• The World Bank has approved a $150 million loan for the Access to Long Term Finance Project that will support Ukraine’s export-oriented small and medium enterprises, Interfax-Ukraine reported.

• The International Finance Corporation intends to provide Nibulon with up to $90 million to replenish its working capital and develop the company, Nibulon's website reported.

• The United States remains committed to a further financial support for Ukraine, Finance Minister Oleksandr Danyliuk said, summing a series of late April meetings in Washington Interfax-Ukraine reported.

• President Petro Poroshenko agrees with Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu to complete Ukraine-Israel FTA talks by late 2017, reported by the press service of the Ukrainian President.

• Ukraine is becoming Turkey's new go-to defense technology partner. Strategic ties between Turkey and Ukraine in defense and military cooperation are flourishing, Al Monitor reports.

• Spar Ukraine, affiliate of the Dutch multinational retail chain, has opened the first grocery store of the SPAR international brand, with an area of 250 square meters, in Rivne, Interfax-Ukraine reported.

• Ukraine tripled imports of natural gas from Slovakia in May compared to April, according to operational data from Ukrtransgaz. Much of this gas comes from Russia, but at lower rates than historically charged Ukraine.

• Ukraine recorded a foreign trade deficit of $1.26 billion in Q1 2017, down 24% year-over-year, according to the National Bank of Ukraine.

• Ukraine reserves the right to review its obligations to the World Trade Organization on customs duties through 2020, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade said.

• The Prosecutor General's Office is investigating possible embezzlement of more than $150 million by officials and shareholders of Pivdencombank and Terra Bank, the Prosecutor’s press office reported.

For comments and news tips, please email UBJ AM editor Vitalii Dubenskyi at vitalii.dubenskyi@theubj.com