US, Ukraine Eye First Project for Reconstruction Fund

Senior U.S. officials traveled to Kyiv this week for a meeting of the U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund, with the sides hoping to move forward soon with a first investment project, U.S. and Ukrainian officials said.
The fund, established as part of a minerals deal signed between the U.S. and Ukraine in April, began operations in December. Focused on investments in critical minerals and other strategic sectors, it is expected to reach $200 million by the end of the year. Ukrainian officials hope to announce three initial investment projects this year.
The U.S. delegation includes Conor Coleman, head of investments at the U.S. International Development Finance Corp, and Jonathan Taylor, the agency’s associate general counsel, as well as Jonathan Greenstein, the Treasury Department’s deputy undersecretary for international finance.
Ukraine Economy Minister Oleksiy Sobolev, Deputy Economy Minister Yegor Perelyhina and State Secretary Oleksandr Karasevych will participate in Wednesday’s meeting, along with Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, a Ukrainian official said.
The joint board’s investment committee might meet to approve a first investment project, if due diligence efforts are completed in time, the Ukrainian official said.
“We are working hard to bring the first deal to the investment committee for approval. For the moment we think that it is on track to happen,