The country's economy has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and contracted by 4.4 percent last year. In the first quarter of this year, Ukraine's gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by 2 percent year-on-year, casting doubt on 2021 growth predictions, which are in the range of 4-5 percent.

The agreements were touted by officials as measures to boost industry and improve living standards and focused on efforts to diversify sources of supply, including the purchase of 130 electric locomotives by rolling stock manufacturer Alsthom to Ukrzaliznytsia – the national rail network - for a total of 900 million euros.

The new operator plans to start supplies to Ukraine in June. The company's quota stands at more than 100,000 tonnes of diesel fuel and 12,000 tonnes of liquefied gas.