# Finance
Petrol stations have begun to cut fuel prices following the global fall in the cost of petroleum products
Between 13 and 20 April, the average wholesale price of diesel fell by 4.78 UAH/litre, whilst that of A-95 petrol fell by almost one hryvnia.
The euro has hit a new all-time high in Ukraine – nearly 51.9 UAH
On 21 April, the National Bank raised the official exchange rate for the euro by 13 kopecks and for the dollar by 21 kopecks, to 44.10 UAH.
The number of sole traders in Ukraine has risen by 11,000 since the start of 2026
Since the start of 2026, the number of sole traders in Ukraine has increased by 11,297. During this period, 63,920 people started their own businesses; however, Danylo Getmantsev, chair of the parliamentary committee on finance, tax and customs policy, stated that this trend does not in itself indicate either a business boom or a rapid economic recovery.
Ukraine has deferred payments on its sovereign debt until 2030
Ukraine has reached an agreement with international creditors to defer payments on sovereign and state-guaranteed debt. A memorandum to this effect was signed by representatives of the government and partner countries.
Banks report a decline in funding and a rise in its cost – NBU survey
In the first quarter of 2026, banks recorded a decline in the volume of funding alongside a simultaneous rise in its cost, primarily due to funds from the public. At the same time, financial institutions expect a return to growth in both the volume of funds raised and their cost as early as the second quarter.
The IMF will not insist on VAT for sole traders at this stage – Svyrydenko
Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko stated that, following consultations in Washington, the International Monetary Fund has agreed that introducing VAT for sole traders is not a constructive idea at this stage. At the same time, the matter does not appear to be definitively closed, as the current IMF programme documents previously envisaged an expansion of the VAT base from 2027, and there is already talk in parliament of possibly postponing this discussion until the summer.
Funds from the IMF will last until June — Budget Committee forecast
The Ukrainian economy is currently heavily reliant on external funding. The funds currently available from the International Monetary Fund will only be sufficient to meet the state’s needs until the start of summer
Electricity at half price: DTEK has launched a favourable payment plan for electricity meters
Two-band electricity metering is becoming more accessible to residents of the capital. Thanks to the comprehensive ‘Day-Night’ service, consumers can reduce their costs for electricity used at night by 50%
Kushniruk has spoken out about a new scandal surrounding the AOZ over the procurement of glasses
Economist Boris Kushniruk has criticised a new procurement contract worth 8 million hryvnias awarded by the Defence Procurement Agency, under which ballistic goggles were ordered from TS Trade Ukraine LLC. He believes that this case is not indicative of systemic market reform, but rather of a continuation of old approaches to supplier selection. At the same time, official documents confirm both the contract itself and the fact that law enforcement agencies had previously opened a separate case regarding substandard ballistic goggles supplied to the military.
The EU to resume relations with Syria – Reuters
The European Union intends to strengthen its cooperation with Syria by resuming official political dialogue and opening up opportunities for closer economic and security ties.
Oschadbank is initiating new international arbitration proceedings against Russia
Ukraine's Oschadbank has initiated new international arbitration proceedings against Russia. The case concerns assets seized in four regions of Ukraine.
Card fraud has fallen, but losses have risen to 1.4 billion hryvnia – NBU
In 2025, the number of fraudulent payment card transactions in Ukraine fell, but the total amount of losses rose significantly.
