DAVOS, Jan 23 – Ukraine's record negative trade balance in 2023 was caused by problems with sea exports due to Russia's disruption of the grain corridor and the country's significant import needs in war conditions, in particular for security and defense, the situation in 2024 should improve, Deputy Minister of Economy and Trade Representative of Ukraine Taras Kachka has said.

"2023 was still a paradoxical year, we did not have freedom of export, as we ourselves now see at this moment, focusing on December... Therefore, some extraordinary measures can be taken if the situation does not change for the better," Kachka told Interfax-Ukraine on the sidelines of the Ukrainian Breakfast organized by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation in Davos.