Kyiv hosts US talks on reconstruction investment

Senior US officials have arrived in Kyiv for talks on the US–Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund, with both sides expecting progress on the first projects. The fund was established under the US–Ukraine Mineral Resources Agreement and has been operational since December. It is expected to reach $200 million by the end of the year.

The US delegation includes Conor Coleman, chief investment officer at the US International Development Finance Corporation, and Jonathan Taylor, deputy general counsel at the agency, as well as Jonathan Greenstein, deputy assistant secretary of the Treasury for international finance.

Ukrainian Economy Minister Oleksiy Sobolev, Deputy Economy Minister Yegor Perelyhina, State Secretary Oleksandr Karasevich and Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko will attend Wednesday’s meeting.

Ukraine plans to announce three initial investment projects later this year. The fund will focus mainly on critical minerals, hydrocarbon extraction and dual-use technologies. The first project could be approved by the investment committee if the necessary procedures are completed in time.

The talks come shortly after US and Ukrainian delegations met in Miami to discuss options for ending the war with Russia. According to the UN, the conflict has claimed more than 15,000 civilian lives since February 2022, including hundreds of children.

(reuters, max)