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    HomeWar in Ukraine‘A chance, not a burden:’ Ukraine Home Davos’s message for world leaders, buyers

    ‘A chance, not a burden:’ Ukraine Home Davos’s message for world leaders, buyers

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    ‘An opportunity, not a burden:’ Ukraine House Davos’s message for world leaders, investors

    During the last week, Ukraine Home Davos opened its doorways to world leaders and buyers for the sixth yr in a row throughout the World Financial Discussion board in Switzerland.

    Ukraine Home this yr was adorned with the slogan “Your Nation First, Win With Us.” The message set the tone for the discussions from Jan. 20-23, which targeted on the advantages Ukraine can supply different international locations in return for peace and financial restoration, specifically profitable funding alternatives.

    All through the week, the Ukrainian delegation highlighted Ukraine’s estimated $26 trillion in pure sources and minerals, a subject that has picked up amid the return of Donald Trump, inaugurated on the primary day of the discussion board. The brand new U.S. president has vowed to convey a swift finish to the warfare, which might probably usher in a wave of funding.

    The Kyiv Unbiased spoke with Ulyana Khromyak, Ukraine Home’s govt Director since 2023, as she wrapped up what she referred to as a packed occasion.

    Khromyak stated a part of the delegation’s mission was to persuade buyers to come back to Ukraine now, slightly than getting caught ready in line after the top of Russia’s warfare.

    Ukraine’s pure sources present lots of funding potential, alongside the nation’s agricultural and protection sectors, she stated.

    ‘An opportunity, not a burden:’ Ukraine House Davos’s message for world leaders, investors
    Ulyana Khromyak, Ukraine Home’s govt Director in Davos, Switzerland on Jan. 20, 2025. (Ukraine Home Davos)

    Concerning whether or not Trump will abandon Ukraine in its combat in opposition to Russia, Khromyak is hopeful the president may help obtain a sustainable peace in Ukraine and set the nation on a path to restoration.

    This interview has been edited for readability.

    Kyiv Unbiased: What was Ukraine Home's key message and mission this week in Davos? How has this modified from the previous couple of years?

    Khromyak: For the previous three years, the messages had been about what is required to win this warfare, the alternatives in Ukraine, how Ukraine can contribute to the world, and why Ukraine is efficacious to the world.

    Our message this yr was a simply and sustainable peace. We had lots of discussions about how we are able to obtain this via energy on the battlefield in addition to a strengthened place on the negotiation desk.

    The second message was that Ukraine just isn’t a burden, however a rustic of alternative. We confirmed lots of alternatives, together with how wealthy Ukraine is in mineral sources. We have now about $26 trillion in pure sources in Ukraine, out of which $12 trillion is in minerals.

    We additionally mentioned the successes of the prevailing buyers who’re at present working below these (wartime) situations and likewise the successes of small and medium companies. The nation is resilient, the financial system is working.

    We talked about funding within the protection sector, which was additionally a scorching matter, to make Ukraine a protection hub. We have now the sensible expertise on the battlefield, in addition to the applied sciences and the data of how you can scale this up.

    Kyiv Unbiased: Do you assume that there’s a optimistic view that President Trump might be helpful for Ukrainian companies and its financial system?

    Khromyak: Sure, I really consider there may be. You may see this from his World Financial Discussion board speech. He delivered robust messages supporting Ukraine. Let's consider that his political will may help us strengthen these relations and obtain a simply and sustainable peace in addition to attempt to begin the restoration of the nation.

    ‘An opportunity, not a burden:’ Ukraine House Davos’s message for world leaders, investors
    Screening of Donald Trump's speech in Davos, Switzerland on Jan. 20, 2025. (Ukraine Home Davos)

    Kyiv Unbiased: One of many panels differed from the remainder in that it targeted on Russia's destruction of Ukrainian church buildings. Why is that this an necessary message, notably for Christian Republicans who haven’t at all times been supportive of Ukrainian support?

    Khromyak: That's why we raised this matter. We see it’s a scorching matter for the Republicans, so we attempt to replicate this.

    We’re saying that Ukraine is a rustic the place now we have lots of religions and it's one of the vital non secular international locations on the planet. Completely different religions are essential to us. Freedom is our faith as nicely, however we additionally want to emphasise that now we have lots of (non secular) persecution from the Russians.

    We confirmed lots of movies concerning the persecution of faith in Ukraine. The viewers stated that this is a vital message to the White Home.

    Faith under fire: Russia’s war on religion in Ukraine’s occupied territoriesRussia’s war and occupation of large swaths of Ukraine have led to hundreds of churches being damaged or destroyed, dozens of priests killed or kidnapped, and entire religious groups that don’t conform to Moscow’s brand of Orthodoxy being banned. With entire Ukrainian cities being leveled by Russia…‘An opportunity, not a burden:’ Ukraine House Davos’s message for world leaders, investorsThe Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek‘An opportunity, not a burden:’ Ukraine House Davos’s message for world leaders, investors

    Kyiv Unbiased: Ukraine Home additionally lent lots of consideration to Ukraine's funding local weather and resilience. What sense do you get from buyers about their curiosity in Ukraine at present?

    Khromyak: There are lots of potentialities to develop in innovation, infrastructure, agro-sector, after which positively the minerals and power sector. These sectors are essential for the world and Ukraine has all of those sources. We simply want to extend their effectivity and subsequently we’d like the funding for this to run independently.

    There have been lots of discussions concerning the frozen Russian property as nicely; how we are able to unfreeze and make investments them and effectively use them to strengthen our financial system.

    Kyiv Unbiased: Do you get a sense that buyers are taking Ukraine critically as a spot to speculate?

    Khromyak: Sure, I do, contemplating the discussions that we had within the Home. We had first Vice Prime Minister and Economics Minister Yulia Svyrydenko talking, and her deputy was within the Home as nicely, speaking about warfare danger insurance coverage.

    The federal government is supporting it from their aspect and that's why buyers took it critically. The buyers requested lots of questions on how they might make investments, and what can be the safety and ensures supplied to them.

    ‘An opportunity, not a burden:’ Ukraine House Davos’s message for world leaders, investors
    Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukraine's financial system minister, speaks throughout a panel session on the World Financial Discussion board in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 23, 2025. (Stefan Wermuth / Bloomberg through Getty Photographs)

    Kyiv Unbiased: Has that modified because you've been in your place since 2023?

    Khromyak: Sure, the curiosity elevated. In 2023, nobody knew what was going to occur. However proper now, now we have President Trump’s messages and help from the leaders of the European Union.

    Proper now now we have no different possibility. We have now no selection aside from to win this warfare and to make the nation stronger.

    Kyiv Unbiased: Do you get a way that buyers are prepared to come back into Ukraine now, or are they nonetheless speaking about coming in after the warfare?

    Khromyak: We had been attempting to steer them to come back now and present the alternatives as a result of everybody will likely be queuing after the warfare. There will likely be lots of competitors, so first come first serve. They are going to get higher situations proper now, slightly than coming after the warfare.

    We confirmed this deal of the yr within the telecom sector, (the $1.5 billion Datagroup-Volia-Lifecell merger) saying that, look, the buyers are investing and there are lots of success tales, so please come and make investments now.

    Kyiv Unbiased: Is there a clearer path now to securing warfare danger insurance coverage?

    Khromyak: Sure. We work with Marsh McLennan, who was on the panel, and we had Aon among the many viewers. These are two fundamental gamers within the insurance coverage sector who’re working with the federal government proper now and with the funding establishments to supply warfare danger insurance coverage.

    We have now already had the primary successes. The audio system mentioned how you can contain extra folks and how you can make insurance coverage for many who wish to make investments now.

    The Aon and European Financial institution for Reconstruction and Improvement (EBRD) transaction that collectively supplied insurance coverage to the businesses is an efficient improvement.

    ‘An opportunity, not a burden:’ Ukraine House Davos’s message for world leaders, investors
    A view of the Ukraine Home pavilion forward of the World Financial Discussion board in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 19, 2025. (Hollie Adams / Bloomberg)

    Kyiv Unbiased: One of many closing panels mentioned using the frozen Russian property. With some Western companies lobbying in opposition to this concept in Europe, how a lot help do you assume this concept has?

    Khromyak. We’d like the entire quantity of the frozen Russian property, not simply the proceeds. Due to this fact we’d like the political will from totally different international locations. Lots of people from the Ukrainian authorities, opinion leaders, and NGOs on totally different ranges are lobbying for this concern.

    We’re getting there. It's a protracted and arduous path and lots of international locations nonetheless have to implement lots of inside laws to move and switch these property.

    However we systematically have to work on this. The message is that we should always not simply settle for the proceeds, however we’d like the entire $350 billion.

    Zelensky touts Ukraine’s potential in meeting with global investors at Davos forumPresident Volodymyr Zelensky met leading American and European executives and business leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 22, emphasizing Ukraine’s investment potential and the importance of international support in achieving a just peace.‘An opportunity, not a burden:’ Ukraine House Davos’s message for world leaders, investorsThe Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy‘An opportunity, not a burden:’ Ukraine House Davos’s message for world leaders, investors

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