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Since year-start, the Ukrainian hryvnia has strengthened against the dollar by a record 4%. This was facilitated by a number of seasonal factors - non-residents buying up domestic securities, the start of a planting season, and the repayment by businesses of tax obligations for 2018. However, on March 13, the national currency sharply lost its positions. Rumors immediately emerged of the impending devaluation. UNIAN learned from experts what to expect from the hryvnia exchange rate this year.

Amid the escalation of Russian aggression in the Black and Azov Seas, the United States is considering providing Ukraine with more lethal defensive weapons. UNIAN learned about the possible options of supplies and whether to expect a "response" on the part of the Kremlin.

The Cabinet of Ministers refused to renew the contract with Naftogaz CEO Andriy Kobolyev, the reform of the fiscal service has finally moved from a standstill, the government abolished 149 business regulations, while hryvnia further strengthened – these were the main economic developments of the outgoing week.

The "salary spat" between Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman and top managers of Naftogaz escalated to the government’s refusal to renew the contract with CEO, Andriy Kobolyev. The latter stated that the Cabinet's actions were unlawful but did not specify his further moves. The whole situation is now in limbo. Experts suggest there is some pre-election fleur to it, but this will only play into the hands of Russia's Gazprom.

The State Statistics Service reported a slowdown in industrial output in January, the government allocated one-time “assistance” to pensioners on the eve of elections, while the National Bank announced its intention to impose restrictions on B2C cash payments – these are the main economic news of the outgoing week.

The Ministry of Social Policy is initiating new restrictions on contracting "individual entrepreneurs" instead of fully hiring them; the grace period for customs clearance of cars with EU plates has ended; while the regulator has been allowed to inspect regional gas distribution companies over additional charges to their customers for gas consumed – these are the main economic news of the outgoing week.

The State Statistics Service reported on a faster economy growth in the fourth quarter of 2018, the government submitted its annual report and announced priorities for 2019, while President Poroshenko called on foreign businesses to invest in Ukraine – these are the main economic news of the outgoing week.

Electricity production from solar and wind energy in Ukraine is growing by leaps and bounds primarily due to a powerful incentive – a high "green" tariff. Whether this sector is able to maintain its attractiveness depends on the parliament, which is considering a law on the transition from green tariffs to the mechanism for determining the price of electricity at auctions.

Hryvnia entered a period of confident growth, the infrastructure ministry vowed further efforts to upgrade Ukrainian road network, while the Cabinet replaced the agrarian ministry's acting chief – these are the main economic news of the past week.

This year, Ukraine must repay more than $6 billion to external creditors. Deputy Minister of Finance Vasyl Shkurakov in an interview with UNIAN told about the government's strategy of refinancing debts, the ministry's work in the domestic debt market, and the probability of default on public debt.

The government struck back at the regional gas distribution companies, reducing consumption rates for Ukrainians and speeding up the installation of meters; the National Bank retained the GDP growth forecast; while the leaders of the transport industry announced this year's priority tasks – these are the key economic news of the past week.

The Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine in an interview with UNIAN told about the ongoing work with the western partners on a new package of sanctions against Russia over the aggression in the Sea of Azov and our losses as a result of this aggression, Ukraine's plans for road repair and construction, his attitude to the NABU probe against him, and changes ahead in railway transportation.

Following the tripartite talks in Brussels on the transit of Russian gas via Ukraine, the parties identified their positions and set up a new meeting, while Ukraine sealed an FTA deal with Israel, and reached a number of agreements with investors at the annual economic forum in Davos – these are the key economic news of the outgoing week.

Another round of Ukraine-EU-Russia gas talks to decide the fate of the future transit contract between Naftogaz and Gazprom saw no concrete outcome, as earlier expected. And although the meeting was held behind closed doors, some new details surfaced.

The NBU governor reported to parliament, Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman demanded that the Naftogaz Supervisory Board reduce the exorbitant salaries of the company's top management, while Russia disrupted technical consultations on gas transit – these are the main economic news of the outgoing week.

Russia has disrupted technical consultations in the run-up to the trilateral Ukraine-EU-Russian negotiations on the future contract on gas transit via Ukraine. This casts doubt on the very effectiveness of talks, scheduled for January 21.

Ukraine's key creditors – the IMF and the World Bank – have worsened the outlook for the development of the national economy in 2019, noting that the efforts of the authorities to create a more competitive environment did not meet expectations; the Ministry of Economic Development cited modest financial figures in reports of strategic state enterprises, while the NBU announced a new wave of currency liberalization – these are the main economic developments of the outgoing week.

In 2018, Ukraine allocated a record $40 billion for road repairs, which made it possible to drastically increase the volume of road construction and maintenance works throughout the country. In parallel lines, the railroad operator began an upgrade of its fleet, while Ukraine completed the largest infrastructure project of the decade, the Beskydy tunnel in the Carpathians.

The year of 2018 brought Ukrainians a rise in gas prices, new central heating tariffs, and swings in petrol prices, while we also witnessed Naftogaz’s historic victory over Russia's Gazprom. In 2019, no less fateful events are expected as a new competitive electricity market will be launched.

At UNIAN's request, the country's leading economists have shared their macroeconomic forecasts for the coming year. They expect that in 2019, the economic situation will remain fragile, given the low probability of continued important structural changes during the presidential and parliamentary elections.