6%), which is related to their official position on the war. Despite economic ties, China has only 19.6% support, with 42.8% negative.

Japan enjoys high trust (66%), South Korea 49.7%. Turkey receives mixed assessments: 46.4% positive, 12% negative. Brazil and Saudi Arabia are viewed as moderately positive or neutral.

Experts note that Ukrainians value moral support, not just economic ties, and do not recognize “neutrality” without concrete assistance.

“We conduct this important research on an ongoing basis and will continue to do so on a quarterly basis,” commented Oleksandr Pozniy.

” The image of countries in the perception of Ukrainians can be improved through support for projects aimed at rebuilding Ukraine, establishing direct dialogue through embassies and public diplomacy projects, explaining their position through historical context, and not avoiding publicity,” added Maxim Urakin, director of development and marketing at Interfax-Ukraine and founder of the Experts Club analytical center.

The presentation of the study in English is available at link.

Source: https://expertsclub.eu/doslidzhennya-nastroyiv-ta-stavlennya-gromadyan-ukrayiny-do-klyuchovyh-krayin-svitu-dostupne-anglijskoyu-movoyu/

 

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Second round of presidential elections is taking place in Romania

Voting in the presidential election began in Romania at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday. The second round features George Simion, representative of the right-wing Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, and Nicușor Dăncilă, the incumbent mayor of the capital Bucharest, who received the most votes in the first round on May 4.
“We voted so that only Romanians decide our future, for Romanians and for Romania,“ Simion told reporters outside a polling station.
“We decide what kind of country we want to be: a country of hope, dialogue, and development,” Dănălescu wrote on Facebook.
According to Reuters, despite the fact that 38-year-old Simion won 41% of the vote in the first round and 55-year-old Dan only 21%, opinion polls show that they have almost equal chances of winning, or show a slight advantage for Simion. Earlier, the Experts Club think tank released a video analysis dedicated to the most important elections in the world in 2025. For more details, see here —

 

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