Business news from Ukraine

Business news from Ukraine

Ukrainians’ attitude toward Denmark remains positive despite slight decline in positive ratings

The results of a survey conducted in March 2026 by the research company Active Group in collaboration with the Experts Club information and analytical center indicate a consistently positive attitude among Ukrainians toward Denmark, although a slight decline in the overall level of positive assessments has been recorded compared to August 2025. The share of respondents who view Denmark positively stands at 69.9%, down from 73.7% previously. At the same time, negative assessments remain at a minimal level—1.2% compared to 1.3% in the previous period.

In the breakdown of responses, 33.3% of Ukrainians chose the option “completely positive,” while another 36.6% selected “mostly positive.” A neutral attitude was expressed by 26.8% of respondents, indicating a certain degree of distance in the perception of the country, despite the generally high positive sentiment.

The negative segment remains marginal: 0.7% of respondents answered “mostly negative,” and only 0.5% — “completely negative.” Another 2.1% of respondents were undecided. This distribution of assessments underscores that Denmark belongs to the group of countries with the lowest level of critical perception among Ukrainians.

Comparative trends show that the decline in positive assessments occurred primarily due to an increase in neutral responses, rather than a shift into the negative segment. This indicates a gradual shift in perception from emotionally positive to more restrained or less defined.

“Ukrainians do not perceive the world in black-and-white terms and evaluate different countries quite thoughtfully. Where the level of awareness or informational presence is lower, a neutral stance is more likely to form. At the same time, countries that demonstrate consistent support maintain a high level of trust even amid certain fluctuations in indicators,” noted Oleksandr Pozniy, director of the research company Active Group.

Overall, Denmark continues to rank among the countries with the best image in Ukrainian society. A slight decline in positive perception does not alter the overall picture, which is characterized by stable trust, a low level of criticism, and the absence of significant polarization in assessments.

According to a study conducted by the Experts Club information and analytical center based on data from the State Customs Service, Denmark ranks 30th in total trade volume with Ukraine, which amounts to $671.9 million. At the same time, imports of Danish goods are more than double Ukrainian exports, resulting in a trade deficit of over $231 million.

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.

 

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Ukrainians’ Attitudes Toward Israel Have Deteriorated – Study by Experts Club and Active Group

The results of a public opinion poll conducted in March 2026 by the research firm Active Group in collaboration with the Experts Club information and analytical center indicate a noticeable deterioration in Ukrainians’ attitudes toward Israel. The share of positive assessments fell from 44.7% in August 2025 to 38.7%, while negative attitudes rose from 13.7% to 19.8%.

In the breakdown of responses, only 12.6% of respondents chose the “completely positive” option, and another 26.1% selected “mostly positive.” At the same time, 38.2% of those surveyed took a neutral stance, indicating a significant proportion of citizens who do not have a clearly formed attitude or refrain from making assessments.

The negative segment shows growth due to both moderate and sharply critical assessments. The share of “mostly negative” attitudes is 14.7%, and “completely negative” is 5.1%. This means that nearly one in five Ukrainians views Israel negatively, which is one of the highest rates among the countries surveyed. Another 3.3% of respondents were undecided.

The dynamics of change between the two waves of the survey indicate not only a decline in positive sentiment but also a shift of some respondents into the negative segment. This distinguishes the situation from other countries, where a decline in positive sentiment is often accompanied by an increase in neutrality rather than criticism.

“These results show that attitudes toward individual countries are highly sensitive to the foreign policy context and the information landscape. When society develops a contradictory or ambiguous perception of the state’s actions, this is quickly reflected in an increase in negative assessments. At the same time, a high level of neutrality means that a significant portion of Ukrainians have not yet formed a definitive position,” noted Maksym Urakin, founder of the Experts Club information and analytical center.

Thus, in the perception of Ukrainians, Israel is moving into the group of countries with a more polarized image. The combination of a high proportion of neutral responses with a rise in negative sentiment indicates the instability of public opinion, which may change under the influence of future events and information signals.

According to a study conducted by the Experts Club Information and Analytical Center based on data from the State Customs Service, Israel ranks 29th in total trade volume with Ukraine, with a figure of $714.7 million. Imports from Israel slightly exceed Ukrainian exports, resulting in a moderately 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.

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Ukrainians’ Attitudes Toward Algeria Remain Largely Neutral – Experts Club

Algeria belongs to a group of countries toward which Ukrainian society demonstrates a limited level of formed opinion. According to the results of a survey conducted in March 2026 by the research company Active Group in collaboration with the information and analytical center Experts Club, 74.1% of respondents rated their attitude toward this country as neutral. This percentage is one of the highest among all countries surveyed and indicates a low level of awareness or personal experience of interaction with Algeria.

A positive attitude toward Algeria was expressed by 9.3% of Ukrainians, which is less than the 11.7% recorded in August 2025. The breakdown of positive assessments consists of 3.3% “completely positive” and 6.1% “mostly positive” responses. The decline in this indicator suggests a certain waning of interest or the absence of new factors that could strengthen the country’s positive image.

At the same time, negative attitudes rose from 6.0% to 9.1%. The majority of these are “mostly negative” assessments (7.2%), while “completely negative” responses account for 1.9%. Although the absolute figures remain relatively low, the trend itself indicates a gradual increase in critical perceptions.

Particular attention is drawn to the share of those who could not decide on an answer—7.5%. This is yet another indicator that, for a significant portion of Ukrainians, Algeria remains a country with limited media presence and, consequently, a poorly defined image.

Taken together, these indicators paint a characteristic picture: Algeria is perceived predominantly neutrally, with a slight preponderance of negative assessments over positive ones. This balance differs from countries that have a more clearly defined positive or negative profile in the minds of Ukrainians.

“In the case of countries like Algeria, we see a classic situation of informational distance. Ukrainians lack sufficient contacts, signals, or experience of interaction to form a clear attitude. As a result, neutrality prevails, which can easily shift in either a positive or negative direction depending on external factors,” noted Maksym Urakin, founder of the Experts Club information and analytical center.

Thus, Algeria remains a country with a low level of emotional engagement among the Ukrainian public. The future dynamics of its perception will largely depend on the intensity of economic, political, and informational contacts between the two countries, as well as on Algeria’s presence in the Ukrainian public sphere.

According to a study conducted by the Experts Club information and analytical center based on data from the State Customs Service, Algeria ranks 28th in total trade volume with Ukraine, amounting to $762.9 million. At the same time, Ukraine has a trade surplus with Algeria, as exports of Ukrainian goods exceed imports by more than 4.5 times.

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.

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Ukrainians Maintain Consistently High Level of Trust in Switzerland – Experts Club

The results of a survey conducted in March 2026 by the research firm Active Group in collaboration with the Experts Club information and analytical center indicate that Ukrainians continue to hold a high level of positive sentiment toward Switzerland, although the overall share of positive assessments has declined slightly compared to August 2025—from 71.7% to 67.8%. At the same time, negative attitudes have decreased from 3.3% to 0.7%, confirming a consistently low level of critical perception of this country.

The breakdown of responses shows a balanced positive perception: 29.6% of respondents rated their attitude as “entirely positive,” and another 38.2% as “mostly positive.” Thus, Switzerland remains in the group of countries with a predominantly positive image among Ukrainians, although the trend indicates a certain increase in the share of neutral assessments.

A neutral position was chosen by 30.1% of respondents, which is a relatively high figure and may indicate the country’s limited informational presence or a lack of direct experience of interaction. Negative assessments remain minimal: 0.7% of respondents indicated a “mostly negative” attitude, while the share of completely negative responses is virtually nonexistent. Another 1.4% of respondents were undecided.

Compared to the previous period, the key trend is not so much an increase in negativity as a shift of some positive assessments into the neutral category. This indicates a certain cooling of emotional perception, but without the formation of a negative attitude.

“Switzerland is traditionally perceived by Ukrainians as a stable and neutral country with a high level of trust. At the same time, we see that some respondents are shifting to a neutral position, which may be linked to the reduced visibility of specific actions or projects. This does not mean a deterioration of the image, but rather indicates a need for more active communication,” noted Oleksandr Pozniy, director of the research company Active Group.

Overall, the survey results confirm that Switzerland maintains a positive image in Ukrainian society; however, the dynamics of the ratings indicate the importance of a constant presence in the information sphere and the development of bilateral ties to sustain this level of trust.

According to a study conducted by the Experts Club information and analytical center based on data from the State Customs Service, Switzerland ranks 27th in total trade volume of goods with Ukraine, with a figure of $994.7 million. At the same time, imports of Swiss goods significantly exceed Ukrainian exports, resulting in a trade deficit of over $780 million.

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.

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Ukraine and Serbia Have Resumed Negotiations on Free Trade Area

According to Serbian Economist, Ukraine has resumed negotiations with Serbia on establishing a free trade area, as the current level of trade between the two countries remains relatively low. Ukrainian Ambassador to Serbia Oleksandr Litvinenko stated this in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine. According to him, a free trade zone could revitalize bilateral economic ties and, at the same time, fit naturally into the European integration of both countries. Among the promising sectors, the diplomat cited mechanical engineering, particularly agricultural machinery.

For the Serbian Economist, what matters in this story is not only the political signal but also the plain arithmetic. According to official data from the Statistical Office of Serbia, in 2025, Serbian exports to Ukraine amounted to €179.6 million, imports from Ukraine to €212.2 million, and total trade turnover reached approximately €391.8 million. At the same time, Ukraine’s share of Serbian exports and imports remains at only about 0.5%, which indeed confirms the thesis that the scale of trade is still limited.

The current range of trade between the countries still appears rather narrow and largely consists of raw materials. According to data from the Ukrainian Embassy in Serbia, the main items of Ukrainian exports to Serbia are iron ore and ferrous metals, wood and wood products, as well as plastics and polymer materials. More detailed product statistics show that among the largest Ukrainian shipments to Serbia were iron ore worth $61.6 million, hot-rolled iron products worth $11.9 million, and semi-finished iron products worth $8.92 million.

From the Serbian side, exports to Ukraine currently consist mainly of fertilizers, plastics and polymer materials, electrical machinery, ferrous metals, soap, and rubber.

If we look at the potential impact of the FTA in practical terms, the most logical outcome appears to be an expansion of trade in those niches where one side can offer the other either cheaper or scarcer goods. For Ukraine, in addition to the metallurgical and raw material products already being exported to Serbia, these could include agricultural machinery, certain types of metal products, wood processing, value-added food products, and niche consumer goods.

For Serbia, the most potentially attractive goods on the Ukrainian market in the event of an FTA could be fertilizers, polymers, electrical equipment, pharmaceuticals, rubber products, tires, and auto parts. In other words, an FTA could theoretically shift trade from a narrow exchange of raw materials toward a greater number of processed goods on both sides.

A separate sensitive issue is Serbia’s status in the WTO. Serbia is still not a member of the World Trade Organization. The latest European Commission report on Serbia explicitly states that the process has stalled primarily due to the lack of a WTO-compliant law on GMOs and due to unfinished market access negotiations with a small number of WTO members. Belgrade has not concluded some of the bilateral negotiations required for WTO accession, and older Serbian documents listed Ukraine, Brazil, Russia, and the United States among the problematic partners.

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Ukrainians Consistently View Japan Positively – Experts Club

The results of a sociological survey conducted in March 2026 by the polling firm Active Group in collaboration with the Experts Club information and analytical center show a high and steadily rising level of positive sentiment toward Japan among Ukrainians. The share of positive assessments stands at 71.8%, exceeding the August 2025 figure (68.7%). At the same time, negative attitudes remain minimal—2.8% compared to 2.7% previously.

The breakdown of responses indicates a deeply positive perception of this country. Specifically, 32.9% of respondents describe their attitude as “entirely positive,” while another 38.9% describe it as “mostly positive.” This combination of indicators results in one of the highest proportions of positive attitudes among all countries surveyed.

At the same time, 24.2% of respondents hold a neutral position, indicating a certain distance in perception—likely due to limited direct contact or Japan’s limited presence in the Ukrainian media landscape. Negative assessments remain at a low level: 1.9% — “mostly negative” and 0.9% — “completely negative.” Another 1.2% of respondents were undecided.

The trend indicates a gradual strengthening of Japan’s positive image in Ukraine. The increase in the share of positive responses occurred without a significant rise in negative sentiment, indicating a steady expansion of positive perception rather than a redistribution of assessments across categories.

“For Ukrainians, Japan is an example of a country with a high level of trust and a stable positive image. We see that even without any major news events, its perception is gradually improving. This means that long-term reputation and consistent cooperation policies work much more effectively than short-term media effects,” noted Oleksandr Pozniy, director of the research company Active Group.

Overall, the survey results confirm that Japan is among the countries with the most positive perception among Ukrainians. At the same time, the growth in positive assessments against a backdrop of consistently low negative sentiment indicates the formation of a long-term and stable image of the country as a reliable partner.

According to a study conducted by the Experts Club information and analytical center based on data from the State Customs Service, Japan ranks 26th in total trade volume with Ukraine, with a figure of $1.12 billion. At the same time, imports from Japan almost entirely dominate bilateral trade, resulting in a significant trade deficit for Ukraine of over $1.05 billion.

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.

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