Ukraine calendar: What will happen this week
Editor's note: This article is a shortened on-site version of KI Insights' public newsletter, The Week Ahead, covering events from November 17-23. Sign up here to start your week with an agenda of Ukraine-related events delivered directly to your inbox every week.
Ukraine’s political crisis, triggered by high-profile NABU and SAPO investigations into Timur Mindich, a close associate of the President, and other senior officials, is expected to deepen next week. On 18 November, the Verkhovna Rada is expected to accept the resignations of Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk and Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko, both implicated in the probe.
Another closely watched item on the agenda of the Ukrainian parliament’s plenary session is the vote on the second reading of the 2026 draft state budget, tentatively scheduled for 18 November. However, there are growing concerns that the vote may be postponed due to a lack of sufficient support amid the ongoing NABU/SAPO investigation.
A court is set to rule soon on pre-trial measures for one of the suspects in the NABU case, former Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Chernyshov, while the probe’s central figure, Mindich, may face the revocation of his Ukrainian citizenship. Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko has also announced a full audit of all state-owned enterprises in connection with the case involving Energoatom.
We take a closer look at Ukraine’s unfolding political crisis, exacerbated by the destruction of energy infrastructure and setbacks on the frontline, in the latest episode of the Ukraine Insights Podcast.
President Volodymyr Zelensky will arrive in Paris on 17 November, with discussions expected to focus on the corruption scandal that has already raised concerns among EU allies, as well as France’s support amid Ukraine’s deepening energy crisis. The visit will be preceded by a trip to Greece, during which Zelensky is expected to finalize an energy cooperation deal.
The EU General Affairs Council will meet on 17 November with the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) as its main agenda item, beginning preparations for the December European Council – the last chance to approve a €140 billion reparations-backed loan for Ukraine funded by frozen Russian assets. While most member states support the plan because it would avoid increasing national debt, Belgium, where most of the assets are held, continues to oppose it over legal and financial concerns. This week’s Economic and Financial Affairs Council meeting brought no progress on the issue.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán also oppose the decision on frozen Russian assets. These EU leaders closest to the Kremlin have aligned themselves with Moscow’s campaign against the confiscation of these assets.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha will attend the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 20 November, where discussions on continued support for Ukraine and anti-Russia sanctions will be accompanied by a focus on hybrid attacks originating from Belarus. In late October, balloons launched from Belarusian territory violated Lithuania’s airspace, raising security concerns across the region. The Council will also work to define the EU’s joint position ahead of the upcoming G20 summit.
The G20 leaders’ summit in South Africa on 22–23 November will see several major figures absent: Vladimir Putin, facing possible arrest under an ICC warrant, is sending his deputy head of presidential administration, Maxim Oreshkin, while China will be represented by Premier Li Qiang instead of Xi Jinping. Donald Trump will skip the event altogether, citing alleged human-rights concerns in South Africa. A previously floated meeting between Trump, Putin, and Zelensky is therefore off the table, and expectations for significant outcomes from the summit are low.
Events and Milestones:
Next week:
- 17-18 November, Kyiv. Offline event: International Conference “Crimea Global: Understanding Ukraine through the South”. The conference will gather the experts from around the globe to establish a personal connection between them and Ukrainian CSOs as well as the Ukrainian government and Parliament. Register here.
- 18 November, London. Offline event: 4th UK–UA Defence Tech Forum. Hosted at RUSI with the support of the Embassy of Ukraine in the UK, the forum will showcase 15 leading Ukrainian defence tech companies to international partners and investors, fostering collaboration and innovation. Register here.
- 18 November 2025, Kyiv. Offline event: GET Business Festival 2025 (Ukrainian language). Annual large-scale forum for small and medium businesses, gathering 90+ speakers and 1500+ participants to explore strategies, trends, and tools across three thematic stages. More details & tickets here.
- 19 November 2025, 9:30–10:30 am EST, Online. Online event: Energy Leverage in the Russia–Ukraine War. A CSIS discussion with U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal on how energy, sanctions, and foreign policy intersect in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine, followed by an expert panel. More details & registration here.
Further ahead:
- 2 December, Toronto. Offline event: 4th Annual Rebuild Ukraine Business Conference. Join international leaders, policymakers, and business innovators at this flagship conference organized by the Canada-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce, highlighting Canada–Ukraine–EU–UK cooperation to advance Ukraine’s recovery. Register here.
- 5 December, Kyiv. Offline event: pre-Christmas KI Insights briefing in Kyiv, exploring Ukraine’s possible development scenarios for 2026. Register here.
- 9 December, London. Offline event: 9th Annual Ukrainian Investment Roadshow. Hosted at Clifford Chance with the support of the Embassy of Ukraine in the UK, the Roadshow brings together Ukraine’s leading corporates, top economic policymakers, and international investors to discuss opportunities and showcase Ukraine’s economic potential. Register here.
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