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 January 11-18. Sign up here to start your week with an agenda of Ukraine-related events delivered directly to your inbox every week.
President Volodymyr Zelensky may travel to the United States next week to meet with Donald Trump to finalize a Ukraine–U.S. security agreement. The Ukrainian side says the document is ready and is awaiting approval from Trump.
Zelensky is also seeking feedback following this week’s talks between Russian and US delegations, in an effort to gauge Moscow’s position on a potential peace deal.
Plenary sessions of the Ukrainian Parliament are scheduled for next week. The most likely decision is a partial reshuffle in the Cabinet of Ministers. Most notably, the appointment of Mykhailo Fedorov, currently First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Digital Transformation, as Minister of Defense. His predecessor, Denys Shmyhal, is set to assume the post of First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy.
In addition, Parliament is expected to approve the dismissal of Vasyl Maliuk, the head of the Security Service of Ukraine.
Learn more about the rationale and potential consequences of President Zelensky’s latest personnel decisions in the upcoming Weekly Report by KI Insights.
The Verkhovna Rada is also expected to consider draft law No. 14025, which proposes amendments to the Tax Code aimed at introducing the international automatic exchange of information on income earned through digital platforms (first reading). This high-profile bill would pave the way for taxation of digital platform–based commerce and serves as an important benchmark under the IMF staff level agreement signed late last year.
Also on the agenda is draft law No. 14030 on the fundamental principles of state supervision (second reading), which forms part of Ukraine’s commitments under the EU’s Ukraine Facility financing program.
The presumptive nominee Minister of Defense, Mykhailo Fedorov, is set to present a technology transformation plan for the ministry on January 12. According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, the initiative aims to introduce innovations drawn from the successful experience of the Ministry of Digital Transformation to help offset the Russian army’s numerical advantage.
Ukraine is bracing for a deterioration in its energy situation amid freezing temperatures and intensified Russian strikes. In recent days, attacks on energy infrastructure have triggered blackouts in the Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions, with other parts of the country also facing mounting strain.
According to the forecast, temperatures in Kyiv next week will drop to as low as −11°C during the day and −17°C at night. In other regions, the thermometer is expected to remain mostly at or below freezing. The government has recommended a shift to remote schooling and work as heavy snowfall further complicates conditions nationwide.
The National Bank of Ukraine is set to release its Direct Investment data for the third quarter of 2025 on January 15. This will be followed on January 16 by the publication of the Business Outlook Survey for the fourth quarter of 2025.
A potential U.S. intervention in Iran amid ongoing protests could have ripple effects on the Russia–Ukraine war. Donald Trump has signaled a willingness to back the protesters and intervene over reported killings, a scenario that appears more plausible in light of the US campaign in Venezuela.
Iran remains one of Russia’s key strategic partners, supplying Shahed drones used against Ukraine. As uncertainty over supplies from Iran and Venezuela grows, and attacks on Russian oil tankers persist, global oil prices continue to climb.
We take a deep dive into the fallout from the United States’ actions in Venezuela, and what they could mean for Ukraine and Russia, in the latest episode of the Ukraine Insights podcast. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.
Events and Milestones:
Next week:
- 15 January – 15 February. Online event: Bridge to the Emirates: Ukraine Global Online Expo 2026. Join Ukrainian companies at this national online exhibition showcasing products, technologies, and services for the UAE market as part of the “Month of Ukraine in the UAE.” More information here.
Further ahead:
- 22 January. Online event: Ukraine’s Mobilization Crisis: challenges, needs, and implications for 2026. A KI Insights monthly briefing examining the strains on Ukraine’s mobilization system, leadership changes in the security sector, and what mobilization can realistically deliver in 2026. Subscribers only. Register here.
- 17–19 February, Orlando, USA. Offline event: NAHB International Builders’ Show 2026 (IBS 2026). One of the world’s largest residential construction exhibitions, bringing together global manufacturers, developers, suppliers, and innovators to showcase solutions, build partnerships, and expand international market opportunities. Register here.
- 19–20 February, Kyiv, Ukraine. Offline event: Kyiv International Cyber Resilience Forum 2026. Technology and cybersecurity forum for Ukraine and the CEE region focused on strengthening cyber resilience and digital security. Register here.
If you have an upcoming event that you would like featured in our newsletter, please get in touch via insights@kyivindependent.com.
