‘US-Ukraine ties have deepened with joint investment fund’: Ukrainian PM Svyrydenko
April 17, 2026
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko has said that the progress on the US-Ukrainian Reconstruction Investment Fund has deepened the bilateral relationship. After concluding her US visit, she describer discussions as friendly and said her counterparts understood the need to strengthen sanctions on Russia.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko has emphasized the deepening of ties between the United States and Ukraine, largely crediting the joint work on the U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund. Following a series of high-level meetings in Washington D.C., the Prime Minister expressed renewed confidence in American support for her country. The visit, which coincided with the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, served to reinforce the economic and strategic partnership between the two nations as the war with Russia continues.
The investment fund, a key topic of discussion, is a central pillar in the long-term plan for Ukraine's economic recovery and reconstruction. Established through an agreement signed in April 2025 by Svyrydenko and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the fund is designed to mobilize private and public capital for critical projects. Managed on a parity basis by both countries, it targets strategic sectors including energy, critical minerals, dual-use technologies, and infrastructure. The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) plays a crucial role in backing the fund and attracting investors.
Momentum for the joint initiative is growing, with the fund approving its first project in a dual-use technology company in March 2026. A second investment, focused on the beleaguered energy sector, is anticipated to be approved this summer. Prime Minister Svyrydenko noted that while the initial target for 2026 was three projects, she is hopeful this number can be scaled up, pointing to the more than 200 applications currently under review as a sign of significant interest. This progress is seen as a tangible outcome of the deepening bilateral relationship over the past year.
During her visit, Svyrydenko met with key officials, including Treasury Secretary Bessent and DFC CEO Ben Black, to discuss expanding the fund's capabilities. Talks also covered the use of war risk insurance mechanisms to support investors and potential projects with Ukraine's state-run energy company, Naftogaz, to repair equipment damaged by Russian attacks. Beyond the fund, the Prime Minister used the meetings to reiterate Ukraine's stance that sanctions against Russia must not be weakened.
The economic collaboration comes alongside continued, though altered, military support. While direct assistance has seen reductions, the U.S. Congress has approved funding through mechanisms like the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) for 2026 and 2027. For Kyiv, the investment fund represents a vital, forward-looking component of its partnership with Washington, aiming to build economic resilience and a foundation for post-war prosperity. Svyrydenko has expressed her dream for the war to end with proper security guarantees and a robust plan for reconstruction, allowing Ukrainians to rebuild the lives they have fought so hard to defend.
Source: firstpost