The trip to Kiev provided an opportunity to meet with Crédit Agricole Ukraine employees and express the support and solidarity of the entire Group. Numerous meetings were organised with the teams, mainly on the day of 22 November, as the trip from Paris in the current conditions requires a day and a night using several means of transport.

The day began with a visit to a branch serving individuals and small businesses, to discuss the bank's activity and the support provided to customers. Although the conditions were far from optimal, in particular due to power cuts - one took place that morning - the teams were fully mobilised and enthusiastically committed to ensuring the continuity of the bank's activities. Indeed, almost all CA Ukraine branches remain open. Only those in combat zones have had to be closed for the safety of all. 

At Crédit Agricole Ukraine's headquarters, the entity's Executive Committee shared with Philippe Brassac the bank's concrete support for employees, customers and the economy, in particular through its ongoing support for the farming and agri-food sector.

The day ended with an important moment of exchange with the hundred-some team members present at the headquarters. Philippe Brassac was able to pass on messages of solidarity and thanks from the entire Group for the teams’ commitment to ensuring continuity of service to customers, despite the extremely difficult conditions. He spoke to the team members present about ambitions for the future: those of rebuilding Ukraine and the country's economic recovery, to which Crédit Agricole naturally wishes to contribute; and those of contributing to the emergence of a new economic, social and environmental environment, for which we must prepare now, within the framework of the Group Project. The CA Ukraine team members acknowledged the support of the entire Group with warm thanks. Their enthusiasm, determination and confidence in the future were tangible. 

In addition to the exchanges with the teams, two meetings were held. The first meeting was with Andry Pisny, the new Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine. This was an opportunity for Philippe Brassac to present the Crédit Agricole Group; to answer questions, particularly those that arose at the beginning of the conflict, about the Group's presence in Russia; and to explain how Crédit Agricole Ukraine and its teams have been supporting customers and the Ukrainian economy ever since. The second meeting was with the French Ambassador to Ukraine, Etienne de Poncins, who shared his vision of the country's situation and was deeply touched by Crédit Agricole's visit, a first for him as a major economic player, whereas usually only political figures travel to Ukraine.

The day was also marked by the signing of an agreement with the EBRD to finance the country’s agricultural sector, a crucial move for Ukraine and global food security as a whole.

The train for Kyiv from Chelm (city in the south east of Poland). Very few people on the platform.

 

Kyiv at 6.00 am, dark and freezing cold. Very few lights on in the city. The buildings are dark, except for back stairwells

 

Discussion with employees of the Kyiv branch

 

 

Meeting with Andriy Pisny, the new governor of the National Bank of Ukraine.
In this photo: Philippe Brassac, CEO of Crédit Agricole S.A and Carlos de Cordoue, CEO of Crédit Agricole Ukraine

 

Andriy Pisny

 

with the French ambassador to Ukraine, Étienne de Poncins

 

At the headquarters with the Management Committee of CA Ukraine, in person and by videoconference

 

Signature of the agreement with the EBRD

 

All together