In the first three months of 2024, the state budget expenditures for the security and defense sector amounted to UAH 408. 2 billion, or 58.9% of the total general fund expenditures.
Ukraine and South Korea sign a framework agreement that will allow Ukraine to receive up to $2. 1 billion in loans from the South Korean Fund for Economic Development and Cooperation to implement priority projects in 2024-2029.
Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has received $83. 7 billion in financial assistance from international partners.
Ukraine's Finance Minister met with U. S. officials to discuss Ukraine's estimated $37.2 billion state budget needs for 2024, the use of confiscated Russian assets to rebuild Ukraine, and assistance in restoring critical infrastructure damaged by Russian attacks.
The European Commission has approved the Ukraine Plan for 2024-2027, paving the way for regular and predictable EU support to help Ukraine meet its urgent budgetary needs, carry out recovery and reconstruction, and ensure macro-financial stability.
Since the beginning of 2024, nearly 7,000 entrepreneurs have received affordable loans worth UAH 27. 3 billion, with one in five loans issued to businesses operating in high-risk areas.
In 2024, Ukraine received $10. 2 billion in external financing from international partners, including the US, EU, Japan, Canada, IMF, UK, and Norway.
For the first time in Ukraine, free infertility treatment using assisted reproductive technologies has become available under the medical guarantees program, with UAH 1. 87 billion allocated for this purpose.
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has established an Audit Committee composed of certified internal auditors from NATO and Ukraine to strengthen internal audit functions, maintain public trust and implement the highest international standards in the ministry.
If the blockade on the border with Poland continues, Ukraine could lose up to $400 million annually due to reduced exports and lower budget revenues.
The National Bank of Ukraine has strengthened the official hryvnia exchange rate against the US dollar by 13 kopecks to 39. 1953 UAH/USD.
Ukraine's public and publicly guaranteed debt reached UAH 5. 49 trillion, or USD 143.69 billion, as of early March, of which 69.67% was external debt and 30.33% was domestic debt.
Ukraine has received $118 million in grants from Japan under the World Bank's HEAL and HOPE projects to support the state budget, health care system, and housing repairs.
Starting April 1, Ukraine will increase minimum wages and pensions, increase payments to children of fallen Ukrainian defenders, increase the cost of issuing a foreign passport, and reduce the number of vacant civil servants by more than 19,000.
Ukraine has received a $1. 5 billion loan from Japan and the United Kingdom through the World Bank to support key state budget priorities in the face of full-scale Russian aggression.
Any increase in fiscal pressure on business is unjustified and harmful, as it will impose significant costs on business, while additional revenues to the state budget will be minimal, said the president of the All-Ukrainian Professional Association of Entrepreneurs.
President Zelenskyy announces an increase in funding for Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service to counter Russian challenges and expand its operational capabilities.
Starting from 1 April 2024, the minimum wage in Ukraine will increase to UAH 8,000, which will result in an increase in various employment-related compensation payments in line with the minimum wage.
Ukraine will receive a €100 million loan from the Council of Europe Development Bank to compensate for property destroyed during the Russian invasion by issuing housing certificates to more than 2,000 recipients.
The World Bank has approved a $1. 5 billion loan to Ukraine to help restore the economy, finance priority social and humanitarian expenditures, and implement reforms aimed at European integration and economic growth.
The government has approved a bill to restore medium-term budget planning for local communities, especially in the areas affected by military operations, which will allow them to forecast budgets for several years ahead and attract funding for economic development and social support.
The Ministry of Finance has published an analytical dashboard for monitoring salaries and the number of employees of state institutions, which aims to ensure the efficient use of state budget funds and make the remuneration of civil servants more transparent and fair.
Japan has allocated $230 million to support Ukraine's agricultural sector as part of a project aimed at restoring agriculture and providing access to finance for farmers.
Last week, entrepreneurs received 600 soft loans worth UAH 2. 1 billion under the government program "Affordable Loans at 5-7-9%".
The government approved a draft law to gradually increase excise tax rates on fuel and alcoholic beverages to the EU minimum levels, with an expected additional UAH 1. 6 billion per month from fuel sales and UAH 4.5 million per month from intermediate products in 2024, aimed at supporting the country's security and defense sector.
Ukraine will soon receive $880 million from the IMF after the successful completion of the third review of the Extended Fund Facility program, paving the way for the fourth tranche of funding.
The government plans to reduce the number of vacant positions in government agencies by almost 19,300 to cut costs and prevent overstated salaries due to excessive vacancies.
The government plans to adopt a bill to increase excise taxes on tobacco products, which should come into effect on July 1, 2024, and gradually increase to the EU minimum level by 2028.
Ukraine and the European Union have signed an agreement to provide €6 billion in soft loans to Ukraine, of which €4. 5 billion will be disbursed in March and the remaining €1.5 billion in April 2024 after the reform indicators are met.
Ukraine has a clear plan of action and first results in accessing frozen Russian assets worth about €300 billion to finance the costs of recovery.
