Ukraine
Ukraine food giant diversifies its way out of country's crisis
Astarta now makes half its sales from exports, while sugar makes up less than half its revenue mix.
NBU: Ukraine’s reserves could rise to $20bn in 2017
Ukraine’s central bank (NBU) forecasts gross international reserves will reach $20bn by the end of 2017 from $18bn as of end-1H17, according to its Inflation Report released last week. However, if things go badly reserves could fall to $16bn.
KYIV BLOG: Ukraine’s partners allow it to backslide
Ukraine’s international partners that have been propping the war-torn, crisis-ridden country up for most of the last three years are allowing it to backslide on its reform promises for the sake of political expediency.
Nato still has a mixed reception in Emerging Europe
After 70 years of being told Nato was the enemy, most of the populations of the former Communist bloc continue to have mixed feelings about their former enemies – even if the geopolitics have changed radically.
Siemens considers quitting Russia
The CEO of German technology major Siemens Joe Kaeser is considering pulling out of projects and joint ventures in Russia, after the company got caught up in a sanctions-busting scandal involving the delivery of two power turbines to Crimea.
MOSCOW BLOG: A tale of two countries – Russia vs Ukraine 1H17
Both countries have emerged from the crisis and are starting to recover, but Ukraine remains a lot more vulnerable than Russia to any shocks in the near future.
Dozens of Ukrainian banks face closure after missing new minimum capital requirements
Dozens of Ukrainian banks face closure after missing new minimum capital requirements that came into force on July 11. The central bank passed a resolution requiring banks to have minimum capital of UAH200mn ($7.7mn) by this week.
Illicit cigarettes flood into EU from eastern neighbours
Ukraine has replaced Belarus as the top source of illegal cigarette imports to EU countries, as the countries on the EU’s eastern borders continue to be the main source of counterfeit and contraband cigarettes.
COMMENT: Trying times for the WTO in Hamburg
Diplomats at the G20 summit in Hamburg managed to cobble together a compromise text promising not to resort to trade protectionism, but whether this will eliminate the threat of trade wars remains to be seen.
ALACO DISPATCHES: Ukraine’s Naftogaz still stymied by gas market monopolies
State-owned energy company’s progress is being frustrated by its inability to sell directly to consumers.
Ukraine prosecutors investigate former PrivatBank management over insolvency
Probe centres on €4.5bn in loans to borrowers that did not conduct economic activities and had negative credit, says central bank.
Ukraine pledges to collect billions in loans related to ex-owners of PrivatBank
Billionaires Ihor Kolomoisky and Hennady Boholyubov “failed to fulfill their obligations” regarding nationalised lender, says central bank.
Massive cyber attack hits systems in Ukraine, Russia, Western Europe
Ransomware wreaks havoc on energy, transport and government computers, with disruptions also reported in Denmark, Romania, Spain and UK.
EU states split on Commission mandate for Nord Stream 2
Thirteen of the 28 EU member states have given their backing to a request from the European Commission for a mandate to negotiate with Russia over the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project.
Ukraine injects further €1.3bn into PrivatBank, lender's board chairman resigns
Amount is deemed enough to enable the bank to meet 10% capital adequacy under conservative scenario.
KYIV BLOG: Why Trump-Poroshenko relations are no easy fix
Kyiv’s backing of Hillary Clinton during the US presidential elections, and the plotting against Trump’s campaign manager Paul Manafort by Poroshenko's associates, have hindered good relations.
FINTECH: Businesses move beyond early learning stage of blockchain
Businesses in the US appear to be moving beyond merely learning about blockchain and are now increasingly interested in piloting projects using the technology.
A Pew poll finds conservative attitudes still rule in CEE
A poll by Pew Research found that attitudes to both democracy and homosexuality remain very conservative in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), including among the young.
Ukraine sees "strong support" from US, Poroshenko says after Trump meeting
President says US to continue backing Ukraine's reforms, as well as its sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence.