Romanian Prime Minister Luca Niculescu stated that a possible unification of Romania and the Republic of Moldova depends on the will of the citizens of both countries; however, Bucharest’s current priority remains strengthening bilateral economic cooperation and supporting Moldova’s accession to the European Union. The head of the Romanian government made these remarks on October 27, 2026, in an interview with TVR Moldova during an official visit to Chisinau.
“This will happen when the citizens of both countries want it,” Niculescu said, responding to a question about the prospects for unification.
According to him, there are close historical, cultural, and economic ties between Romania and Moldova, which is why the issue of a possible unification remains a topic of public debate.
At the same time, the prime minister emphasized that the Romanian government is currently focused on further bringing the two countries closer together and accelerating Moldova’s European integration.
Niculescu made his first foreign visit after taking office as Prime Minister of Romania to Chisinau, where he held talks with his Moldovan counterpart, Vasile Tofan, and President Maia Sandu.
During the talks, the parties paid particular attention to expanding trade and economic cooperation, developing energy infrastructure and transportation links, and attracting Romanian investment.
According to Niculescu, trade between Romania and Moldova reached approximately €4.5 billion in 2025. Romanian investments have created about 12,000 jobs in Moldova.
The development of transport corridors across the Prut River remains one of the priorities of bilateral cooperation. The parties discussed accelerating the construction of a bridge in the Ungheni area, modernizing border infrastructure, and organizing joint control at the Cantemir–Fălciu crossing.
In the energy sector, discussions focused on expanding electrical interconnections between the two countries, including the construction of the Bălți–Suceava power line.
In addition, Moldova is interested in purchasing natural gas to be produced on the Romanian Black Sea shelf as part of the Neptun Deep project once it becomes operational.
During the visit, the prime ministers also reviewed the progress of the Chisinau substation modernization project, which is part of the new 157-km Vulcanesti–Chisinau power transmission line.
The new energy infrastructure is expected to strengthen Moldova’s independence from electricity supplies via the Transnistrian region and expand opportunities for imports from the European market.
The parties paid special attention to the participation of Romanian businesses in the Moldovan economy. Industry, energy, technology, and transportation infrastructure were cited as promising areas.
Moldovan Prime Minister Vasile Tofan also proposed viewing the country as a platform for Romanian companies to participate in Ukraine’s reconstruction projects.
The issue of regional security was another key topic of the talks against the backdrop of Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine.
Tofan stated that the security of Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania is closely intertwined, and that Russian air attacks and airspace violations pose threats to the entire region.
According to the Moldovan prime minister, more than 100 unauthorized overflights have been recorded in the country’s airspace since the start of the full-scale war.
Niculescu confirmed Bucharest’s intention to continue supporting Moldova’s European integration, including facilitating the opening of the remaining negotiation chapters by the end of 2026.
Thus, the Romanian government views economic integration, the development of shared infrastructure, and Moldova’s accession to the EU as priority areas for cooperation. The possible political unification of the two states remains a separate issue, the resolution of which, according to Niculescu’s position, must be based on the will of their citizens.
Romania and the Republic of Moldova share a border approximately 680 km long and have close linguistic and cultural ties. Most of the territory of modern-day Moldova was part of Romania from 1918 to 1940. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Republic of Moldova declared its independence on August 27, 1991. Romania has been a member of the European Union since 2007, while Moldova was granted EU candidate status in June 2022, and official accession negotiations began in June 2024.
According to Experts.news, the lack of an effective out-of-court mechanism for settling consumer loan debts contributes to a significant number of court cases between financial companies and borrowers. At the same time, it is precisely the judicial process that allows for verifying the validity of the interest charged and protecting consumers from excessive financial demands, according to Vasyl Krat, a judge of the Supreme Court of Ukraine.
As noted in a study by the analytical service “OpenDataBot,” published on October 28, 2026, all ten of the country’s largest corporate plaintiffs operate in the financial sector.
“Ukr Credit Finance” topped the ranking, with 80,421 court cases filed based on its claims during the incomplete year of 2026. In second place is “Consumer Center” with 68,076 cases.
Overall, among the hundred legal entities that most frequently filed lawsuits in 2026, 39 operate in the lending and other financial services sectors.
Commenting on the study’s findings, Krat noted that current regulations governing the collection of consumer loan debts limit the use of notarial enforcement orders and arbitration proceedings.
As a result, creditors are forced to turn to state courts.
According to the judge, the problem is exacerbated by the financial consequences of a full-scale war. The loss of jobs, income, and property is forcing a portion of the population to resort to accessible forms of short-term lending, particularly microloans.
At the same time, the ability to obtain a loan quickly does not always correspond to the borrower’s ability to fulfill their obligations on time.
Excessive interest rates remain a separate problem.
Krat reported that in one court case, the effective annual interest rate on a loan was 1,139,966%.
This figure, cited by the judge as an example of judicial practice, is not the current permitted rate for new consumer loans.
In Ukraine, a cap on the maximum daily interest rate for consumer loans at 1% has been in effect since August 20, 2024.
This provision was established by Law No. 3498-IX of November 22, 2023, with a phased reduction of the permitted rate during the transition period.
As clarified by the Supreme Court on September 14, 2026, for agreements entered into after the end of the transition period, any provision regarding a daily rate that exceeds the maximum established by law is not applicable to the extent of the excess.
However, the new restrictions do not automatically apply to agreements entered into before the relevant amendments took effect.
In particular, when considering disputes regarding old loan agreements, it is necessary to take into account the date of their conclusion, any possible extension of the loan term, and the provisions of the legislation in effect during the relevant period.
These issues were addressed by the Joint Chamber of the Civil Cassation Court within the Supreme Court, specifically in its ruling of September 7, 2026, in Case No. 552/672/23.
The court noted that, under certain circumstances, excessive or ambiguously worded terms of a loan agreement may be subject to judicial review under consumer protection laws.
At the same time, certain remedies require the borrower to file specific claims, whereas the court may interpret ambiguous provisions of the agreement in favor of the consumer directly during the resolution of the dispute.
This issue has significant economic implications.
According to OpenDataBot, based on statistics from the National Bank of Ukraine, as of July 1, 2026, the total debt of the population to microfinance organizations reached 32.32 billion UAH.
Since the beginning of the year, this figure has increased by 17%, or 4.7 billion UAH.
In the first half of the year, Ukrainians entered into nearly 4.2 million contracts with microfinance organizations totaling 37.5 billion UAH.
The growth in loan debt, combined with restrictions on extrajudicial collection, places an additional burden on the judicial system. At the same time, the available data does not allow for determining what proportion of new court cases is directly related to delinquent microloans and how many of them concern challenges to accrued interest.
The Supreme Court of Ukraine is the highest court in the country’s judicial system. It includes the Civil Court of Cassation, which hears, among other things, disputes related to the fulfillment of credit obligations and the protection of the rights of consumers of financial services.
Sources: “OpenDataBot,” study dated October 28, 2026; Supreme Court of Ukraine, clarification by Vasyl Krat dated September 14, 2026; Supreme Court, materials from the National Judicial Forum dated October 20, 2026; “OpenDataBot,” microloan debt.
According to Experts.news, all ten of Ukraine’s largest corporate plaintiffs—based on the number of new court cases in 2026—operate in the financial sector. Furthermore, among the 100 most active legal entities that filed lawsuits, 39 are engaged in lending and providing other financial services, according to data from the “OpenDataBot” study published on October 28, 2026.
According to data from the court registry, the largest number of cases filed in the incomplete year of 2026 were initiated by the financial company “Ukr Credit Finance”—80,421.
Second place goes to “Consumer Center” with 68,076 cases, third to “Universal Bank” with 25,544, fourth to “Accent Bank” with 22,002, and fifth to “Factoring Partners” with 19,688.
In sixth place is “Unit Capital” with 19,050 cases. Next are “Digi Finance” with 17,050 cases, “Collect Center” with 16,699, “Credit Capital” with 15,613, and the “European Debt Recovery Agency” with 14,993.
Thus, according to calculations based on the published ranking, the ten largest corporate plaintiffs account for a total of over 299,000 new court cases for the incomplete year of 2026.
At the same time, just two leaders—“Ukr Credit Finance” and “Consumer Center”—appear in 148,497 cases, accounting for nearly half of the top ten’s combined total.
Compared to 2025, the structure of the ranking has changed significantly.
“Ukr Credit Finance” rose from eighth place to first, and “Factoring Partners” rose from 17th to fifth.
“Universal Bank” improved its position from fifth to third, and “Accent Bank” from sixth to fourth. “Unit Capital” rose from ninth to sixth place, “Digi Finance” from 15th to seventh, and “Collect Center” from 13th to eighth.
At the same time, the “European Debt Recovery Agency,” which ranked first in 2025, fell to tenth place.
The ranking indicates a high concentration of legal actions among credit market participants; however, it does not allow for determining what proportion of these lawsuits was successful or what amounts were actually recovered from debtors.
Utilities and energy companies also play a significant role among the top 100 corporate plaintiffs.
According to “OpenDataBot,” 24 entities in the ranking operate in the electricity, gas, heating, and water supply sectors.
Another 14 organizations belong to the public administration sector.
Thus, the most active corporate plaintiffs are predominantly organizations whose activities are related to consumers’ financial obligations, the provision of financial or utility services, and the performance of government functions.
Vasyl Krat, a judge on the Supreme Court of Ukraine, attributes the high level of litigation activity by creditors to the limited options for out-of-court debt collection on consumer loans.
According to him, for banks and financial companies, going to court in many cases remains the primary means of enforcing debt collection.
At the same time, court proceedings allow for verification of the validity of the creditor’s claims, including the legality of the interest charged.
The “OpenDataBot” study covers court cases from 2025–2026 in which legal entities served as plaintiffs. The published results for 2026 are preliminary and are compared with the full previous calendar year.
Source: “OpenDataBot,” a study of Ukraine’s largest corporate plaintiffs dated October 28, 2026.
In August 2026, Ukrainian banks issued 722 mortgage loans totaling 1.54 billion hryvnia, which is 6.7% more than in July, when 710 loans totaling 1.44 billion hryvnia were issued, according to the results of a monthly survey by the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU).
“The quality of the mortgage portfolio is good: the share of non-performing loans is only 11%,” the regulator commented on the situation.
According to the central bank’s data, the volume of loans issued increased by 5.5% compared to August 2025.
As the National Bank specifies, among the 38 surveyed banks—which collectively account for over 95% of the gross mortgage portfolio—11 banks issued new loans in September.
In the primary housing market, 393 transactions totaling 839.2 million UAH were concluded in August, compared to 367 transactions totaling 730.4 million UAH in July. In the secondary market, there were 329 transactions totaling 702.4 million UAH, compared to 343 transactions totaling 714.0 million UAH, respectively.
The weighted average effective interest rate in the primary market rose to 7.7% per annum in August 2026 (7.64% in July), while in the secondary market it fell to 10.0% (10.06%).
Survey data show that the largest number of mortgage loans in August was issued in Kyiv and the Kyiv region—348 loans totaling 793 million UAH, or 51.5% of the total volume. Next came Lviv Oblast—61 loans totaling 141 million UAH, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast—35 million UAH out of 67 million UAH, and Rivne Oblast—25 million UAH out of 56 million UAH.
Ukrainian boxer Vladislav Naumenko won a silver medal at the World Youth Championships. On his way to the final, the athlete fought five bouts, winning four of them—two by early stoppage.
During the tournament, Naumenko defeated opponents from Belarus and Algeria by stoppage, and also won bouts against boxers from Poland and Kazakhstan. In the final, the Ukrainian boxer faced a representative from Uzbekistan and, at the conclusion of the competition, became the silver medalist of the world championship.
“Reaching the World Championship final and winning a silver medal is a significant achievement for a young athlete and the result of the boxer’s and his coach’s hard work together. Vladislav demonstrated character, a high level of training, and the ability to overcome challenging bouts against strong opponents. Such results are important not only for the athlete himself but also for the development of Ukrainian boxing. I am confident that this experience will serve as a foundation for his future professional growth and new victories,” said Oleksandr Negoda, president of the Kyiv City Organization of the Ukrainian Boxing Federation.
Vladislav’s father, who works with him as part of their coaching duo, plays a key role in his training. His performance at the World Championships was the result of their joint efforts.
The Kyiv Department of Youth and Sports congratulated the athlete and his father on their successful performance, noting the effectiveness of their work and expressing confidence in their ability to achieve new athletic accomplishments.
Investment firm Concorde Capital forecasts a 1% decline in Ukraine’s GDP by the end of 2026 and expects a further contraction next year, said the company’s founder and CEO, Ihor Mazepa, during the Forbes Ukraine “Private Investments” conference in Kyiv on Tuesday.
“Industrial production will decline by 3%, and inflation will be around 12%,” he added, elaborating on the forecast for 2026.
This forecast takes into account the consequences of Russian attacks, including the closure of major metallurgical and agricultural companies, as well as the destruction of warehouses.
As previously reported, in its October macroeconomic review, the KSE Institute downgraded its forecast for Ukraine’s real GDP in 2026 from 1.9% growth to a 0.3% decline, and for 2027—from 2.1% growth to a 0.6% contraction—due to intensified Russian attacks on critical infrastructure and production facilities.
In early October, the World Bank projected a slowdown in Ukraine’s GDP growth to 1.2% in 2026 from 1.8% in 2025, followed by an acceleration to 1.5% in 2027, while revising down its forecast for the following year from 4%.
In the October issue of the World Economic Outlook, the IMF forecasts Ukraine’s GDP growth in 2026 at 1%, down from 1–1.6% in its June forecast, and maintained its forecast for 2027 at 3.5%.
Due to Russia’s attacks on ports and ships in the Black Sea, the EBRD has lowered its forecast for Ukraine’s real GDP growth in 2026 to 1.5% from 2.2%, and for 2027 to 2.5% from 4%.
Dragon Capital currently expects Ukraine’s GDP to contract by 0.5% in 2026 and by 1% in 2027, whereas prior to the escalation of the war in July, it had forecast growth of 1.5% and 0.5%, respectively.
The ICU Investment Group, which in June downgraded its forecast for Ukraine’s real GDP growth in 2026 to 0.8% from 1.2%, now expects it to contract by 0.6% this year and by 1.9% next year.
