Ukraine
Russia still playing important role in Ukraine’s trade as turnover rises in H1
Russia still playing important role in Ukraine’s trade as turnover rises in 1H17 and remains one of Ukraine’s top five trade partners in terms of export of goods
Kyiv ranks in top 10 of least liveable cities in world, EIU study shows
Kyiv was one of the top five biggest decliners in this year’s “Global Liveability Report” by the EIU, with the Ukrainian capital dropping 21.4% in the index over the past five years.
Belarus in top three holiday spots popular with Russians
Belarus is in the top three spots popular with Russian holidaymakers, according to Yandex.Money, which analyzed the countries the Russians headed to for their breaks this summer.
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Ukraine's balance of payments deficit more than doubles to $1.882bn in Jan-June 2017
Ukraine's balance of payments deficit more than doubled to $1.882bn in January-June 2017, increasing by almost 2.6 times year on year. In the first half of 2016, Ukraine ran a balance of payments deficit of $727.5mn.
Eastern Europe winter harvest yields surprise on the upside
The winter harvests in Eastern Europe are all almost in and have surprised on the upside, causing wheat prices to drop in the middle of August.
Turkey’s Anadolu, AB InBev brew up merger to take on contracting Russian, Ukrainian markets
Turkey’s leading brewer Anadolu Efes announces initial agreement with world’s largest brewer AB InBev for 50:50 merger of Russia and Ukraine businesses, new enterprise to take on beer markets suffering longstanding decline.
Poland-born reformist head of Ukraine's rail monopoly resigns
Wojciech Balczun submitted his resignation after little more than a year at the helm of Ukrzaliznytsia citing a "negative PR-campaign and even sabotage" against him.
Sugar, sugar – up in Ukraine and down in Russia
Two of the biggest sugar producers in eastern Europe - Russia's Rosagro and Ukraine's Astarta - have had very different experiences in the first half of 2017. Ukraine's sugar business is sweet, but Russia's has gone sour.
Stateless Saakashvili resurfaces in Poland, Georgia petitions Warsaw for extradition
Georgia's stateless former president Mikheil Saakashvili turns up in Poland to attend Warsaw Uprising commemoration, insists he will journey back to Ukraine to fight withdrawal of citizenship.
Polish passport design provokes Lithuania and Ukraine
The new design proposed by the Polish home affairs ministry features depictions of the Ukrainian city of Lviv and Lithuanian capital Vilnius.
Russian sanction limbo begins new chapter as Trump signs bill
US President Donald Trump has signed into law a bill imposing tougher sanctions on Russia, North Korea, and Iran, that also limits his own ability to end those sanctions, ending weeks of uncertainty and opening a new chapter in the sanction regime
Yulia Tymoshenko’s Fatherland party is leading the polls in Ukraine with 11.2%
Yulia Tymoshenko’s Fatherland party is leading the polls in Ukraine with 11.2%, according to a poll conducted by two leading Kyiv think tanks. The Poroshenko Bloc, the president’s eponymous party, would earn 9.3% of those likely to vote
Ukraine completes corruption investigation into Ukraine’s “big fish” Roman Nasirov
The investigations into former head of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine and President Petro Poroshenko's right hand man, Roman Nasirov, for corruption are over and a court ruling is expected in August.
Russia retaliates to new US sanctions ousting 755 diplomats
“It’s impossible to tolerate endless insolence,” says Putin as tensions with Washington rise.
Ukraine’s GDP was up by 2.5% y/y in January-June
Ukraine’s GDP was up by 2.5% y/y in the first half of this year, which is also in line with the result in the first quarter, according to economy ministry estimates.
KRUK REPORT: Saakashvili is stripped of Ukrainian citizenship as Poroshenko’s re-election campaign gets underway
Former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili has been stripped of his Ukrainian citizenship, the latest move in President Petro Poroshenko's increasingly obvious preparations for re-election in 2019.
Ex-Georgian president Saakashvili stripped of Ukrainian citizenship
Move appears linked to new closeness between Kyiv and Tbilisi, leader of 2003's Rose Revolution likely to seek asylum in US.
Ukraine’s national airline sues ministry to cancel Ryanair deal
The national carrier Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) is suing the Ukrainian Infrastructure Ministry and demanding that it cancel a deal being agreed with Ryanair, as well as pay compensation as UIA was forced to cut its prices.
Ukrainian farmers turn to Donbas veterans for protection from raiders
Unarmed veterans are helping farmers fight back against asset thieves and the authoritities don't like it.
Russia supplies 80% of Ukraine's coal imports
Russia remains the biggest supplier of coal to Ukraine, despite the conflict between the two countries, accounting for about 80% of imports.