EU Foreign Ministers to visit Bucha on liberation anniversary, OPEC meeting — 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 30 - April 5. 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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EU foreign ministers are set to visit Bucha in Kyiv Oblast on 31 March, marking the fourth anniversary of the town's liberation from Russian occupation in 2022. The de-occupation of the Kyiv Oblast was completed on April 2, 2022. In its aftermath, extensive evidence of war crimes committed by Russian forces was uncovered, including the bodies of more than 1,400 civilians.
The visit comes amid unresolved issues surrounding a proposed €90 billion EU loan, discussions over the restoration of the Druzhba pipeline, and a deepening global crisis fueled by the ongoing US war in Iran.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) meeting in Vienna on 5 April is expected to shape the near-term trajectory of global oil prices. A previously announced increase in production of 206,000 barrels per day is set to take effect on 1 April, though the decision remains subject to revision. The most likely outcome is an extension of existing output restraints, which would help sustain upward price pressure.
Meanwhile, Russia's oil exports have fallen to a historic low, driven by Ukrainian drone strikes, pipeline damage, and the seizure of tankers. Ukraine has reportedly disabled around 40% of Russia's oil export capacity, with new strikes continuing to disrupt infrastructure. However, Russian oil revenues have risen to the highest level since 2022, jumping to $1.71 billion last week.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is escalating anti-Ukrainian rhetoric as elections approach, with further threats and accusations likely to intensify in the coming week. Recent polls show the opposition Tisza party leading Orbán's Fidesz by 16%, leaving little time to reverse the trend ahead of the April 12 vote.
Earlier this week, Orbán said Hungary could halt gas transit to Ukraine starting in July unless Russian oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline is restored. He has also accused Ukrainian intelligence of interfering in Hungary's domestic politics.
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators is set to introduce sanctions targeting senior Hungarian officials accused of obstructing aid to Ukraine. Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Republican Senator Thom Tillis have introduced the Block Putin Act, which would require President Donald Trump to impose financial sanctions and visa bans on Hungarian government officials involved in purchases of Russian oil and gas.
A key issue to watch in the coming week is the unresolved status of the Druzhba pipeline, with no final decision yet on its potential restoration. Ukraine has not granted EU experts, who have been in the country since 18 March, permission to inspect the pipeline's condition. President Volodymyr Zelensky previously indicated that repairs could take approximately six weeks.
Hungary continues to block both EU financial assistance to Ukraine and the bloc's 20th sanctions package against Russia, conditioning its approval on the resumption of oil transit via Druzhba.
On the battlefield, attention in the coming days will centre on Russia's emerging spring offensive and the mounting risks of delays in U.S. air defence deliveries. Against the backdrop of expanding U.S. operations against Iran, the Pentagon is reportedly considering redirecting military equipment originally allocated to Ukraine under the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) programme to the Middle East.
At the same time, Russian attacks have intensified. Between March 23 and 24, Moscow launched nearly 1,000 attack drones against Ukraine within a 24-hour period – one of the largest such assaults since the start of the full-scale invasion.
Can propaganda be treated as a weapon of war? In our latest Ukraine Insights episode, we speak with international lawyer Anna Vyshniakova about the “Words That Kill” study — one of the first empirical investigations into how Russian propaganda shapes the mindset and actions of soldiers. Available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
Events and Milestones:
Next week:
- 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.
- 2 April, online, in Ukrainian. A public discussion of draft legislation aimed at protecting self-employment in the small business sector in the Verkhovna Rada. The proposed law seeks to align local government decisions on urban planning with the rights of small businesses. More details & online translation here.
Further ahead:
- 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. Register 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.
