The Only Source of State Revenue Is Business

23.10.2025

Ruslan Shostak, President of TERWIN

I’m pleased to note that, perhaps for the first time in Ukraine’s history, the government is beginning to understand something obvious: the only source of state revenue is business.

And for the first time, I heard the Prosecutor General say something that once seemed impossible:

“My salary is paid by business.”

And not just say it — but actually create a transparent feedback system, STOP PRESSURE, to protect entrepreneurs.

We are gradually moving away from treating business like sheep to be shorn — and toward treating it like bees that make honey and pollinate flowers, creating an ecosystem of life around them.

With this mindset, we will quickly transform into a developed country where the government and business work together — bringing honey to the state instead of squeezing out the last drop.

I insist on several key issues that must be addressed in the interests of business — not just in words, but systematically:

• De-shadowing — We can’t build the state budget at the expense of transparent, law-abiding businesses.

• Insurance for businesses and investments during wartime — this is a matter of national security.

• Deregulation — Simplify processes, reduce bureaucracy, automate systems.

• Investment attraction — Without trust, money doesn’t come, no matter how nice the speeches sound.

• And most importantly — establish a single body for business protection capable of solving entrepreneurs’ problems quickly, fairly, and without politics.

There’s another crucial area — Ukraine’s reputation.

We fail to attract investment not only because of the war, but also because there’s no predictability, no trust, and no sense of stability within the country. That’s why we lag behind in global investment attractiveness rankings.

How can we convince the world to invest in Ukraine if even within our own borders, we’re not sure that tomorrow will truly be the “tomorrow” promised today?

Even if you run a legitimate business, audited by the Big Four and backed by international financial institutions — that still doesn’t guarantee safety in Ukraine today. As a result, the country’s reputation among international investors is stalled.

But we now see genuine government interest in solving these issues — and we’re ready to help.

When everyone in the country becomes genuinely invested in its growth and development, investors themselves will want to be part of the Ukrainian story.