THIS WEEK IN UKRAINE
10 January 2025
Ukraine's Diplomatic Efforts This Week
From January 7–9, 2025, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy engaged in key diplomatic efforts to strengthen Ukraine’s international support:
-
With Swiss President Keller-Sutter: Discussed humanitarian aid and invited Switzerland to join the "Food from Ukraine" initiative to aid Syria.
-
With Qatar's Emir: Focused on the return of displaced Ukrainian children and food relief for Syria.
-
With OSCE Chair Elina Valtonen: Emphasized sanctions against Russia and deepened cooperation under Finland’s leadership.
-
At Ramstein Base: Secured NATO commitments for military support, including air defense and drones, while advocating for stronger sanctions. He also discussed Ukraine's reconstruction and EU aspirations with Italian Prime Minister Meloni.
-
With Moldovan President Sandu: Addressed energy challenges and offered Ukrainian coal to stabilize Moldova.
These engagements reflect Ukraine's pursuit of peace, security, and humanitarian collaboration.
Norway Pledges €2B Defense Aid to Ukraine
During a Ramstein meeting, Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov secured €2B in aid from Norway, the largest military assistance in Norway's history. Key focus areas include strengthening Ukraine’s air defense systems and co-investing in ammunition production. A new "Norwegian model" of cooperation will complement existing frameworks to enhance Ukraine's defense. Umerov praised Norway's leadership in the Naval Capabilities Coalition and its role in uniting European support for Ukraine.
$41B in Aid Bolsters Ukraine in 2024
Ukraine received over $41B in aid from 11 international partners in 2024, with the EU contributing the largest share of $17.3B through the Ukraine Facility program, which covered 40% of the state budget's external funding. Key contributors included the U.S. ($8.3B), IMF ($5.3B), and Japan ($4.3B). This support funded social and humanitarian needs, enabling Ukraine to allocate domestic resources for defense and security.
Ukraine Localizes Demining Machine Production
Ukrainian company "A3tech-Ukraine" now fully produces components for Croatian DOK-ING demining machines, achieving over 10% localization. This speeds up repairs, with damaged MV-4 machines restored in just 12 days. In 2024, A3tech-Ukraine assembled eight heavy MV-10 machines and repaired ten others, cutting costs significantly. Locally made parts, such as hammer shafts, are nearly 50% cheaper, saving Ukraine's budget $5M. DOK-ING has also opened a local office to enhance demining efforts.
Ukrainian Startups at CES 2025
CES 2025 is taking place from 7-10 January in Las Vegas and is showcasing groundbreaking technological innovations, including the HDMI 2.2 standard, capable of transmitting 12K video at 120 fps and 4K at 480 Hz, along with anticipated significant announcements from Sony, Nvidia, Xiaomi, and Samsung. Among the global highlights, Ukrainian innovation stands out prominently, with groundbreaking technologies across diverse sectors. From SkyFall's Vampire drone and LUAZ Care's accessible electric vehicles to SYLA's AI-powered bionic prosthetics, Ukrainian startups are making waves. Eco-friendly solutions like BEETLESS's pest control and PROFEED's IoT feeding systems, along with BlueBird's electronic warfare technology and Qudi's AI-driven interactive masks, demonstrate Ukraine's growing influence in defense, mobility, and tech innovation worldwide.
Ukraine’s M&A Market Hits $1.2B in 2024
Ukraine’s M&A market reached $1.2B in 2024, with IT, real estate, and agriculture leading activity. The largest deals included Creatio's $200M investment round, NJJ Holding's $120M acquisition of Lifecell and Datagroup-Volia, and a $96M privatization of mining assets. Foreign investors accounted for 45% of deals and 60% of value. Drivers included corporate reinvestments, industrial relocations, and privatization opportunities. 2025 projections highlight growth in tech, defense, and logistics real estate sectors amid geopolitical uncertainties and opportunities to acquire undervalued assets.
Environmental Reforms Amidst Conflict
In 2024, Ukraine passed critical environmental laws, including the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Law (#3855-IX) to modernize industry and reduce emissions, and the Climate Policy Framework Law (#3991-IX) targeting carbon neutrality by 2050. Updates to the mineral resource program were also enacted. For 2025, the Environmental Policy Committee plans to advance waste management, ecological oversight, protected area legislation, and carbon trading systems, aligning with EU accession goals. Civil protection enhancements, such as evacuation protocols and infrastructure, remain a focus amid ongoing conflict.