International Financial Institutions

Ukraine’s $50 billion challenge

By Andy Hunder

The key concerns from business are not new. The rule of law, fair justice, macroeconomic stability, a predictable tax policy, secure investment, and property rights, including intellectual property rights, top their lists.

Mission possible

By Basil Kalymon

The government wants to liberalize the economy and proceed with radical and swift changes.

Will Ukraine make a deal with Kolomoisky? Three things to watch

By Oksana Bedratenko

There are only three things to watch to determine whether rumors about a possible deal with Kolomoisky are true: changes in NBU leadership, developments in PrivatBank-related cases in Ukrainian courts, and how the cases in international courts play out.

Ukraine is having a very bad month

By Melinda Haring

Only three weeks ago, diplomats, the international finance community, and Ukraine boosters were so upbeat.

The G20 turns into G19+1

By Hung Tran

The Osaka Summit shows that the international community struggles to cope with the challenges represented by China’s state capitalism and US unilateralism.

Putin finally tells Russians the truth (sort of)

By Anders Åslund

In his annual television marathon “Direct Line with Vladimir Putin” on June 20, the Russian president did something unusual. To my knowledge, this is the first time he specified the impact of Western sanctions on Russia, which he usually presents as having a positive effect on the Russian economy because of import substitution. “Look, according […]

One month into the Zelenskyy presidency and Ukraine’s still here

By Steven Pifer

Volodymyr Zelenskyy became Ukraine’s sixth president on May 20. The political neophyte’s election raised a host of questions about lack of governing experience, connections to oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky, the composition of his inner circle, and his priorities once in office. One month into Zelenskyy’s presidency, those questions still require answers, and we have yet to […]

Global Trade Developments and the Future of the World Trade Organization

The Global Business and Economics (GBE) program co-hosted, with the South Asia Center, a discussion with WTO Deputy Director-General Ambassador Alan Wolff. The conversation focused on the latest global trade developments and the future of the WTO. South Asia Center Senior Fellow Mark Linscott moderated the session. In addition, Marie Kasperek, deputy director of the […]

Zelenskiy sows confusion and another chance for change

By Oksana Bedratenko

Volodymyr Zelenskiy may be popular among Ukrainians, but he is getting the cold shoulder from its political elite. Ukraine’s new president has few friends in the parliament and government. Within days of taking office, Zelenskiy suffered a defeat in the Rada as the parliament has not considered his bill for a new electoral law. The […]