President Volodymyr Zelensky held a meeting with representatives of companies – members of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine.
The meeting included representatives from Horizon Capital, Cisco Systems, Unilever, Carlsberg, Avrora Multimarket, Microsoft, KPMG, Winner Imports, Coca-Cola, Cargill, CHS, Citibank, AON, CBRE, OTIS, KBR, Pfizer, Google, Baker Hughes, WTW, Wooden Horse, Parsons Corporation, Visa, AGCO, McDonald’s, Honeywell, ADM, Raytheon, MasterCard, Auterion, CRH, TechMet, Argentem Creek, Boeing, D&M Holding, IBM, Shield AI, and the president of the American Chamber of Commerce, Andriy Hunder.
“I want to thank the American business present in Ukraine for creating and, probably most importantly, preserving jobs. Your presence sends signals and speaks to stability in Ukraine,” said the Head of State.
Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine values all assistance from the United States and bipartisan support. Stable relations with the U.S. are vital for Ukraine.
“Signals about risks of reducing or slowing down U.S. aid – I think none of us want that. Neither American nor Ukrainian business, because Patriot systems do not choose whom to protect in Ukraine from the Russian aggressor. Air defense systems and other protections save lives, capabilities, and production capacity for everyone,” the President stated.
Andriy Hunder noted Ukraine’s resilience during the war and mentioned that 88 chamber members have relatives serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He also reported that 53% of companies suffered damage to their facilities and offices due to Russian shelling.
“One of the things we always ask the U.S. government is to protect American business operating here, to provide Patriot missiles,” he said.
Meeting participants stressed the importance of continuing and strengthening air defense support for Ukraine.
The President stated Ukraine’s interest in developing cooperation with the United States in defense industry and economic partnership.
According to John Hinkel, the U.S. chargé d’affaires in Ukraine, the creation of the American-Ukrainian Reconstruction Investment Fund is a long-term investment in Ukraine’s independence and future.
“We know the road ahead won’t be easy, but it is also full of opportunities. With bold leadership, a resilient private sector, and strong Ukrainian-American cooperation, Ukraine will emerge not just restored but as a thriving, independent state of growth and stability in the region,” he stressed.
TechMet representative Volodymyr Ihnashchenko emphasized that if his company wins the relevant competition, they are ready not only to explore and extract lithium in Ukraine but also to build processing capacities.
Leonid Polupan, CEO of Microsoft Ukraine, said the company had a high level of cooperation with the government even before the full-scale war and is committed to continued close collaboration in cybersecurity and cutting-edge AI developments.
Joao Moura, COO of CRH, which operates three cement plants in Ukraine, shared that the company is investing in building a modern terminal in Kyiv and a technical laboratory during the war. He also praised the state’s support of foreign investors.
Arthur Lesnikovsky, CEO of Boeing Ukraine, noted that the company’s office was recently damaged by Russian shelling, but all employees continue to work on projects. Defense division leaders cooperate with government officials to explore opportunities for deeper technical interaction.
Representatives from KBR and Shield AI discussed their vision for expanding defense cooperation with Ukraine.
Olena Kosharna, co-founder and CEO of Horizon Capital, highlighted the importance of pension system reform and creating domestic capital markets. She also thanked for the adoption of the law on multiple citizenship.
Volodymyr Zelensky assured that the state will cooperate with American business in addressing and solving all problematic issues.
