PRAGNUM AT THE KYIV INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC FORUM

The PRAGNUM team attended the Kyiv International Economic Forum, one of the most anticipated annual events for large and mid-sized businesses. Major market players, including our clients, joined government officials, investors and international partners to discuss solutions critical to Ukrainian companies today. The discussions focused on keeping businesses operational, protecting investments and pursuing growth amid the war.

Not many business forums offer such open and honest exchanges between business and government. Investors and business owners spoke frankly about difficult decisions, concerns for their assets and teams, and even their personal emotions. There was a shared understanding that we are all in this together, and that how we navigate the challenges ahead depends on our ability to support one another. For us as legal advisers, this is an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of business priorities and the circumstances in which our clients operate, so that our advice addresses both legal risks and commercial objectives, - said Vitaly Bobrynev, Managing Partner at PRAGNUM.

War risk insurance dominated the agenda at KIEF 2026. The government is working to establish an insurance fund, although its funding sources remain under discussion. An increase in VAT to 21% appears increasingly likely, but no final decision has been made. Meanwhile, businesses are adapting and developing their own solutions: spreading production across multiple sites, establishing backup warehouses and investing in the physical protection of their facilities. Alongside private air defence initiatives and the first successful interceptions of Shahed drones, major companies and investors are also funding their own firefighting units and actively supporting Ukraine’s State Emergency Service. These measures add to costs but help businesses maintain operations.

There were encouraging signals too: the government plans to continue the “5–7–9%” affordable lending programme and grants for processing enterprises. Exporters can also benefit from alternative logistics routes through Moldova, including a 50% discount on rail transit for Ukrainian cargo, as well as opportunities to expand into Romania and the Balkans.