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Social Policy Minister Andriy Reva in an interview with UNIAN has told when the Ukrainians should expect a significant increase of social standards, why the retirement age should not be raised today and also how the talks with the IMF are developing.

The Ukrainian Government has reported about the successful talks with the IMF on a new memorandum; Europe has extended sanctions against Russia; and Brexit supporters have won in a UK referendum – these are the main economic news of the past week.

UNIAN has asked the people who deal with one-third of the world’s money – financial brokers of Wall Street – about the future of Britain following the UK vote to leave the European Union. Unlike many Ukrainian “Facebook experts,” the world’s wealthiest financiers still don’t know what to expect.

Ex-Minister of Finance of Lithuania and former EU Commissioner Algirdas Šemeta, who is now the Ukrainian business ombudsman, explained in an interview with UNIAN, what problems the businesses in Ukraine face, what deters foreign investors and what changes are needed to improve the business environment.

Ukraine has refused to buy gas at the price offered by Gazprom. Experts believe this position is justified and assure that the country will not freeze in the winter as the necessary volumes of gas will be purchased in Europe, at cheaper prices. But unfortunately, cheaper gas will not reflect in lower tariffs.

World Bank’s Country Director for Ukraine Qimiao Fan is leaving his post due to rotation. In his last interview before leaving, he told UNIAN about the future strategy of the World Bank’s operations in Ukraine and priority steps needed to be taken by the Ukrainian authorities.

Ukrainian authorities have spoken with the Western creditors, received the money needed for reform and announced yet another spike in tariffs for utility services - these are the main economic news of the past week.

Ex-member of the National Energy and Utilities Regulatory Commission (NEURC) Andriy Herus in an interview with UNIAN has told, what the outcome will be of implementing a "Rotterdam + shipping" pricing formula for Donbas coal, and how much the heat generation, 70% of which is owned by a businessman Rinat Akhmetov, will earn from these changes.

Ukraine's Infrastructure Minister Vladimir Omelyan in an interview with UNIAN has told when high-quality roads will be laid in Ukraine and sea ports will stand competition. He also said who the nominees for the position of the Ukravtodor CEO were, and explained the situation with cargo transportation in the ATO zone.

Having taken advantage of the currency market stabilization and the beginning of economic recovery, the National Bank eased a number of foreign currency restrictions for businesses and citizens. Experts warn of upcoming exchange rate fluctuations, although they see no reason for panic.

Ukraine’s finance ministry presented the main budget parameters for the next year, the inflation in annual terms slowed to a two-year-old level, and the National Bank significantly eased forex restrictions - these are the main economic news of the past week.

The Ukrainian Cabinet approved the creation of a so-called "Black Hundred" - an interagency task force on combating smuggling and corruption in customs. However, some politicians and experts believe that the "Black Hundred" operatives will create greater problems for honest businesses than for smugglers and corrupt officials.

For the past two years, Ukraine has progressed in reforms more than it has over the previous 20 years. However, Ukraine could do more, and a key role here has to be played not only by technocratic ministers but also by the Ukrainian politicians, who should abandon populism, that’s according to a co-chair of the Strategic group of advisors for supporting Ukraine’s reforms Ivan Miklos.

Minister of Agriculture and Food of Ukraine Taras Kutovyi has told in an exclusive interview with UNIAN of his forecast for this year’s harvest, explained what the land lease market is, what the procedure will be of aid distribution among the farmers, and also why Ukrspirt wants to put into operation all of its plants.

Some Ukrainian officials tried to derail Kyiv’s cooperation with the IMF, having incited a scandal with a fake memorandum and speculating on the issue of social standards. The long-awaited law was adopted on the simplification of access of western medicines to the Ukrainian market. Another long-term dream of the Ukrainians can become true: to buy used cars cheaper.

The Ukrainian Cabinet approved the Action Plan for 2016 and for the medium term. UNIAN tried to figure out whether it is possible to implement it and what can actually become an obstacle.

The Ukrainian Cabinet approved a priority action plan and launched a customs reform, the National Bank sent a good signal by decreasing the key interest rate and easing the foreign exchange market, and the banking market saw new bankruptcies – these are the main economic news of the last week of May.

Russian state-owned banks want to leave the Ukrainian market. VTB announced its intentions publicly while two other subsidiaries in Ukraine – Prominvestbank and Sberbank – are still waiting. Experts believe that the inevitable withdrawal of the Russians from the Ukrainian market will not bring significant problems.

Oleksandr Kotsyuba in an exclusive interview with UNIAN explained why Ukraine no longer produces aircraft by a "Soviet" scheme, why Antonov design bureau withdrew from cooperation with Russia and what opportunities our country can offer to the market in the segment of commercial and civilian air transportation.

The IMF mission is satisfied with Ukrainian reforms; Prime Minister Groysman presented his plan for the country’s development, while Ukraine’s strategic enterprise, the Odesa Portside Chemical Plant is put up for sale – these are the main economic news of the past week.