Global gas crisis, the fate of the Druzhba pipeline — key events for Ukraine next week
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Editor's note: This article is a shortened on-site version of KI Insights' public newsletter, The Week Ahead, covering events from March 23-29. Sign up here to start your week with an agenda of Ukraine-related events delivered directly to your inbox every week.
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Ukraine's delegation is set to take part in talks in the United States this weekend, March 21–22. Meanwhile, the Russian side has announced a pause in trilateral negotiations, citing the United States' ongoing war with Iran.
The bilateral discussions will unfold against mounting concerns that Washington may scale back or halt weapons supplies to Ukraine as it becomes increasingly absorbed in its Middle East conflict.
The delegation traveling to the U.S. includes National Security Council Secretary Rustem Umerov, Head of the Presidential Office Kyrylo Budanov, his deputy Sergiy Kyslytsia, and MP and chief negotiator Davyd Arakhamia.
Iranian strikes on oil and gas facilities will continue to roil the international energy markets next week. Following the destruction of 17% of Qatar's liquefied natural gas capacity, the first impacts have already been felt across Asia. However, the situation is equally alarming for Europe, where reserves have been depleted after an unusually cold winter.
New details on the pipeline's Druzhba condition in Ukraine, including prospects for restoring its operations, are expected in the coming days. The decisions could prove pivotal for Ukraine's financial stability, potentially unlocking a €90 billion EU loan package currently being blocked by Hungary.
Kyiv this week briefed an EU working group on the pipeline's condition and presented a plan for its reconstruction. The European Commission has signaled its readiness to provide financial support for the restoration efforts, while urging Ukraine to resume oil flow to Hungary and Slovakia.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has explicitly tied the unfreezing of the funds to the resumption of pipeline operations. At the same time, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has threatened retaliatory measures against Ukraine over the disruption of Russian oil supplies.
Without access to the EU loan, Ukraine risks running out of cash by the end of the spring.
Plenary sessions of the Verkhovna Rada are scheduled for March 24–27. The central expectation is the debate and vote on a new government-backed bill to raise taxes, aimed at meeting IMF requirements and securing continued financial support.
Also on the agenda is draft law No. 13155 on the calculation of charges for housing and коммунal services and the accounting of losses related to property damage. Speeches by the European Solidarity and Batkivshchyna parties are scheduled ahead of the vote. The bill aims to regulate utility payments for residential buildings damaged by hostilities.
Ukraine's Ministry of Finance is set to publish updated public debt data for February on March 27. As of the end of January, the total amount of state and state-guaranteed debt stood at $215 billion, including nearly $48 billion in domestic debt and approximately $167 billion in external obligations.
The Eurogroup, an informal body comprising EU finance ministers, is scheduled to meet on March 27. Discussions will focus on the impact of the Middle East crisis on the EU economy, including potential deliberations on sanctions against Russia amid rising oil and natural gas prices.
The Third Black Sea Security Conference of the International Crimea Platform will take place in Chisinau, Moldova, on March 23. Participants are expected to exchange experience and discuss practical steps to address ongoing threats posed by Russia in the Black Sea–Azov region.
The previous, second security conference was held in Bulgaria in 2024, bringing together representatives from 43 countries and nine international organizations.
Ukraine marks National Guard Day on Thursday, March 26. Also, next week, Ukraine will switch to daylight saving time overnight on 28–29 March. At 03:00 on Sunday, 29 March, clocks in Kyiv and across Ukraine will move forward one hour to 04:00.
Events and Milestones:
Next week:
- 25-26 March, Kyiv. Offline event: GREEN:EXPO 2026. The event is designed to create an effective platform for showcasing modern technologies and solutions, as well as equipment and installations from both domestic and international companies. More details & tickets here.
- 27 March, Kyiv. Offline event: Pharma: Strategic Priorities 2026 – Shaping a New Market Regulation Model. The event will serve as a key platform for discussing the transformation of the pharmaceutical sector amid the launch of the Ukrainian Pharmaceutical Agency and deeper integration with European Union standards. Register here.
Further ahead:
- 31 March. Online event: Ukraine's media space amid rising political competition. The Fix Media is hosting an expert briefing to discuss the current state of Ukraine's media space. Register here.
- 14 April. Online event: Leveraging Logistics for Ukraine. Discuss logistics updates, request or offer humanitarian aid, share resources, and talk about what’s happening in the region. Regisner here.
- 22 April, Lviv/Online. Hybrid event: Recovery Construction Forum Ukraine 3.0. Forum brings together government representatives along with the construction community to discuss current challenges in the industry and effective coordination efforts towards the reconstruction of Ukraine. Register here.
- 22-23 April, Brussels. Offline event: EU-Ukraine Business Summit 2026. The Summit brings together policymakers, businesses, and financial institutions in Brussels for two days of high-level discussions, round tables, and interactive workshops. Register here.
- 27 April, London. Offline event: UK-UA Defence Tech Forum. The event enhances collaboration among Ukrainian, British, and international defence tech firms, alongside the VC community, to scale up production and accelerate R&D and innovation. Register here.
- 12-14 May, Kyiv. Online event: UA Energy – International Exhibition and Conference on Ukraine's Sustainable Energy Recovery. The event brings together government, investors, financial institutions, and technology leaders to build a modern, independent energy system for Ukraine. More details & tickets here.
If you have an upcoming event that you would like featured in our newsletter, please get in touch via insights@kyivindependent.com.
