Krystyna Kazakova 01:50, 01.04.26 UNIAN

Kharkiv Mayor Igor Terekhov shared what makes Ukraine attractive to American capital

Ukraine is fighting not to continue the war , but to end it – on terms that will reduce the likelihood of future conflicts, said Kharkiv Mayor Igor Terekhov in an article in The Telegraph.

“Like every Ukrainian city, Kharkiv is defined not by war, but by its determination to achieve a just and lasting peace,” he noted.

According to Terekhov, this is not only Ukraine’s goal, but also a European necessity and a strategic advantage – both militarily and economically – for the United States.

“Reliable and effective security guarantees for all of Ukraine, as well as for Kharkiv as a part of it, are not only military alliances or diplomatic agreements,” the mayor of Kharkiv noted.

In his opinion, the real guarantee can be the physical presence of American business and investment.

“When American factories and technology centers operate in Ukraine, the protection of these assets becomes an organic economic interest of the United States,” the publication quotes him as saying.

Terekhov believes that American capital and assets in Ukraine can become the most effective “air defense system” that will protect Ukrainian skies from future aggression.

He emphasizes that supporting Ukraine is not charity. Terekhov cites data that, according to estimates, more than $800 billion will be needed to restore Ukraine. 

“The restoration of Ukraine is one of the largest investment opportunities in Europe in recent decades. For American companies, this is a chance to enter a large, developing market early and participate in shaping its rules and standards,” the mayor of Kharkiv emphasized.

In his opinion, this is a partnership that creates new markets and at the same time reduces future security costs.

Terekhov shared that Ukraine’s attractiveness to American capital lies in a unique combination of factors that make it an ideal platform for expanding business throughout the country:

• Early market entry and new rules: Ukraine is in the process of forming a new economic architecture. Investors will not have to adapt to outdated systems – they can participate in shaping the rules themselves. According to Terekhov, Kharkiv has the potential to become a “Ukrainian Dublin” – a gateway for global capital with transparent and modern regulation.
• Geoeconomics: Ukraine’s proximity to the EU, combined with its location outside the expensive and oversaturated manufacturing zones of Western Europe, provides an optimal balance between economic efficiency and access to markets.
• Strong industrial base: Ukraine’s extensive network of industrial enterprises – from energy to processing, metallurgy and aerospace – provides deep manufacturing experience and well-established supply chains. The Mayor of Kharkiv emphasized that this allows investors to implement projects based on existing capacities, rather than building everything from scratch, which significantly reduces the costs of entering the market and capital investments.
• Exceptional human capital: Ukraine has one of the strongest reserves of engineering, IT and technical personnel in Europe, supported by leading universities and scientific institutions. Terekhov noted that Ukrainian specialists have gained unique experience in working and implementing innovations in extreme conditions and with limited resources. For investors, this means access to teams that easily adapt to new conditions, are able to offer creative solutions and quickly integrate into global business processes.
• Management adaptability: Wartime conditions fostered a culture of rapid project delivery and minimal bureaucracy. This dynamic, KPI-driven environment will be attractive to Western companies.
• A testing ground for innovation: Ukraine has become a unique global testing ground where cutting-edge technologies in security, decentralized energy, cybersecurity, and resilient infrastructure are being tested in real-world extreme conditions. The mayor of Kharkiv believes this is an unprecedented opportunity for American companies to test, refine, and bring cutting-edge solutions to global markets.

“These opportunities are felt throughout the country. In the energy sector, Ukraine is expanding nuclear power capacity and exploring the possibilities of using small modular reactors. In the defense sector, the combination of Ukrainian innovations and American technologies is giving impetus to the creation of new solutions.

Large-scale projects in the field of housing construction and logistics are creating demand for long-term cooperation with American companies,” the article says.

Terekhov emphasized that Ukraine has the potential to follow the path of post-war Europe – only faster and with a greater emphasis on technology.

“American leadership can play a decisive role, as it did during the implementation of the Marshall Plan, contributing to the further mobilization of private capital and creating conditions for long-term growth,” the mayor of Kharkiv added.

He believes that reducing support for Ukraine will not end the war, but will only increase its cost and strategic risks for the West. 

“The question is no longer whether the United States can afford to support Ukraine. The question is whether it can afford not to,” Terekhov noted.

The Ukrainian official emphasized that the US would help Ukraine achieve peace, and in return, American companies would be given a strategic economic advantage.

“We do not seek charity – we seek true partnership. A powerful US presence will help ensure a just and lasting peace for Ukraine, and will also provide American companies with a strategic economic advantage for decades to come,” Terekhov said.

https://www.unian.ua/society/viyna-v-ukrajini-mer-harkova-poyasniv-chim-privabliva-krajina-dlya-ssha-v-plani-ekonomiki-novini-harkova-13334103.html