FPRI BMB Ukraine: A shaky ceasefire is holding in Donbas for the moment

A “comprehensive ceasefire” in Eastern Ukraine that was agreed to last week in Minsk officially started on August 2. There were immediately violations but the number of attacks by separatists has fallen significantly

Ukraine’s banking sector starts to lose money in July

The Ukrainian banking sector lost UAH5,174mn ($186mn) in June as the full impact of the economic slowdown hit home.

Ukraine’s IMF deal drifting off track

After making Herculean efforts to pass the so-called anti-Kolomoisky banking law on May 18, clearing the way to restart a new $5bn International Monetary Fund standby agreement this summer, the renewed deal already seems to have gone off track.

FPRI BMB UKRAINE: Ukraine is successfully implementing the Association Agreement with the EU

According to a monitoring report from the Ukrainian Center for European Policy, Ukraine has fulfilled 41.6% of the requirements outlined in its Association Agreement with the EU.

Fat cats: new study shows corruption can be measured in kilos

A new study finds that the more overweight the politicians in a government from the former Soviet Union are, the more likely that government is to be corrupt.

Ukraine's parliament approves investment nanny bill

Ukraine’s parliament has approved the “investment nanny” bill, which offers state assistance and oversight to large investment projects, including a 15-year state guarantee on foreign investments.

Ukraine places 2033 eurobonds for $2bn at 7.253%

Ukraine returns to the international market after pulling a Eurobond issue at the beginning of this month following the resignation of central bank governor Yakiv Smolii.

Ukraine bus hostages freed after president’s intervention

Day-long standoff on bus in Lutsk ends after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy posts video telling people to watch 2005 documentary Earthlings.

NBU approves strategy for fintech development

Ukrainian central bank aims to promote innovation, progress towards a cashless economy and better financial literacy among consumers and businesses.

Ex-Ukrgazbank CEO Shevchenko elected NBU governor

MPs vote to install Kyrylo Shevchenko as head of the National Bank of Ukraine, but question of whether he will maintain the central bank’s independence remains open.

COMMENT: The “Soft Coup” and the Euromaidan Reformers — what went wrong?

Given their strong commitment to Ukraine’s identity, the rule of law and the support of free enterprise, why were the Euromaidan Reformers essentially absent during the “Soft Coup” that began in March?

IMF head urges Ukraine to preserve NBU independence

IMF issues warning as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy prepares to appoint a new central bank governor. Zelenskiy promised an “independent technocrat” but analysts are sceptical.

Spotify to enter Russia, other emerging Europe markets in new expansion drive

In Russia, the move by Spotify will put pressure on local internet majors Yandex and Mail.ru Group that also offer music streaming services.

Iran blames misalignment and poor communications for UIA PS752 downing

The flight was shot down outside Tehran on January 8, killing all 176 people on board.

Reforms stall as Zelenskiy actively undermines NBU independence

Confidence in the Z-Dream of rapid, deep and far-reaching reforms by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that will transform Ukraine almost totally evaporated this week.

COMMENT: Smolii’s Resignation and the soft coup underway in Ukraine

The resignation of Yakiv Smolii as governor of the NBU could be taken as the end of serious reforms in Ukraine and a "soft coup" that puts the old guard back in charge of the country

New lockdowns imposed in Eurasia to fight rising coronavirus cases

Several countries in Central Asia, the South Caucasus and the Western Balkans are seeing a strong rise in daily new cases after the easing of restrictions.

COMMENT: Five reasons why Zelenskiy is failing in Ukraine: Zelenskiy faces a political future that is no laughing matter

Volodymyr Zelenskiy's presidency seems to have gone off the tracks but no one is quite sure what is going on. Is he a puppet or just out of his depth? Melinda Haring of the Eurasia Center at the Atlantic Council offers five theories.

Profits of Ukraine’s banks still ahead of last year, but first signs of crisis impact visible

Net foreign direct investment leaving Ukraine in 1Q20

There was a net outflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) from Ukraine in the first quarter of this year of $1,451mn, reversing the trend of inflows of the last several years, according to data from Ukrstat.