On October 20, Hungary blocked the next stage of the negotiation process regarding Ukraine and Moldova’s accession to the European Union by refusing to approve the results of the preliminary review of legislation for the last two outstanding negotiation clusters. Budapest’s position was not supported by the remaining 26 EU countries, according to “European Truth,” citing European diplomats.
The decision was discussed at a meeting of the EU Council’s Working Group on Enlargement (COELA) in Brussels. The participants had planned to approve the results of the screening of Ukrainian and Moldovan legislation regarding negotiation clusters No. 4 and No. 5, which is a necessary procedural step before their official opening.
However, the Hungarian representative refused to support the approval of the documents, despite the position of the other EU member states.
As three European diplomats told The Kyiv Independent, representatives from other countries asked the Hungarian delegation to explain the reasons for the refusal. According to one of the publication’s sources, Budapest did not provide any new arguments, stating only that its position remains unchanged.
At the time of publication, Hungary’s official mission to the EU had not provided the publication with a comment.
The fourth negotiation cluster, “Green Agenda and Sustainable Interconnectivity,” covers transportation policy, energy, trans-European networks, environmental legislation, and the fight against climate change.
The fifth cluster, “Resources, Agriculture, and Cohesion Policy,” involves harmonizing regulations in the areas of agricultural policy, food security, veterinary and phytosanitary controls, fisheries, regional development, as well as financial and budgetary provisions.
Both clusters are of significant importance for Ukraine’s economic integration into the EU, as they concern access for agricultural products to the European market, transportation, energy infrastructure, and future mechanisms for the distribution of European budget funds.
This new impasse occurred one week after the previous progress in the negotiation process.
On October 13, the Council of the EU officially opened two negotiation clusters for Ukraine and Moldova: No. 2, “Internal Market,” and No. 3, “Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth.” These clusters encompass 17 negotiation chapters, including issues related to competition, entrepreneurship, and economic regulation.
As reported by the Council of the EU, at that time, four of the six clusters provided for in the accession procedure had been opened for both countries.
The previous decision became possible after Hungary withdrew its objections to the opening of the second and third clusters following the Verkhovna Rada’s adoption on October 12 of amendments to education legislation concerning the rights of national minorities.
Previously, Budapest had linked the progress of negotiations to ensuring the linguistic and educational rights of the Hungarian community in Zakarpattia.
According to The Kyiv Independent, the current delay may prove to be temporary. European diplomats expect that the remaining two negotiation clusters will be officially opened in December 2026.
Ireland, which will hold the EU Council presidency in the second half of 2026, intends to continue discussing this issue at upcoming meetings of the Enlargement Working Group.
However, Hungary’s October decision does not cancel the negotiation clusters that have already been opened and does not mean the end of accession negotiations for Ukraine and Moldova. It does, however, delay the necessary harmonization of documents required for both countries to move forward.
Ukraine and Moldova were granted EU candidate status in June 2022. In December 2023, the European Council decided to open negotiations, and the first intergovernmental conference took place in June 2024.
The accession process involves aligning national legislation with EU law, implementing institutional reforms, and negotiating 35 chapters, most of which are grouped into six thematic clusters. The opening of all clusters marks a stage in the negotiations but does not in itself signify the completion of the accession process.
EUROPEAN INTEGRATION, EUROPEAN UNION, HUNGARY, MOLDOVA, UKRAINE
Net inflows from non-residents for real estate purchases in Egypt for the 2025/2026 fiscal year, which ended on June 30, increased by 47.4% compared to the previous fiscal year—rising from $1.9 billion to $2.8 billion. This is according to data from the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) published on October 12, 2026.
Thus, revenues increased by approximately $900 million over the course of the year. This positive trend is driven by growing international demand for Egyptian real estate, the development of major construction projects, and government initiatives aimed at attracting foreign capital.
However, the Central Bank’s statistics include real estate purchases by all non-residents, including foreign nationals and Egyptians permanently residing abroad. Therefore, the $2.8 billion figure cannot be attributed entirely to foreign nationals.
The growth in real estate investment has become part of an overall increase in the inflow of foreign capital into Egypt’s economy. According to Central Bank data, the net inflow of foreign direct investment in the 2025/2026 fiscal year reached approximately $18 billion, compared to $12.2 billion a year earlier.
In particular, investments in the establishment of new enterprises and capital increases for existing companies rose to $8.8 billion from $5.5 billion. Reinvested earnings increased from $4.2 billion to $6.2 billion, while net proceeds from the sale of companies and production assets to non-residents totaled $433.2 million, compared to $399.8 million a year earlier.
Large-scale real estate development projects along the Mediterranean coast, in New Cairo, and in Egypt’s new administrative capital play a significant role in attracting investment.
In May 2026, Egypt’s Ministry of Justice finalized a draft law regulating the purchase of completed real estate and undeveloped land plots by foreign nationals. Its goal is to simplify property registration procedures and make the market more accessible to foreign investors.
The government is also developing digital mechanisms for real estate purchases by foreigners, which involve processing transactions and transferring funds through Egypt’s banking system.
Against the backdrop of growing foreign demand, the authorities are paying increasing attention to the transparency of development projects, property registration, and the protection of buyers’ interests.
Unlike Turkey, where the statistics agency publishes monthly data on the number of transactions with foreigners broken down by citizenship, Egypt does not provide a comparable nationwide ranking of real estate buyers that is publicly available.
Therefore, the structure of foreign demand must be assessed based on studies by consulting firms, reports from Egyptian developers, and regional real estate agencies.
One of the largest groups of buyers consists of citizens of Gulf states, primarily Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, and Kuwait.
According to an assessment by Basem Kalila, CEO of Kalila—the company that organizes the international Nile Property Expo—published by the Egyptian publication Osoul Misr on October 1, 2026, the most active foreign buyers of Egyptian real estate are citizens of Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Saudi buyers are showing particular interest in real estate in Egypt’s new administrative capital. Qatari citizens are primarily considering projects on the northern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, while investors from other Gulf states are actively interested in the western districts of Cairo.
It should be noted that this is a market participant’s assessment, not an official statistical ranking based on the number of registered transactions.
The second largest category of buyers consists of Europeans and citizens of former Soviet Union countries, who traditionally purchase real estate in Red Sea resorts.
According to a September 19, 2025, article in the Egyptian newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm, representatives of the local real estate development industry cited citizens of Russia, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Italy as among the most active foreign buyers in Hurghada.
Buyers from Poland, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and other European countries are also showing significant interest in resort housing.
Unlike investors from the Persian Gulf, who tend to focus on large residential complexes and high-end real estate in the capital region and along the Mediterranean coast, European buyers primarily consider apartments for vacation use, long-term residence, and subsequent rental.
The main centers of this demand remain Hurghada, El Gouna, Sahl Hasheesh, and other Red Sea resort areas. Sharm el-Sheikh holds a special place, as it has specific rules governing the registration of property rights for foreigners.
Ukrainian citizens are also among the foreign buyers of Egyptian real estate, primarily in the Red Sea resorts. According to a study by Experts Club and the Relocation.com.ua project, published on September 14, 2025, Ukrainians are among the most prominent groups of buyers of resort properties in Egypt, especially in Hurghada.
According to market participants, Ukrainian citizens began actively purchasing real estate in Egyptian resorts as early as the 2010s, and after the outbreak of full-scale war in 2022, some buyers began to view Egypt not only as a tourist destination but also as a place for long-term residence.
Ukrainians are most interested in relatively affordable apartments ranging from 40 to 70 square meters, which are purchased for personal use, seasonal vacations, or rental purposes.
A study by Experts Club noted that Ukrainian buyers are primarily concentrated in the affordable price segment, while wealthier investors are looking at properties priced at $300,000 and above, particularly due to the opportunity to participate in Egypt’s investment migration programs.
However, the country’s Central Bank has not published official data on the number of properties purchased by Ukrainian citizens in Egypt during the 2025/2026 fiscal year. Consequently, it is not yet possible to determine the exact share of Ukrainians in the total volume of non-resident investments or their current standing among foreign buyers.
The program for obtaining Egyptian citizenship through investment provides, in particular, for the purchase of real estate valued at no less than $300,000, subject to compliance with the conditions set by the state. This program is designed for a specific category of investors and does not reflect the typical budget of buyers of resort apartments.
Egyptian authorities view international real estate sales as one of the tools for attracting foreign currency, increasing investment, and developing the construction sector. One of the largest markets remains the northern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, where large-scale projects involving Arab capital are being implemented.
Denmark continues to rank among the countries with the highest level of positive perception among Ukrainians: in August 2026, 66.9% of respondents viewed it positively, while only 1.8% viewed it negatively. Compared to March, the share of positive assessments has decreased slightly, but the overall attitude remains distinctly favorable, according to the Experts Club Information and Analytical Center.
According to the results of the August survey, 31.3% of Ukrainians have a completely positive attitude toward Denmark, and 35.6% have a mostly positive attitude. A neutral stance is held by 28.8% of respondents. Only 1.4% expressed a mostly negative attitude, 0.4% a completely negative one, and another 2.5% were undecided.
The balance of positive and negative assessments stands at plus 65.1 percentage points. Thus, positive responses outnumber negative ones by more than 37 times. Denmark remains among the group of Northern European countries that enjoy very high public favor among Ukrainians.
In March 2026, 69.9% of respondents viewed Denmark positively: 33.3% viewed it entirely positively and 36.6% viewed it mostly positively. A neutral attitude was expressed by 26.8% of respondents, a negative one by only 1.2%, and another 2.1% were undecided.
Thus, over the course of five months, the share of positive assessments decreased by 3 percentage points—from 69.9% to 66.9%. The neutral segment increased by 2 percentage points—to 28.8%—while negative attitudes rose by only 0.6 percentage points. The balance of positive and negative assessments decreased from +68.7 to +65.1 percentage points, respectively.
There has also been a noticeable and definite decline in the intensity of positive attitudes: the share of fully positive responses fell from 33.3% to 31.3%, and that of mostly positive responses—from 36.6% to 35.6%. At the same time, the increase in the negative segment remains minimal, so the current trend suggests that some respondents are shifting to a neutral position rather than developing a critical attitude toward Denmark.
Oleksandr Pozniy, director of the research firm Active Group, commenting on Denmark’s high ratings in previous waves of the survey, noted: “Ukrainians perceive Denmark as a sincere partner and a reliable ally under the current circumstances. The high level of trust reflects both the humanitarian aid and Copenhagen’s consistent political support for Ukraine.” In the broader context of the survey, he also emphasized: “Ukrainians clearly associate the support received primarily from European Union countries and the United Kingdom with a positive attitude toward them.”
The latest wave of the survey shows that this positive image persists. Despite a decline in the figure compared to March, approximately two-thirds of Ukrainians continue to view Denmark positively, while the share of negative responses does not even reach 2%.
The previous wave of the survey was conducted in March 2026 among 800 Ukrainian citizens aged 18 and older using self-administered online questionnaires on the SunFlowerSociology panel. The sample was representative by age, gender, and region; the maximum theoretical margin of error for indicators at the 50% confidence level was ±3.5 percentage points.
ACTIVE GROUP, DENMARK, EUROPEAN UNION, EXPERTS CLUB, international relations, NORTHERN EUROPE, PUBLIC OPINION, SOCIOLOGY, UKRAINE
Ukrainians’ attitudes toward Israel in August 2026 remain predominantly positive or neutral; however, compared to the previous wave of the study, positive assessments have continued to decline. 35.6% of respondents have a positive attitude toward the country, 21.9% have a negative one, and another 39.7% hold a neutral position, according to the Experts Club Information and Analytical Center.
According to the results of the August survey, 10.4% of Ukrainians have a completely positive attitude toward Israel, while 25.2% have a mostly positive one. A neutral response was chosen by 39.7% of respondents. A mostly negative attitude was expressed by 14.7%, a completely negative one by 7.2%, and another 2.7% were undecided.
The balance of positive and negative assessments stands at plus 13.7 percentage points. This means that positive attitudes still outweigh negative ones, though the gap between them has narrowed significantly. Among Middle Eastern countries, Israel has a more polarized pattern of assessments than Saudi Arabia or Jordan, where neutral perceptions dominate.
In March 2026, 38.7% of respondents viewed Israel positively: 12.6% viewed it entirely positively and 26.1% viewed it mostly positively. A neutral stance was held by 38.2% of respondents, while 19.8% expressed a negative attitude, and another 3.3% were undecided.
Thus, over the course of five months, the share of positive assessments decreased by 3.1 percentage points—from 38.7% to 35.6%—while negative assessments increased by 2.1 percentage points—to 21.9%. The neutral segment increased by 1.5 percentage points. The balance between positive and negative attitudes decreased from plus 18.9 to plus 13.7 percentage points, respectively.
When comparing all three waves of the survey, the trend is even more pronounced. In August 2025, 44.7% of respondents viewed Israel positively, while 13.7% viewed it negatively; in March 2026, the figures were 38.7% and 19.8%, respectively; and in August, they were 35.6% and 21.9%. In other words, over the course of a year, the positive segment decreased by 9.1 percentage points, while the negative segment increased by 8.2 percentage points.
Maksym Urakin, founder of the Experts Club information and analytical center and a candidate of economic sciences, had previously drawn attention to the economic component of Ukrainian-Israeli relations.
“At the end of 2025, Ukraine’s bilateral trade with Israel totaled over $353 million. Ukrainian exports amounted to $132.4 million, while imports of Israeli goods exceeded $221 million. This resulted in a trade deficit of approximately $88.6 million. This imbalance indicates a need to expand Ukrainian exports and seek new niches in the Israeli market,” Urakin emphasized.
The latest wave of the survey shows a gradual decline in positive attitudes toward Israel, but not a shift into negative territory. Respondents with a neutral stance remain the largest single group, while positive assessments are still approximately 1.6 times more numerous than negative ones.
The survey was conducted in August 2026 using an online self-administered questionnaire via the SunFlowerSociology panel among 800 Ukrainian citizens aged 18 and older. The maximum theoretical margin of error for indicators at the 50% confidence level is ±3.5 percentage points.
ACTIVE GROUP, EXPERTS CLUB, FOREIGN TRADE, international relations, ISRAEL, MIDDLE EAST, PUBLIC OPINION, SOCIOLOGY, UKRAINE
The Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE) suspended trading in shares of the Ukrainian agricultural holding Astarta on Tuesday after their price plummeted by 19.14% since the start of the day—from 37.25 zloty to 30.2 zloty.
According to exchange data, Astarta’s shares were last this cheap in September 2024, whereas in May of this year, their price even exceeded 60 zlotys.
According to the exchange, trading volume in Astarta shares prior to the suspension totaled 1.52 million PLN.
The WIG-Ukraine index of Ukrainian stocks fell by 3.38% at the start of trading on Tuesday, while the Warsaw Stock Exchange’s main index, the WIG20, fell by 1.24%. Specifically, shares of the agricultural holding IMC fell by 9.21%, Agrotona by 1.63%, KSG Agro by 1.37%, and Milkiland by 1.19%.
As previously reported, the Astarta agricultural holding posted a net loss of 14.07 million euros in the first half of 2026, compared to a net profit of 42.27 million euros for the same period last year. While all segments generated a net profit in January–June of last year, this year each segment recorded a loss: in sugar production, a loss of 3.83 million euros instead of a profit of 8.35 million euros; in crop farming, a profit of 20.07 million euros turned into a loss of 3.76 million euros; in cattle breeding, a loss of 2.41 million euros was recorded instead of a profit of 10.68 million euros; in soybean processing, a loss of 2.27 million euros was recorded instead of a profit of 5.84 million euros.
Astarta’s consolidated revenue for the first half of this year decreased by only 0.1% to 226.47 million euros; export sales accounted for 62% of total revenue, compared to 61% in the first half of last year.
At the current price on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE), Astarta’s market capitalization stands at 755 million zlotys ($193.5 million at the current exchange rate).
AGRICULTURAL HOLDING, ASTARTA, stock, UKRAINE, Warsaw Stock Exchange
Japan remains one of the Asian countries with the highest level of positive perception among Ukrainians: in August 2026, 67.7% of respondents viewed it positively, while only 3.3% viewed it negatively. At the same time, compared to the previous wave of the survey, the share of positive assessments has decreased slightly, according to the Experts Club Information and Analytical Center.
According to the results of the August survey, 30.1% of Ukrainians view Japan entirely positively, and 37.6% view it mostly positively. A neutral stance is held by 26.6% of respondents. 2.5% view the country mostly negatively, 0.8% view it entirely negatively, and another 2.3% were undecided.
The balance between positive and negative assessments stands at plus 64.4 percentage points. Thus, positive attitudes toward Japan outnumber negative ones by more than 20 to 1, and over two-thirds of respondents have a favorable perception of the country.
In March 2026, 71.8% of Ukrainians had a positive attitude toward Japan: 32.9% viewed it entirely positively and 38.9% viewed it mostly positively. A neutral stance was held by 24.2% of respondents, negative attitudes accounted for 2.8%, and another 1.2% were undecided.
Thus, over the course of five months, the share of positive assessments decreased by 4.1 percentage points—from 71.8% to 67.7%. The negative segment increased by only 0.5 percentage points—to 3.3%, while the share of neutral responses rose by 2.4 percentage points—to 26.6%. The balance between positive and negative attitudes decreased from plus 69 to plus 64.4 percentage points, respectively.
These trends primarily indicate a slight decline in the intensity of positive attitudes rather than the emergence of a negative image. The share of entirely positive responses fell from 32.9% to 30.1%, and that of mostly positive responses—from 38.9% to 37.6%. Negative assessments, meanwhile, remain at a very low level.
Oleksandr Pozniy, director of the research firm Active Group, commenting on the results of the previous wave of the survey, emphasized the stability of Japan’s positive image among Ukrainians.
“For Ukrainians, Japan is an example of a country with a high level of trust and a consistently positive image. We see that even without any major news events, perceptions of Japan are gradually improving. This means that a long-term reputation and a consistent policy of cooperation are far more effective than short-term media effects,” Pozniy noted.
The latest round of the survey shows a slight decline in the figures compared to March, but this does not change the overall picture: Japan continues to have a distinctly positive image in Ukrainian society, and negative attitudes toward it remain minimal.
The survey was conducted in August 2026 using self-administered online questionnaires in the SunFlowerSociology panel among 800 Ukrainian citizens aged 18 and older. The previous survey in March also included 800 respondents; the sample was representative by age, gender, and region, with a maximum theoretical margin of error of ±3.5 percentage points at the 50% confidence level.
ACTIVE GROUP, ASIA, EXPERTS CLUB, international relations, JAPAN, PUBLIC OPINION, SOCIOLOGY, UKRAINE
