Ukraine
Ukraine's Naftogaz calls off $500mn Eurobond issue on poor demand
Naftogaz’s aborted sale will impact the wider market, and indicates the state will have a harder time raising more debt on the international markets next year.
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Ukraine's post-collapse economic recovery stalls with GDP growth of 2.8% in 3Q18
Economic growth stumbled in the third quarter, expanding by only 2.8% y/y, down from 3.8% in the second quarter and 3.1% in the first.
COMMENT: Ukraine’s economy: IMF deal provides relief, but challenges persist
The renewal of cooperation with the IMF and the launch of a new loan program remains the key determinant of market expectations domestically and internationally, but Ukraine can't get through next year with out its donor's help
COMMENT: Western sanctions against Russia: decision year in 2019 or 2029?
Ever since sanctions were imposed on Russia following its annexation of the Crimea in 2014 there has been constant speculation on when the US and EU sanctions will be lifted again. It could happen in 2019, but if not then it will take a decade
Opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko increases her lead in Ukraine's presidential race
The former prime minister and head of Batkivshchyna (Fatherland) party remained the frontrunner ahead of Ukraine’s forthcoming presidential election, a new poll showed.
4G growing fast in CEE with mobile penetrations running ahead of the global average
The research branch of international mobile operator association GSMA has released a report on the mobile economy in Russia and 11 neighbouring countries that found the digital economy and telecoms services are growing faster than the global average.
Ukrainian authorities arrest regional government aide in Handziuk murder case
Ihor Pavlovskiy, the former aide to Poroshenko Bloc MP Mykola Palamarchuk, was arrested in connection with the horrific murder of civil society activist Kateryna Handzuik, who was doused with acid and died of her wounds on November 4.
Ukraine’s pro-Russian opposition leaders Boyko and Rabinovich merge parties
Pro-Russian politicians join forces in Opposition Platform For Life ahead of 2019 elections, but fail to secure the support of billionaire Rinat Akhmetov.
Illegal elections held in Russian-backed Donetsk, Luhansk produce predicted outcomes
The self-declared Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics elected their heads of government and council members on November 11 with predictable results.
The self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics in eastern Ukraine held controversial elections
The two self proclaimed republics elected new heads of state and parliaments in a vote condemned by Kyiv and the international community.
Ukraine inflation up to 9.5% in October, but slows in month on month terms
Inflation is beginning to fall thanks to tough action by the National Bank of Ukraine, which has hiked interests rates twice this year.
The flood of Ukrainians leaving to work in EU countries has reached its peak
Ukrainians flooded into Poland and other EU countries from 2014, filling empty workplaces in the booming CEE economies, but this movement has peaked and will stabilise or start to decrease in 2019, according to an OSW report.
COMMENT: Ukraine and the IMF euphoria: sustainable risk shifting to the international capital market?
Everything seems to be good in Ukraine in the short term but 2019 will be tougher as there are plenty of risks in the wings
Ukraine's prosecutor general identifies $5.5bn of assets bought with looted PrivatBank funds
A long list of yachts, Picasso paintings, mansions, factories and other assets were bought with the $5.5bn looted from the country’s largest bank Privatbank.
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Ukraine's currency reserves back up to $18.1bn, over three months of import cover
Ukraine’s gross international reserves (GIR) increased by 0.6% in October to $16.737bn as of November 1, according to National Bank of Ukraine (NBU), thanks to the recent Eurobond issue.
Naftogaz began work on “Plan B” in case the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is completed
Ukraine’s state-owned gas monopolist Naftogaz's worst fears of losing its Russian gas transit business could come true after the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline comes online in 2019
Ukraine exercises its call option on the expensive August $725mn Eurobonds
The Eurobond was issued as bridge financing to get the government through its repayments schedule this autumn.
Ukrainian acid attack victim Kateryna Handziuk dies of her injuries
The attack on the 33-year-old activist touched a nerve in Ukraine, where killings of civil rights and anti-corruption figures have become increasingly common.
KRUK REPORT: Merkel gives Poroshenko an image bump with a trip to Kyiv
Angela Merkel crushed Ukrainian (and Russian) media when she welcomed the presidential honour guard battalion in Ukrainian. Her “I greet you warriors!” became an instant sensation. Her visit has given President Petro Poroshenko a useful media bump.
Being on Russia's sanctions list is "an honour", says Ukraine's Poroshenko
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko considers Russia's sanctions imposed on November 1 against hundreds of the nation's companies, businessmen and politicians "a kind of state award".