The UK intends to tighten the rules for obtaining permanent residency for most migrants by extending the standard waiting period from five to ten years. The primary source of this initiative is the UK government’s immigration White Paper, “Restoring control over the immigration system.” These documents explicitly mention a transition from the current five-year baseline to a new standard threshold of ten years.
The new model implies that the right to permanent residence will no longer be granted automatically after a fixed period of stay. The authorities want to link it to criteria regarding behavior, integration, and contribution to British society and the economy. The official consultation states that when reviewing applications, the following will be taken into account: the legality and continuity of residence, knowledge of the English language, passing the Life in the UK test, no criminal offenses, and, likely, verified employment and tax contributions.
The consultation on the earned settlement reform ran from November 20, 2025, to February 12, 2026, and the government says it is currently analyzing the feedback received. At the same time, London has already begun to implement related changes: on March 5, 2026, the Home Office announced stricter English language requirements for obtaining settlement, with these changes set to take effect in March 2027.
Ukrainians’ attitude toward the United Kingdom remains one of the most positive among all countries covered by a public opinion poll conducted in March 2026 by the research firm Active Group in collaboration with the Experts Club information and analytical center. The share of positive assessments stands at 74.6%, which is only slightly lower than the August 2025 figure (75.3%). At the same time, the share of negative assessments has risen slightly—from 5.0% to 5.8%.
Positive assessments dominate the response structure: 40.3% of respondents expressed a “completely positive” attitude, while another 34.3% expressed a “mostly positive” attitude. This distribution indicates a high level of trust and a clearly established positive perception of the country among Ukrainians.
The share of neutral assessments stands at 18.2%, which is a relatively low figure and confirms that the majority of respondents have a definite attitude toward the United Kingdom. Negative assessments remain limited: 3.3% chose “mostly negative,” and 2.6% chose “completely negative.” Another 1.4% of respondents were unable to answer.
A comparison with the previous period shows that the overall level of positive perception of the United Kingdom remains consistently high, although there has been a slight increase in critical assessments. At the same time, these changes are not systematic in nature and do not affect the overall picture, in which the United Kingdom retains its position among Ukraine’s most positively perceived partners.
A distinctive feature of attitudes toward this country is the high proportion of “fully positive” assessments, indicating an emotionally strong perception. This means that the image of the UK in Ukrainian society is shaped not only on a rational level but also has a significant value-based and symbolic component.
“Attitudes toward the UK demonstrate that Ukrainians quite clearly distinguish the roles of different countries in the international context. Where there is a consistent position and clear signals of support, a stable positive image is formed. Even slight fluctuations in the indicators do not change the overall level of trust in such partners,” noted Oleksandr Pozniy, director of the research company Active Group.
Thus, the survey results indicate that the United Kingdom maintains one of the highest levels of positive perception among Ukrainians. Minor changes in the dynamics do not affect the overall trend: the country remains a stable and positively viewed partner in Ukrainian public opinion.
According to a study conducted by the Experts Club information and analytical center based on data from the State Customs Service, the United Kingdom ranks 17th in total trade volume with Ukraine, with a figure of $2.08 billion. At the same time, imports of British goods exceed Ukrainian exports, resulting in a negative bilateral trade balance of over $785 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.
ACTIVE GROUP, EXPERTS CLUB, Pozniy, SOCIOLOGY, SURVEY, UKRAINE, UNITED KINGDOM, URAKIN
The UK has launched the Snooz ice cream brand, which is positioned as a product for evening consumption and contains chamomile, lemon balm, magnesium, and theanine. The launch of the new line was reported by specialized British publications covering branding and consumer trends.
According to the reports, the brand is capitalizing on consumers’ habit of eating ice cream in the evening. Materials about the launch of Snooz state that over 60% of ice cream is consumed after 6:00 PM, and the product’s positioning is built on this insight.
The ice cream’s ingredients include chamomile, lemon balm, magnesium, and theanine, which the brand classifies as sleep-friendly ingredients. However, available reports focus on the product’s marketing positioning as a better option for a late-night snack, rather than a medically proven remedy for insomnia.
The Snooz line features three main flavors: vanilla, chocolate, and salted caramel.
British Defense Minister John Gilli announced the allocation of an additional half a billion pounds ($681.4 million) to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense.
According to an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent, Gilley made the announcement ahead of a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels.
“This afternoon, I will confirm that the UK is providing Ukraine with an additional half a billion pounds for urgent air defense.
In this way, the UK is acting as a force for good in the world, building a new agreement on European security within NATO,” he said during a conversation with the media.
Gilley added that he is proud of the UK’s leadership and commitment to its allies.
“We will support you. We will defend you. We will fight alongside you in this new era of threats and brute force,” the minister said.
Gilley also confirmed that the UK will play a central role in NATO’s Arctic security mission, which aims to strengthen security in the region.
Later, the UK government website published a press release on a new aid package for Ukraine to strengthen its air defense. The new £500 million package includes £150 million for NATO’s PURL initiative and an additional 1,000 British-made missiles.
The Minister of Defense confirmed that the UK will provide £150 million for the first time to NATO’s Priority Urgent Requirements List (PURL) initiative, which ensures the rapid delivery of air defense interceptor missiles to protect Ukraine’s skies.
In addition, the UK intends to supply an additional 1,000 Belfast-made Light Multi-Mission Missiles (LMM).
This £390 million deal is based on deepening cooperation between British and Ukrainian industry on the transfer of production and support for Rapid Ranger launchers and command and control vehicles to Ukraine.
The government has announced that in the coming months, the UK will also supply an additional 1,200 air defense missiles and 200,000 artillery shells.
As reported, Defense Minister Gille is co-chairing the 33rd meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group today (February 12, 2026) at NATO headquarters in Brussels.
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Neil Crompton has been appointed as the new British ambassador to Ukraine.
“Mr. Crompton will take up his post in October 2025,” according to a statement on the British government’s website.
Crompton has been appointed ambassador to Ukraine to replace Martin Harris, Knight of the Order of the British Empire, who is moving to another position in the diplomatic service.
Neil Crompton is a British diplomat with many years of experience. From 2020 to 2025, he served as British ambassador to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. From 2015 to 2019, he was director of the Middle East and North Africa Department at the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). From 2014 to 2015, he headed the Department for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and from 2011 to 2014, the Department for South Asia and Afghanistan.
From 2007 to 2011, Crompton worked as an advisor on foreign and security policy in Washington. From 2005 to 2007, he coordinated Iran issues at the Foreign Office, and from 2003 to 2005, he headed the Iraq policy unit. He began his career at the Foreign Office in 1995.
Source: https://interfax.com.ua/news/diplomats/1114739.html
Ukraine and Poland have overtaken the Netherlands to become the largest suppliers of eggs to the UK in 2025, prompting criticism of imports of “cage” eggs, which have been banned in the UK since 2012. This was reported by The Guardian newspaper.
According to the UK’s Animal and Plant Health Agency, Ukraine has exported 8 million kg of eggs to the country since the beginning of the year, Poland has exported almost 7 million kg, and Spain has exported about 5 million kg.
Despite the overall decline in tonnage, the number of shipments has increased — instead of large batches, many small batches began to be exported from countries where cage farming is still common.
Mark Williams, chairman of the British Egg Industry Council, said that British producers are at a disadvantage because they have to invest in stricter standards for keeping birds. At the same time, imported eggs from Ukraine and Poland come from systems that are banned in the UK. He called this “morally wrong” and called on the government to take measures to protect the domestic market.
Egg imports are mostly destined for the catering and food industry segments, rather than supermarkets (where British Lion-labeled eggs dominate). It is estimated that the UK produces about 88% of its own eggs, importing the remaining 12%.
The British government has stated that it is involved in working on new regulations to level the playing field for domestic producers. At the same time, tariff exemptions for Ukraine were extended for many goods after the start of the war, but the “eggs and poultry” category received only a short-term deferral.
Source: https://open4business.com.ua/ukrayina-stala-najbilshym-postachalnykom-yayecz-do-velykoyi-brytaniyi/
