Business news from Ukraine

Business news from Ukraine

Ukrainians view Netherlands positively and show almost no negative attitudes

Ukrainians’ attitudes toward the Netherlands in March 2026 are characterized by one of the highest levels of positive perception among all countries surveyed. According to the results of a sociological survey conducted in March 2026 by the research company Active Group in collaboration with the Experts Club information and analytical center, 72.7% of respondents describe their attitude as positive, which is significantly higher compared to 63.3% in August 2025. At the same time, the share of negative assessments dropped from 2.3% to 1.2%, which effectively indicates an almost complete absence of critical sentiment.

A breakdown of the results shows that 34.3% of respondents have a “completely positive” attitude toward the Netherlands, while another 38.5% have a “mostly positive” one. The share of neutral assessments stands at 24.2%, which is a relatively low figure compared to other countries. Negative assessments are minimal: 0.7% are “mostly negative” and 0.5% are “completely negative,” while 1.9% of respondents were undecided.

A comparison with the previous period demonstrates not only an increase in positive perceptions but also a further “cleansing” of public opinion of negative assessments. This trend is significant, as the Netherlands is among the countries with the highest level of stable support within Ukrainian society.

Unlike many other countries, where a significant portion of respondents hold a neutral position, in the case of the Netherlands, a clearly formed positive attitude dominates. This means that the country has a distinct and clear image in the perception of Ukrainians, one associated with reliability and predictability.

The increase in positive ratings by more than 9 percentage points indicates growing trust and a strengthening of the Netherlands’ image. At the same time, the decrease in the already low level of negative responses suggests the absence of significant factors that could shape a critical perception.

“Ukrainians quite clearly distinguish between countries toward which they have formed a stable positive attitude, and the Netherlands belongs precisely to this group. Where a country has a clear position and consistency in its interactions, we see not just high ratings, but their continued growth. This means that public opinion reacts not to specific situations, but to systemic signals,” noted Oleksandr Pozniy, director of the research company Active Group.

Thus, the survey results indicate that the Netherlands is consolidating its status as a country with one of the best images in Ukraine. A high level of positive sentiment, minimal negative ratings, and stable growth dynamics form the basis for further strengthening bilateral relations in both the social and economic spheres.

According to a study conducted by the Experts Club information and analytical center based on data from the State Customs Service, the Netherlands ranks eleventh in terms of total trade in goods with Ukraine, amounting to $3.01 billion. This is one of the few countries in the upper part of the ranking where Ukraine has a trade surplus, as exports of Ukrainian goods exceed imports.

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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U.S. Department of Agriculture has maintained its forecast for corn exports from Ukraine in 2025–2026 marketing year at 22 million tons

In its April report, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) left its forecast for Ukraine’s corn harvest in the 2025–2026 marketing year (MY) unchanged at 30.7 million tons and exports at 22.0 million tons.
The estimate of Ukraine’s ending corn stocks also remained unchanged at 2.95 million tons.
Globally, the USDA raised its forecast for corn production in the 2025-2026 MY to 1,301.07 million tons, exports to 207.29 million tons, and ending stocks to 294.81 million tons. The agency attributes the adjustments in the corn segment in the April report mainly to South Africa, where harvest and export estimates have been raised, while figures for Argentina and Brazil remain unchanged.

 

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U.S. Department of Agriculture has lowered its forecast for wheat exports from Ukraine in 2025–2026 marketing year to 12.5 million tons

In its April report, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) lowered its forecast for wheat exports from Ukraine in the 2025–2026 marketing year (MY) to 12.5 million tons from 13.5 million tons, a decrease of 1.0 million tons (7.4%). Meanwhile, the estimate for Ukraine’s wheat harvest remains unchanged at 24.0 million tons, while the forecast for ending stocks has been raised to 3.93 million tons, an increase of 0.8 million tons.
Globally, the USDA raised its forecast for wheat production in the 2025–2026 MY to 844.15 million tons, while the estimate for global exports was lowered to 221.88 million tons, and ending stocks could rise to 283.12 million tons. Among major exporters, the agency raised its harvest estimate for the EU to 145.11 million tons and for Russia to 90.3 million tons, while increasing its forecast for Russian exports to 44.5 million tons.

 

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Ukrainians’ attitude towards Poland remains generally positive, but is becoming more balanced

The results of a public opinion poll conducted in March 2026 by the research company Active Group in collaboration with the Experts Club information and analysis centre show that Ukrainians’ attitude towards Poland remains consistently positive, yet is becoming more nuanced. Overall, 56.4% of respondents view Poland positively, whilst 14.7% view it negatively. Compared to August 2025, the proportion of positive views has remained almost unchanged (56.7%), whilst negative views have risen from 12.7% to 14.7%.

The breakdown of responses indicates a predominance of moderate views. The proportion of ‘entirely positive’ attitudes stands at 19.3%, whilst ‘mostly positive’ attitudes account for 37.1%. At the same time, the proportion of neutral views remains significant at 27.5%. This means that for a significant proportion of respondents, Poland does not evoke clearly defined emotional reactions, but is perceived rather through a pragmatic lens.

Negative attitudes are also predominantly moderate in nature: 12.4% of respondents chose the ‘mostly negative’ option, and only 2.3% chose ‘completely negative’. The proportion of those who were undecided is minimal (1.4%), indicating that Ukrainians’ perceptions of the country are sufficiently well-formed.

The dynamics of change between 2025 and 2026 indicate a certain increase in criticality in the perception of Poland. Whilst the overall positive balance is maintained, the proportion of unequivocally positive assessments is gradually decreasing, whilst the proportion of negative ones is increasing. This trend may indicate a shift from an emotionally positive to a more measured and rational perception.

It is important to note that, at the same time, Poland remains a country with a predominantly positive image in Ukrainian society. The ratio of positive to negative assessments, which is more than three times in favour of the positive, indicates that a high level of trust and a generally favourable attitude are maintained. At the same time, the growth in the negative component signals the emergence of new factors influencing public opinion.

The high proportion of neutral responses deserves special attention. This may indicate that, for some respondents, Poland is not an emotionally polarising factor, but is perceived as an important, though not unquestionable, partner. In such a situation, even minor changes in the information landscape or practical interactions could influence the balance of assessments in the future.

“Ukrainians do not view the world in black and white and assess other countries quite objectively. Where there is more information and experience of interaction, a more balanced attitude is formed. At the same time, even minor changes in the political or information environment can influence the dynamics of assessments,” noted Oleksandr Pozniy, director of the research company Active Group.

Overall, the survey results indicate that attitudes towards Poland in Ukraine remain consistently positive, but are gradually becoming more complex and multi-dimensional. This reflects a general trend towards the rationalisation of public opinion, where countries are assessed not only on the basis of emotions, but also taking into account specific experiences of interaction and the current context.

According to a study conducted by the Experts Club information and analytical centre based on data from the State Customs Service, Poland ranks second in terms of total trade in goods with Ukraine, with a figure of over $13 billion, second only to China. At the same time, Poland remains one of Ukraine’s key trading partners within the EU, although the trade balance is also negative for Ukraine.

The study was presented at the Interfax-Ukraine press centre; the video can be viewed on the agency’s YouTube channel. The full version of the study can be found via this link on the Experts Club analytical centre’s website.

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Ukrainians’ Attitudes Toward Germany Remain Stably Positive and Consolidated

The results of a public opinion sociological survey conducted in March 2026 by the research company Active Group in cooperation with the information and analytical center Experts Club indicate a consistently high level of positive attitude among Ukrainians toward Germany. In total, 77.4% of respondents evaluate the country positively, while a negative attitude was recorded in only 3.5% of those surveyed. Compared to August 2025, the indicators have practically not changed: positive assessments increased slightly (from 76.7%), while negative ones even decreased somewhat (from 4.0%).

The structure of responses demonstrates the dominance of a stable positive perception. The share of those who chose the option “completely positive” is 32.9%, while “mostly positive” accounts for 44.5%. This means that the overwhelming majority of respondents are not just inclined to evaluate Germany positively, but do so confidently and without significant reservations.

At the same time, the share of neutral assessments stands at 18.4%, which is a moderate indicator and свидетельствует о достаточно сформированном отношении к стране. Negative assessments remain minimal: 2.8% of respondents chose the option “mostly negative,” and only 0.7% selected “completely negative.” This level of negativity is one of the lowest among Ukraine’s key international partners.

The stability of the indicators over time confirms that attitudes toward Germany have a long-term character and are not subject to significant fluctuations under the influence of short-term factors. Unlike some other countries, where an increase in polarization or a shift in evaluations is observed, in the case of Germany public opinion remains consolidated.

From an analytical point of view, this indicates a high level of trust and a stable image of the country in Ukrainian society. The combination of a significant share of “completely positive” and “mostly positive” responses indicates that Germany is perceived not only as an important partner, but also as a reliable and predictable participant in international processes.

“In the case of Germany, we see one of the highest levels of stable positive perception among all countries. This means that the assessment is formed not situationally, but on the basis of long-term experience of interaction and clear ideas about the role of this state. Such indicators testify to a high level of trust in society,” said Oleksandr Pozniy, Director of the research company Active Group.

Overall, the results of the study show that Germany occupies a special place in Ukrainians’ perceptions of international partners. The combination of a high level of positivity, minimal negativity, and stable dynamics indicates a formed and устойчивый positive image which, unlike other countries, is almost not subject to fluctuations in the short term.

According to a study conducted by the Experts Club information and analytical center based on data from the State Customs Service, Germany is among the top three largest trading partners of Ukraine, with a total trade volume exceeding $9 billion. A significant volume of imports of German goods creates a negative balance, which indicates high demand for German industrial products.

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 via the link on the Experts Club analytical center’s website.

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Ukrainians’ Attitudes Toward Hungary Remain Predominantly Negative

Ukrainians’ attitudes toward Hungary in March 2026 retain a clearly negative character, although the dynamics of recent months indicate a slight improvement in certain indicators. According to the results of a study conducted in March 2026 by the research company Active Group in cooperation with the information and analytical center Experts Club, the share of positive assessments increased to 18.6%, compared to 16.0% in August 2025, while the level of negative attitudes slightly decreased—from 55.7% to 52.2%.

Despite this dynamic, the overall structure of responses demonstrates the dominance of negative evaluations. The largest share consists of respondents who assess their attitude toward Hungary as “mostly negative” — 34.3%, while another 17.9% chose “completely negative.” Thus, the total level of negative perception exceeds half of all responses.

Positive assessments remain significantly lower: only 4.9% of respondents chose the option “completely positive,” and 13.8% selected “mostly positive.” At the same time, 27.3% of Ukrainians hold a neutral position, indicating the presence of an audience segment that does not have a formed or clearly expressed attitude toward this country. Another 1.9% of respondents were unable to provide an answer.

A comparison with August 2025 shows that the changes are evolutionary rather than radical in nature. The increase in positive assessments and the decrease in negative ones are relatively minor, indicating the persistence of a formed negative image of Hungary in Ukrainian society. At the same time, the trend toward improvement may indicate a gradual softening of perceptions or the influence of certain factors that are changing the information background.

An important feature is that even with some growth in positive sentiment, Hungary remains one of the few countries where negative assessments significantly outweigh positive ones. This distinguishes it from most other states in the region, where the balance is either positive or at least close to neutral.

At the same time, the presence of a significant share of neutral responses—more than a quarter of respondents—indicates potential for a shift in public opinion. A portion of Ukrainians does not have a clearly formed attitude, which creates opportunities for improving the country’s image through more active communication, economic cooperation, and public diplomacy.

“We conducted the survey at the beginning of March, and it is already evident that the political context surrounding certain countries can quickly influence evaluations. In the case of Hungary, this factor remains decisive in shaping negative perception. At the same time, even a slight increase in positive sentiment shows that these assessments are not entirely static,” said Oleksandr Pozniy, Director of the research company Active Group.

Thus, the results of the study demonstrate that Hungary is currently perceived by Ukrainians as a country with a predominantly negative image that has a systemic nature. Despite minor positive shifts, the balance of evaluations remains significantly tilted toward critical perception, which defines the specifics of public opinion regarding this state.

According to a study conducted by the Experts Club information and analytical center based on data from the State Customs Service, Hungary ranks ninth in terms of total trade in goods with Ukraine, with a figure of $3.30 billion. Imports of Hungarian goods exceed Ukrainian exports, creating a negative balance for Ukraine.

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 via a link on the Experts Club analytical center’s website.

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