Kyiv unlocks $3.2 billion after reform push
Despite initially making good progress on a lengthy list of reforms required by the EU since 2024, Kyiv slowed down last year and has now missed deadlines on almost 20 required changes.
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Luca Léry Moffat
Economics reporterLuca is the economics reporter for the Kyiv Independent. He was previously a research analyst at Bruegel, a Brussels-based economics think tank, where he worked on Russia and Ukraine, trade, industrial policy, and environmental policy. Luca also worked as a data analyst at Work-in-Data, a Geneva-based research center focused on global inequality, and as a research assistant at the Economic Policy Research Center in Kampala, Uganda. He holds a BA honors degree in economics and Russian from McGill University. Luca is originally from the UK.
Articles
Ukraine raises $500 million extra in revenue amid efforts to reassure partners
WASHINGTON — Ukraine collected $500 million more revenue than expected in the first three months of this year, the country’s Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko said, as Ukraine tries to better line its war coffers and reassure key partners.
"Revenue mobilization is strong," Marchenko said at the U.S.-Ukraine Partnership Forum hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on April 15 in Washington D.C., where he spoke on a panel on financing Ukraine’s recovery.
Big donors to Ukraine, including the Inte
Russia's economy up, Ukraine's down in IMF growth forecast
The International Monetary Fund slashed Ukraine's growth forecasts but raised Russia's on April 14.
IMF spring meetings: What to watch on Ukraine funding
Economic policymakers from around the world will gather in Washington, D.C. this week to talk about the global economy — one facing wars, rising protectionism, and the risk of the most severe energy crisis in a generation.
Finance ministers, central bank governors, and heads of state will attend the International Monetary Fund and World Bank’s spring meetings on April 13–18, held each year.
Ukraine will send a high-level delegation, including Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, Central Bank Gover
What's a FOP, and why are the IMF and Ukraine fighting over it?
Editor's note: A version of this article first appeared in the Ukraine Business Roundup, our weekly newsletter on what's shaping Ukraine's businesses and economy. Sign up here.
After months of failing to pass a range of measures needed to unlock billions in stalled donor funding, Ukraine’s parliament made a small dent in the long list of reforms this week.
But there was one piece of regulation conspicuously absent from the agenda.
As part of a new $8.1 billion International Monetary Fund loan
Ukraine appoints customs chief to strengthen hand in upcoming IMF talks
Ukraine appointed a new head of the country's customs service, fulfilling a long-delayed commitment to international partners as part of a reform push.
Ukraine's Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko approved Orest Mandziy as head of the State Customs Service, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said on April 10. Manziy was formerly a detective at the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine, or NABU.
The country's customs service is widely seen as one of the most problematic government in
Ukraine's reform push underwhelms with billions in aid on the line
Editor's note: this article was updated to include comments from the European Commission.
Ukraine's parliament made scant progress on several reforms tied to funding from international partners during a highly anticipated parliamentary session on April 7–8.
Ukraine has missed deadlines on a range of reforms tied to international financing over the past year.
Lawmakers attempted to gain momentum during this week's plenary session, yet were only able to pass one of four new taxes required by th
Ukraine makes limited gains on key bills as billions in aid still at stake
Editor's note: This article was updated to include the results of the plenary session.
Ukraine's parliament approved on April 7 one of several key tax bills tied to International Monetary Fund (IMF) funding, in a packed legislative push that also includes measures to align the country with the EU.
The vote comes after weeks of political tensions and friction between the parliament, the government, and President Volodymyr Zelensky over the stalled legislation.
After missing the official IMF de
Serbia sees no Ukraine trace in alleged gas sabotage plot after Hungary hints at Kyiv's involvement
"Serbian authorities have found a powerful explosive device, along with the equipment needed to detonate it, at critical gas infrastructure linking Serbia and Hungary," Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on April 5 in a post on X.
Zelensky arrives in Syria for talks with leadership amid Middle East war, meets with al-Sharaa
Zelensky will meet with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Damascus, Syria TV said.
Russia gave Iran intelligence on Israel's energy infrastructure, Zelensky says
Russia provided Iran with satellite intelligence on over 50 Israeli energy sites, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on April 5, the latest of a series of Ukrainian claims that Russia is supporting Tehran militarily.
Russian attacks kill 9, injure 95 in Ukraine over past day
Russia launched 93 long-range kamikaze Shahed-type drones overnight, the Ukrainian Air Force said, adding that Ukraine downed 76 of them.
Ukraine confirms strikes on Russian oil infrastructure, defying calls to ease attacks amid soaring fuel prices
The latest attack comes as Ukrainian officials have acknowledged that foreign allies have asked Kyiv to pause drone attacks on Russian oil refineries as the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran drives up fuel prices worldwide.
Ukraine's electricity imports fall as crisis fades
Ukraine's imports of electricity dropped by 25% in March compared to the previous month, as the country emerges from a devastating winter brought on by Russian attacks on the energy grid.
Brussels tells Kyiv to speed up reforms or risk billions
In a letter seen by the Kyiv Independent, EU Commissioner for enlargement Marta Kos outlined 11 reforms that Ukraine failed to complete by their respective deadlines throughout 2025.
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