First GR Fireplace Gathering with the German-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

On February 27, 2026, the Ukrainian Lobbying Association (ULA), in partnership with AHK Ukraine, hosted the inaugural GR Fireplace Gathering — a meeting for GR managers, legal counsel, and company executives focused on practical developments in lobbying and advocacy.

During the event, Anna Lachykhina, Chair of the Board of the Ukrainian Lobbying Association, presented an overview of the first lobbying reporting campaign. Participants discussed the challenges already faced by registered lobbyists, as well as the practical implications of reporting requirements for businesses and in-house GR functions.

Special attention was focused on how business-government relations will transform now that the lobbying law has taken effect. The defining takeaway from the meeting is clear: Ukraine's GR market is already shifting. Association representatives noted that a new class of professionals—registered lobbyists—is actively taking shape, and that transparent rules of engagement are fast becoming the new standard for doing business.

Mykola Boichuk, Senior Advocacy Manager at AHK Ukraine, also outlined the Chamber's current advocacy initiatives. He emphasized that AHK Ukraine supports both individual corporate cases and systematic business-to-government engagement, while simultaneously driving a broad advocacy agenda for its members and committees.

Photo credit: German-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.