The Ukrainian Week

23 June, 2021	Breaking news	Land reform can make Ukraine an agricultural superpower Long known as "the breadbasket of Europe", Ukraine is already one of the world's top agricultural exporters. Farmland reform may now enable the country to play a central role in the future of global food security
17 November, 2020	Breaking news	Coronavirus crisis exposes Ukraine’s healthcare failures As Ukraine began 2020, the reform priorities for the country’s healthcare sector appeared to be clear
16 May, 2020	World	Kristina Kvien: “The largest impediment to economic transformation is the continued need for further judicial reform” The Ukrainian Week talked with Kristina Kvien, US Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., in Ukraine about the prospects of US-Ukraine relations, in particular in the energy and defense spheres
15 March, 2020	Economics	Down from the peaks Something’s cutting down the profits of Ukrainian banks. What risks does the banking system face today?
10 March, 2020	Economics	Energy policy: stupidity or crime What threatening consequences for the country may the new course in energy policy have?
8 March, 2020	Economics	Old and new risks What are the threats facing Ukraine’s economy in 2020?
1 March, 2020	Economics	The coming crisis More and more signals are indicating that, after four years of renewed growth, Ukraine could be facing an economic downturn in 2020
1 February, 2020	Society	Healthcare defense What Ukrainian healthcare should do in 2020
21 January, 2020	Politics	The post-honeymoon mood Ukrainians are not yet disappointed with the choice of the president and MPs. But some of the government’s actions no longer excite the majority
19 December, 2019	Economics	Guarantor, referee and coach Why is the role of the nation-state in the development of the economy only increasing nowadays?
5 September, 2019	Economics	Fear and loathing in the banking sector The aftertaste of banking sector reform
7 July, 2019	Economics	Cloud on the horizon Over the next couple of months Ukraine will be facing powerful economic challenges
29 June, 2019	Science	Ulana Suprun: “Raising awareness is our great responsibility” The Ukrainian Week spoke to Minister Suprun about the most dangerous superstitions in healthcare, promotion of healthcare, the development of critical thinking, the future of the healthcare reform, and about opponents
11 November, 2018	Economics	Twilight of the oligarchs Ukraine’s oligarchs are slowly but surely losing their economic clout
18 October, 2018	Economics	Lessons from Georgia Certain little-known facts about reforms in Georgia could be a good lesson for Ukraine
25 July, 2018	Economics	The energy two-step: first forward, now backward How corrupt oligarchic lobbying by a Russian monopoly on Ukraine’s electricity market is destroying the country’s energy security and making Ukrainians pay more for energy than they should
13 July, 2018	Politics	Georg Milbradt: “Decentralization changes how people think” The Ukrainian Week spoke with Germany’s special envoy to Ukraine on reform in governance and decentralization, Georg Milbradt, about German government assistance in the implementation of reforms and about the successes and difficulties faced in this process.
11 July, 2018	Economics	A looming cash crunch? Why are Ukraine’s public finances starting to look shaky?
5 June, 2018	Economics	And the last shall be first Reforms in the roadways management system are starting to show results
26 April, 2018	Economics	7 steps to a new strategy for public banks Deputy Minister of Finance on the revised plans for a strategic restructuring of the state banking sector in 2018-2022
26 April, 2018	Economics	A means, not an end in itself Ukraine’s banking system needs to be put to work serving the national economic interest
26 April, 2018	Economics	Light at the end of the tunnel Where Ukraine’s banking system is moving
2 April, 2018		“Ukraine’s economy can’t grow as long as we don’t change the role of the enforcement agencies” Finance Minister about reforming the State Fiscal Service and other challenges facing Ukraine’s domestic economy
13 March, 2018		“Member-states that feel direct threat clash with those believing that things will get settled somehow” Head of Ukraine’s Mission to NATO on the prospects of NATO expansion, Ukraine’s plans on defense reform, and the impact of politics on security considerations within the Alliance
13 March, 2018	Politics	National security overhauled What’s new for Ukraine’s defense and security institutions in the President’s national security draft law?
28 February, 2018		“We have to build capitalism where those who do a lot receive a lot” Deputy Chair of the National Bank of Ukraine Council and Honorary President of the Kyiv School of Economics on monetary policy, mid-term risks, fundamental problems in Ukraine’s economy, the role of confidence and the restoration of fairness in economic development
21 February, 2018	Politics	The Central Electoral Commission conundrum The shambolic renovation of the Central Electoral Commission, which has been in progress for several years now, looks about to be finally concluded. On Feb. 5, the President submitted a list of candidates to the Verkhovna Rada and this suggests that the process is finally being unblocked
1 February, 2018	Economics	Baby steps to success How Ukraine’s joint ventures with EU countries in the energy sector develop
1 February, 2018	Economics	The battle for Naftogaz A conflict between different groups of influence in government for control over state-owned oil and gas assets threatens to undermine the country's energy security
10 January, 2018	Society	Education as part of national security What will change for teachers and students in 2018
7 November, 2017	Society	New Education Law: A change of mindset Mostly discussed for its regulation of the language of instruction in schools, the new law offers more overlooked important innovations intended to change the quality and the content of education in Ukraine
19 October, 2017	Politics	The wannabe Maidan This week started off with a bang in Kyiv...and it had nothing to do with working on healthcare reform, which the Verkhovna Rada eventually passed on October 19. The #1 topic became a protest action to push political reforms forward that was called by anti-corruption politicians and former Odesa Governor Mikhail Saakashvili
1 September, 2017	Economics	Cultivating change New growth areas in the Ukrainian agricultural sector are gradually changing the industry
1 September, 2017		Seeing the obvious Why Ukraine's healthcare system needs to change
1 September, 2017	Society	Oleksandr Linchevskiy: “The best-off Ukrainians are demonstrating against the Health Ministry” Deputy Minister of Health Oleksandr Linchevskiy talked to The Ukrainian Week about the reform of Ukraine’s medical system
21 August, 2017	Politics	Supreme Court selections: Delay in court Candidates for positions in the renewed Supreme Court have one last barrier to overcome
27 July, 2017	Politics	Farmers vs agriholdings What kind of land market Ukraine needs
23 June, 2017	Economics	Diversifying from Russia: Don’t stop now... Although there’s been a sharp reduction in trade and commercial ties with Russia and in Ukraine’s dependence on its neighbor, some key sectors still show levels of interaction that pose a threat to national security
23 June, 2017	Society	Farther apart The amalgamation of territorial communities has been chaotic. This may lead to unequal funding, abilities to support themselves and impact on local residents
8 June, 2017		“The steps made largely under the pressure of civil society and foreign partners are not yet irreversible” Ex-Deputy Prosecutor General on the case of the diamond prosecutors, the threat to reforms, and why the establishment of an anti-corruption court will not heal Ukraine’s judiciary
26 May, 2017		“Ukraine can't pause or go backwards” IMF First Deputy Managing Director on the details and prospects of the IMF’s cooperation with Ukraine
31 March, 2017	Economics	Will and skill, not rocket science What’s missing for the management of state enterprises to be properly reformed?
3 March, 2017	Economics	Progress against the punters Why banking and lending don’t go together with populism
17 February, 2017	Economics	Almost different How reforms change the banking system
26 January, 2017	Economics	Stalking the NBU Governor What’s behind the discreditation of Valeria Hontareva and demands for the NBU Governor to resign
10 January, 2017		Judiciary reform: Enchained by anti-reason The concept of the judiciary reform was approved back in 1992, and its implementation began as soon as the Constitution was adopted
31 October, 2016	Economics	Locomotive in action What are the prospects for Ukraine’s agro-industrial complex?
31 October, 2016	Economics	Rent seeking on land How the status of land in Ukraine affects its owners and big agribusinesses
21 October, 2016		"If people pay taxes, the state will reduce rates where possible" The Minister of Finance on the new blueprint for tax reform, the campaign against shadow economy, corruption at the customs, State Fiscal Service reform, and the 2017 budget
17 July, 2016	Politics	Chaos and the law Who is changing the Constitution of Ukraine today and how? How are these innovations linked to reforms in the country? The Ukrainian Week speaks to constitutional and administrative law expert Ihor Koliushko, chairman of the Center of Policy and Legal Reform
17 July, 2016	Politics	Constitutional confrontation Many of the problems connected to Ukraine’s Basic Law are the result of trying to rebuild it on the foundations of a soviet constitutional heritage that does not reflect current realities
25 May, 2016		"Foreign investors are alarmed by macro instability and political turbulence in Ukraine" Head of the Ukrainian State Property Fund on the estimated value of state assets in Ukraine, performance of the privatisation plan, bidders for the Odesa Port Plant and Russian management of Ukrainian regional power companies
25 May, 2016	Economics	The harvest of hope After two very hard years, Ukrainians may be able to breathe more easily this coming summer
8 March, 2016	World	Evelyn Farkas: “To have Ukraine as a positive example is about all of us” Former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia on the decision-making process on provision of arms to Ukraine, reset policies between the US and Russia, and the need for reforms in Ukraine
1 February, 2016	Politics	Making Headway Having studied the experience of legal system reforms in various countries, I can say that even though I am critical about every process in Ukraine, still I am an optimist
27 January, 2016	Politics	Reversing the Deep-Freeze The dangers of further impoverishment
27 January, 2016		Light at the Bottom By the end of 2015, Ukraine basically had all the core anti-corruption bodies
7 December, 2015	Economics	“We wouldn’t mind change ourselves” How the micro-merchant crowd lives
30 October, 2015	Politics	Do It Yourself Can activists defend community interests even if outwardly undemocratic forces control local government?
9 October, 2015		«Economic populism is always tempting during periods of hardship, but it has not served Ukraine well in the past» The IMF's assessment of Ukraine's reforms and outlook
9 October, 2015	Economics	Merge and Acquire Ukraine’s banking sector faces massive consolidation and change of owners
19 August, 2015	Economics	Slow Out of the Gate An overview of Ukraine’s new tax system
23 July, 2015	Economics	Healthcare and Education Below Poverty Line Ukraine will face a complete degradation of public services unless painful but necessary changes take place
20 July, 2015	Economics	Express Shock Therapy, Hybrid Economic Results Positive and negative results of austerity and painful economic reforms
14 July, 2015	Politics	Who Are You, Mr. Hrytsak? Whose interests will guide the new SBU chief
14 July, 2015	Politics	Artem Sytnyk: “Our task is to break the stereotypes of society accustomed to living in a corrupt environment” In an exclusive interview with The Ukrainian Week, the director of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NAB) spoke about fighting corruption in the judiciary, the creation of a “corruption registry”, and its regional management of anti-corruption efforts. Interviewed by Tetiana Omelchenko
10 July, 2015	Politics	Systemic Shape-Shifting What searches and arrests at the Prosecutor General's Office signal
8 July, 2015	Politics	Corruption in Ukraine: What Needs to Be Understood, and What Needs to Be Done? It is usually helpful to understand the nature of a problem before effective solutions to it can be developed and implemented
26 June, 2015	Politics	Decentralization: The Wrong Solution to the Wrong Problem? An off-the-peg decentralization solution to the complex problem of development without effective physical and institutional infrastructure can do Ukraine more harm than good
26 June, 2015		Threshold Elections Major challenges in the upcoming election of regional governments
26 June, 2015	Politics	Co-author of a local elections bill Oleksandr Chernenko: “The next local elections can take place two years after decentralization kicks in” Oleksandr Chernenko spoke about the main challenges to changing the local political powers-that-be, electoral risks, and the voting rights of internally displaced persons
25 June, 2015		"The abolition of special pensions system has encountered vehement opposition" The Minister for Social Policy spoke to The Ukrainian Week about his vision of the pension reform, de-shadowing of taxes and salaries, subsidies and assistance to IDPs and ATO veterans
19 June, 2015		Yet Another Attempt at Pension Reform The existing pension system is one of the major pillars of the ineffective and corrupt political and socio-economic model of the “old Ukraine”
14 May, 2015		How Poland Made It. Notes of a Businessman If you want to save the country from the economic collapse, make protection of SMEs a national idea
14 May, 2015	World	Michael McFaul: Putin believes that time is on his side: that the West will become disinterested and Ukraine will fail with reforms Ex-US Ambassador to Russia on the “reset policy”, Russia’s “resource curse”, and main threats of Putin’s policy for the West and Ukraine
27 April, 2015		The Thorny Path to Reform Member of Parliament Yehor Firsov on how reforms can be both painful and comfortable
27 April, 2015		Perception of Reforms Sociologist Iryna Bekeshkina on the public’s expectations of change, perceptions of reforms, and the government’s lack of preparedness for them
27 April, 2015		"The year after Maidan was a year of missed opportunities in reform of the prosecution" A popular blogger and an active participant of lustration on changes that have taken place at the Ukrainian prosecution service over the past year
27 April, 2015	Economics	Pressure, Procrastination and Neighbors' Best Practices Economic reforms are slowly gaining momentum in Ukraine, but the results are not yet in sight
23 April, 2015	Politics	Showcase vs Show Law enforcement reforms
3 April, 2015		“People will be watching how the reform program is implemented” Ex-Ambassador of the US to Ukraine talks about trust for the Ukrainian government and its will to implement reforms in the United States and Barak Obama’s Ukraine and Russia policy
24 February, 2015	Society	Deputy Education Minister Maksym Strikha: "Science is not a means of satisfying one's curiosity, but the guarantee of the national security" Mr. Strikha spoke to The Ukrainian Week about the current status and the potential of the Ukrainian science, the need for reform at the National Academy of Sciences, and forged academic degrees.
24 February, 2015	Society	Trouble at the Academy On the maladies afflicting Ukraine’s National Academy of Sciences and its chances of recovery
23 February, 2015		New electoral law should be adopted no later than in May The Ukrainian Week discussed the situation with the new electoral legislative framework with Oleksandr Chernenko, the long-standing head of the Committee of Voters of Ukraine and Member of Parliament with the Bloc of Petro Poroshenko.
23 February, 2015	Politics	A Key to Transforming Ukraine Hopes for stamping out corruption, reforming law enforcement bodies and transforming the country in accordance with the European values are futile, unless major flaws in the Ukrainian electoral law are eradicated
2 February, 2015	Economics	Budget Code Amendments: In-Depth Reform or a Mere Facelift? The benefits and concerns of the budget reform
26 January, 2015	Politics	Mykola Velychkovych: "We have partly broken down the Interior Ministry system, but we still need to change the structure" The Ukrainian Week spoke to former Deputy Interior Minister about the reform of the law enforcement, the prospects of Georgian know-how in Ukraine, and the future of volunteer battalions
4 January, 2015		Reforming Ukraine More than ever Ukraine needs statesmen with a long term vision looking beyond the horizon of their current mandate
8 July, 2014	Politics	In the Army Now: Answering Many Why’s The Ukrainian Army after 23 years of “ingenious” military reforms and three months of warfare in Eastern Ukraine
2 October, 2013	News	*Global AgeWatch Index*: Old people in Ukraine live better than in Russia, but worse than in Vietnam. Sweden is the best country for the elderly and Ukraine lags behind, Global AgeWatch Index reports
13 August, 2013	News	Pension inequality in Ukraine: UAH 15 Thou for deputies, 8 Thou for judges and 1 Thou for teachers
17 December, 2012	Economics	Deficit Looming Large The Ukrainian government is likely to take radical steps to close the budget gap
24 August, 2012	Politics	Left Hook by Klitschko’s UDAR Party The Vitaliy Klitschko brand could be a cover for many potential party switchers associated with oligarchs, and these politicians are unlikely to be controlled in the future by the UDAR party leader
2 June, 2012	Economics	Reforms According to Schumpeter A landmark work by the world-renowned economist confirms that the current “reforms” of the Ukrainian government will inevitably lead to an economic crisis
22 February, 2012	Politics	Life After Euro 2012 If the Ukrainian government does not change its domestic policies, the country will face international isolation and subjugation to Russia after the 2012 European Football Championship
2 February, 2012	Economics	Priority Changes Reform is probably one of the most often used words in Ukraine. Because of its frequent, often thoughtless use, it has a hollow ring to it, having lost its essence.
30 January, 2012	Economics	Which Reforms Are a Priority For Ukraine? Life is change. 2,015 readers of *The Ukrainian Week* advise the government on choosing changes wisely through a survey open on tyzhden.ua website over 1-21 December 2011*
25 January, 2012	Society	Express Train to Nowhere The Ukrainian Railroad is being reformed at the expense of its passengers and employees
12 July, 2011	Society	Institutional Policy Wonks Involvement of the society into implementation of state’s policies is of a reason only in case, when the public opinion and opinion of independent experts are heard by the state. In Ukraine neither of the above mentioned is taken into account.
5 July, 2011	Economics	The Grim Outlook for Pensions and Pensioners Instead of initiating a full-fledged pension reform the government will simply make life harder for the retired living on the existing pay-as-you-go pension scheme