Business Support Council: Is There a Chance for Entrepreneurs While Hetmantsev Is in Power?

   President Zelenskyy’s decree of June 27, 2025, establishing the Business Support Council, marked a significant move for Ukraine’s business community — especially amid mounting criticism of Danylo Hetmantsev, one of the most influential architects of the country’s tax and economic policy.

The new body, chaired by the Head of the President’s Office Andriy Yermak, includes over 70 representatives from leading companies and business organizations. It is meant to become a primary platform for dialogue between business and government, and a driver of change in national entrepreneurship policy.

Why does business need a new Council — and can it change anything with Hetmantsev still in place?

Hetmantsev symbolizes strict fiscalism, increased tax pressure, the return of audits, and tighter government control over business. His taxation and regulatory approach has triggered open resistance from entrepreneurs, who accuse him of undermining economic freedom, pushing Marxist ideas, and disregarding market mechanisms.

His initiatives to raise taxes — including the military levy and profit tax for banks — have been criticized by key business associations as harmful to investment attractiveness and drivers of economic shadowing.

In this context, the creation of the Business Support Council appears to be President Zelenskyy’s attempt to reboot dialogue with entrepreneurs and give new momentum to reforms that reflect the needs of business, not just the state’s fiscal interests.

For the first time, the Council features wide representation from real business — including IT, industry, logistics, and finance — allowing genuine influence on policymaking.

Council’s Mandate and Responsibilities

According to the decree, the Council is tasked with:

• Analyzing government policy effectiveness in entrepreneurship and making improvement proposals;
• Developing business environment improvements, investment incentives, and innovation support;
• Protecting property rights and competition; aligning legislation with EU standards;
• Facilitating communication between the state, local authorities, and business to resolve issues and support initiatives.

The Council is meant to replace fragmented advisory bodies that lacked impact and often duplicated efforts.

Can the Council counterbalance Hetmantsev’s policy?

The key question: can the Council influence policy while Hetmantsev’s fiscal model remains dominant?

Skepticism is understandable — past councils often mimicked dialogue while decisions were made without business input.

However, several factors could shift the dynamics:

• Direct involvement of the President and his Office — Yermak has political clout, and the participation of First Deputy PM Yuliia Svyrydenko highlights the issue’s importance;
• Broad business representation — top executives now have a seat at the table and influence over public discourse;
• Public demand to protect business — in wartime, entrepreneurs support much of Ukraine’s defense efforts, and the government cannot afford to ignore their voice.

New Signals from the President

More important than the Council’s formation are President Zelenskyy’s latest statements about extending the moratorium on business inspections — a direct response to entrepreneurs’ fears of pressure promoted by Hetmantsev.

The President urged Council members to be active and promised to reflect business positions in new legislation.

Recommendations for Businesses:

• Actively engage in the Council’s work and propose your ideas;
• Join associations and coalitions to increase influence;
• Use legal tools to defend against unlawful actions;
• Demand transparency and public dialogue on all legislative changes, especially in taxation and economic policy.

Conclusion

The Business Support Council is a chance for entrepreneurs to gain real influence on national policy — even with a powerful fiscal figure like Hetmantsev in place. Whether the Council becomes a true advocate for business depends on the activity of the business community, the government’s openness, and the President’s ability to balance fiscal needs with economic development.

Respectfully,
Attorney, CEO of the NGO
“All-Ukrainian Professional Taxpayers’ League”
Ihor Yasko