Ukraine's economic challenges - a podcast by BBC World Service

Amid the threat of a Russian invasion, Ukraine's economy faces a number of challenges. Jock Mendoza-Wilson is deputy chair of the British Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce, and discusses the current mood among businesses in the country. Meanwhile, the West continues to ratchet up sanctions on Russia. The financier Bill Browder, who did business in Russia for many years, but has become an anti-corruption campaigner after his lawyer Sergei Magnitsky died in a Russian jail after being beaten and tortured, offers his assessment of whether the sanctions go far enough to have much impact on the situation. Also in the programme, the International Energy Agency warns that worldwide emissions of the global warming gas methane may be around 70% higher than countries actually report. We find out about the economic arguments in favour of plugging methane leaks from Christophe McGlade of the IEA's Energy Supply Unit. Plus, South Africa's finance minister Enoch Godongwana has just made his maiden Budget speech, including a tax cut for companies and a policy of wage restraint for civil servants. Siobhan Redford is an economist at RMB bank, and fills us in on the details.

Further episodes of World Business Report

Further podcasts by BBC World Service

Website of BBC World Service