Ukraine battles economic pressure amid war
Ukraine’s economic stability has become a crucial but often overlooked front in its ongoing conflict with Russia. Maintaining financial strength is not only essential for sustaining the war effort today but also for securing the country’s long-term future. According to Sergii Marchenko, Ukraine’s finance minister, Kyiv aims to emerge from the conflict as a strong partner for Europe rather than a struggling neighbour. He believes the country’s hard-earned military experience since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022 could eventually help strengthen Europe’s defence capabilities. Joining the European Union remains a major goal for Ukraine. Financial support from the bloc has played a key role in keeping the economy functioning while bringing the country closer to European integration. A newly approved €90bn loan from the EU is expected to help cover Ukraine’s budget gap over the next two years. […]