Ukraine maintains a significant positive trade balance with a number of key partners, which partially offsets the deficit in relations with China and EU countries.
The largest surplus in the first half of 2025 was recorded in trade with Egypt — $605.0 million. Spain ranks second with a balance of $515.3 million, followed by the Republic of Moldova — $448.4 million. Positive dynamics are also observed in relations with the Netherlands ($357.6 million), Algeria ($276.6 million), and Lebanon ($243.8 million).
Ukraine also has a high trade surplus with Iraq ($189.0 million), Libya ($133.6 million), Saudi Arabia ($128.4 million), and Kazakhstan ($113.6 million).
“The positive trade balance indicates that Ukraine is capable of competing effectively in international markets, especially in the agricultural sector and metallurgy. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that these markets are vulnerable to changes in the global economic situation, price fluctuations, and political factors,” emphasized Maksim Urakin, founder of Experts Club and economist.
According to him, maintaining a positive balance in relations with the countries of the Middle East and North Africa is a key element of Ukraine’s foreign trade strategy.
“Egypt, Spain, and the countries of the Arab world are stable importers of Ukrainian agricultural products. This is a strategic direction that needs to be developed further, as it creates a safety cushion for the economy against the backdrop of significant import costs,” Urakyn emphasized.
Analysts note that consolidating positions in the African and Middle Eastern markets could become a long-term factor in strengthening Ukraine’s foreign economic balance.
Agricultural exports, ALGERIA, ECONOMY, EGYPT, EXPERTS CLUB, FOREIGN TRADE, IRAQ, KAZAKHSTAN, LEBANON, LIBYA, MOLDOVA, NETHERLANDS, positive balance, SAUDI ARABIA, SPAIN, UKRAINE, МАКСИМ УРАКИН
Representatives of Saudi Arabia have expressed their willingness to cooperate in the restoration of critical infrastructure in the Kyiv region, in particular in the completion of the construction of a secondary school for 600 students in the village of Hora, Boryspil district, according to the head of the Kyiv Regional Military Administration (OVA), Mykola Kalashnik.
“I held an online meeting with representatives of the Humanitarian Fund of His Royal Highness Prince Al-Walid bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and the Ukrainian-Arab Business Council. I sincerely thanked our partners from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their willingness to cooperate and their genuine interest in restoring critical infrastructure in the Kyiv region,” he wrote on Telegram on Tuesday.
According to him, the Saudi side confirmed its support for the Kyiv region and its openness to implementing joint humanitarian and social projects. “The key topic of the conversation was the discussion of the completion of the construction of a secondary school for 600 students in the village of Hora in the Boryspil district – an important facility for the community, the construction of which was halted due to the full-scale war,” Kalashnik specified. He reported that the main part of the school has already been built. However, in order to fully commission it, a number of engineering, finishing, and improvement works remain to be completed, as well as the construction of a modern shelter in accordance with safety requirements. According to the head of the OVA, the possibility of involving the Prince Al-Waleed Fund in this project was discussed with the Saudis.
“We are counting on partnership participation in financing the final phase of construction, because this school is the future for hundreds of children in the community,” Kalashnik added.
“I also invited representatives of Saudi businesses to cooperate with the Kyiv region. Our region is not only an area in need of restoration, but also a region of great opportunities. There is potential for launching investment projects in the fields of construction, agriculture, energy, and manufacturing. The interest shown by our Arab partners is further proof that the Kyiv region remains promising and economically attractive even in difficult times,” said the head of the region.
According to the results of a study conducted by Active Group and Experts Club in August 2025, Ukrainians express a predominantly neutral or moderately positive attitude toward Saudi Arabia.
According to the survey, 61.2% of respondents have a neutral attitude toward this country. A positive assessment was given by 24.8% of respondents (3.3% — completely positive, 22.5% — mostly positive). A negative attitude was expressed by 11.0% of Ukrainians (3.4% — completely negative, 9.6% — mostly negative), while 7.0% admitted that they were not familiar enough with the country.
“Saudi Arabia is perceived by Ukrainians as a distant and little-known partner. At the same time, the positive assessment of more than a quarter of respondents indicates interest in cooperation and openness to the development of relations,” commented Active Group Director Oleksandr Pozniy.
Experts Club co-founder Maksym Urakyn emphasized the economic aspect:
“In 2025, trade turnover between Ukraine and Saudi Arabia reached $287.2 million. At the same time, exports from Ukraine amounted to $207.8 million, while imports amounted to only $79.4 million, resulting in a positive balance of $128.4 million. This is one of the most balanced areas for Ukraine, especially in the field of agricultural products,” he said.
The survey was part of a large-scale project by Active Group and Experts Club to study Ukrainians’ attitudes toward countries around the world.
ACTIVE GROUP, EXPERTS CLUB, international relations, Pozniy, SAUDI ARABIA, SOCIOLOGY, TRADE, UKRAINE, УРАКИН
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have signed a strategic mutual defense agreement, under which an attack on one country will be considered an attack on both.
The agreement is called the Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement. It was signed on September 17, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It was signed by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The key provision of the agreement is that “any aggression against one party will be considered aggression against both.” The document does not explicitly mention the use of nuclear weapons or specific military assets, but it states that the agreement covers all defense and military means that the parties deem necessary depending on the threat.
The signing took place against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions, particularly following Israeli airstrikes on Qatar and concerns among Arab states about the reliability of US protection. The long-standing relationship between the countries includes cooperation in training, the presence of Pakistani military personnel in Saudi Arabia, and the protection of Islamic holy sites.
The military forces of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia
To understand which countries are part of the agreement, it is important to assess their military capabilities:
Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Ukraine Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Baraka launched the fifth stage of the project of prosthetic limbs for Ukrainians in Poland, implemented by the King Salman Center for Humanitarian Aid and Support from July 14 to 21, 2025. Ambassador of Ukraine to Poland Vasyl Bodnar took part in the project.
This project is a continuation of the humanitarian aid provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Ukraine, which included food, medicines and power generators. The aim of the project is to provide prosthetic limbs to those who lost them as a result of the war, which will help improve their quality of life and restore mobility.
The project embodies the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s commitment to alleviate the suffering of Ukrainian citizens in the ongoing war in Ukraine and is a continuation of its efforts to mitigate the humanitarian consequences.
The most important goals of the Saudi project are to provide medical assistance to Ukrainian disabled people in Poland. At this stage, prosthetic limbs were fitted to 20 beneficiaries, and the necessary measurements of the limbs for the next stage were taken. Their condition was also monitored, and post-prosthetic rehabilitation and medical education of Ukrainian beneficiaries was conducted.
The Saudi Humanitarian Support Program for Ukraine launched its first phase of the prosthetics project in September 2024. The current stage is the fifth within the framework of this project. Two more stages will be implemented by the end of 2025.
During the previous stages, 115 prosthetic limbs were provided with the participation of 43 qualified medical volunteers. The current stage is being implemented with the participation of seven volunteers. The goal of the project is to fit a total of 137 prostheses, bringing the average number of prostheses fitted per campaign to 30. The project uses the latest Direct Socket prosthetic technology.
The expected cost of all stages of the Saudi humanitarian project to provide prosthetics to Ukrainians, implemented and planned for implementation this year, is USD 3,481,674.67. This project is part of the humanitarian assistance provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to alleviate the suffering of amputees around the world, empower them and improve the quality of life in the affected areas of the world.
It should be noted that during the visit of Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud to Kyiv in February 2023, Saudi Arabia announced various humanitarian aid packages to Ukraine in the amount of USD 410 million.
Source: arab.com.ua/ukr/news/saudivska-araviya-zapuskae-p-yatiy-paket-1752857775.html
Due to the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, particularly following US strikes on Iranian targets, the authorities of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE have temporarily closed their airspace to civilian aircraft. This has led to widespread flight cancellations and diversions by major international airlines.
Qatar closed its airspace on June 23. About 100 flights to Hamad Airport (Doha) were rerouted via Saudi Arabia and Egypt, which lengthened flight times and increased fuel consumption and operating costs.
The UAE (Dubai and Abu Dhabi) also suspended the arrival and departure of all civilian aircraft, which are forced to turn back before entering the country’s airspace.
The states took preventive measures due to the threat of strikes against American and Western targets in the region. International airlines — Singapore Airlines, British Airways, Air France-KLM, American Airlines, United Airlines, and Air Canada — have suspended or changed their routes to these destinations. Flight routes are now being rerouted via the Caspian Sea and Egypt, which will significantly lengthen flights and increase their cost.
The US Air Force is expected to be active in the skies over the Persian Gulf. US military aircraft will participate in repelling Iranian strikes on American bases and allied facilities in the region. No official announcement has been made yet on how many flights have been canceled, but the situation has already caused serious disruptions to air traffic. For passengers, this means delays, ticket cancellations, and longer routes. The aviation industry is preparing for higher costs and fewer flights through one of the world’s key transit hubs.
