25/05/2026

Kyiv, May 19, 2026 – Ukreximbank held its annual flagship conference for clients and partners, EXIM TALKS 2026: “From Security to Investment,” bringing together over 250 representatives of businesses, leading international financial institutions, investors, and partners.

The event became one of the key platforms for open dialogue on the transformation of financial support for Ukraine—from donor aid to full-fledged market-based investment and long-term economic development.

The central theme of EXIM TALKS 2026 was Ukraine’s transition: from crisis response and grant-based support to structured investments, private capital, and sustainable economic growth.

“EXIM TALKS is a platform where we speak openly and substantively with the market about how Ukraine is moving from a donor support approach to an investment-driven model, and what solutions are needed for this. It is important for us that international partners and investors see the real picture and understand how financial instruments can already work in Ukraine today,” emphasized Viktor Ponomarenko, Chairman of the Management Board of Ukreximbank, opening the event.

Representatives of international institutions and Ukraine’s partners took part in the conference, including the World Bank, the EU Delegation to Ukraine, the European Investment Bank (EIB), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Denmark’s Export and Investment Fund (EIFO/EKF), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the French Development Agency (AFD), and Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK).

Investment companies Dragon Capital and Horizon Capital, which work with Ukrainian assets and recovery projects, as well as BRAVE1, also joined the discussion.

The panel “From Donor Funds to Private Capital” focused on Ukraine’s transition to more sustainable financing through the mobilization of private investment in 2026. International financial institutions confirmed their readiness to expand investments, highlighted the importance of blended finance, and emphasized the key role of local banks. Participants stressed that successful recovery depends not only on funding, but also on trust, partnerships, and the effective transformation of resources into projects, particularly through the role of Ukreximbank.

During EXIM TALKS 2026, special attention was given to Defence Tech as a rapidly growing sector that is becoming attractive to investors. Participants discussed the potential for scaling Ukrainian defense innovations and the role of banks in supporting innovation through financing. It was emphasized that for banks, the key factor is not the idea itself, but a company’s ability to execute contracts, ensure transparency, and guarantee repayment. In this context, BRAVE1 acts as an important bridge between technological validation and financial instruments provided by banks.

The “Market Makers 2026” panel highlighted Ukraine’s investment climate as a combination of capital, trust, and the ability of businesses to operate under risk conditions. Ukraine is seen as a market for reconstruction and technological breakthrough, where international institutions act not only as investors but also as guarantors of trust and risk mitigation. At the same time, new instruments are emerging, including BRAVE1, which foster innovation and integrate Ukrainian solutions into global markets, while investors focus on key sectors of the economy. Despite wartime risks and regulatory constraints, the drivers of investment remain support from international financial institutions, the development of guarantees, and the important role of state-owned banks, particularly Ukreximbank, in attracting private capital.

In the final part of EXIM TALKS 2026, during an interview between Vitalii Sych, NV Editor-in-Chief, and Viktor Ponomarenko, Chairman of the Management Board of Ukreximbank, the bank’s priority areas for 2026 and its role in the development and reconstruction of the country’s economy were outlined.

EXIM TALKS once again confirmed its status as a key platform for communication between Ukraine’s financial sector and international partners. The conference became not only a place for discussing ideas and financing instruments, but also a space for building new partnerships that will shape the country’s economic future.