U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC)

👏 The U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC) is pleased to welcome Laura K. Cooper, Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense; Lieutenant General (Ret.) John Jansen, Independent Board Director of Oklo; and Major General (Ret.) Borys Kremenetskyi, former Defense Attaché at the Embassy of Ukraine to the United States, as Senior Advisors on Defense and Security. Each brings exceptional depth of experience across defense, national security, transatlantic policy, and U.S.-Ukraine relations, and USUBC is proud to count them among its advisory community.

Laura K. Cooper served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia from 2017 to 2025, where she led the Department of Defense's response to Russia's 2022 invasion, built and directed the cross-agency response, and established and chaired the 50-nation Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which she leveraged to secure an additional $60 billion in international donations for Ukraine's defense. A career member of the Senior Executive Service, she also strengthened U.S. defense relationships across the Caucasus, Central Asia, Moldova, and the Western Balkans, served on the faculty of the National War College, and earlier held roles at the State Department and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Her service has been recognized with the Presidential Rank Award of Distinguished Executive, the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal, and the Order of Princess Olha, presented by President Zelenskyy. She currently serves as an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University.

Lieutenant General (Ret.) John Jansen is a retired U.S. Marine General Officer who served from 1987 to 2021, retiring at the three-star rank. His senior military roles included Deputy Commandant for Programs and Resources (the Marine Corps' chief financial officer), Commandant of the Eisenhower School at National Defense University, and Commanding General of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade. A decorated naval aviator and TOPGUN graduate, he also served as an arms control treaty inspection team chief, conducting inspections in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. Since retirement, he has held senior industry roles including Managing Director of the EMEA business unit for Luminator Technology Group, a Blackstone portfolio company, and CEO of Advanced Technology International, and currently serves on the board of Oklo, an advanced nuclear energy company.

Major General (Ret.) Borys Kremenetskyi brings four decades of service in Ukraine's armed forces, spanning military aviation, NATO integration, peacekeeping, and diplomatic representation. He served as a Military Observer with the UN Mission to Tajikistan and Afghanistan, Deputy Branch Chief at NATO's International Military Staff, and Director of the Euro-Atlantic Integration Department of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine's east, he led the Ukrainian side of the Joint Ceasefire Coordination and Control Centre, and later served as Defence and Air Attaché at the Embassy of Ukraine to the United Kingdom. From March 2020 to March 2026, he served as Defence Attaché at the Embassy of Ukraine to the United States.

USUBC and our members are delighted to welcome this illustrious group as Senior Advisors, and look forward to benefiting from their outstanding expertise in support of U.S.-Ukraine defense and security cooperation.

🇺🇸🇺🇦 On 15 June, USUBC brought together its members and partners for a lunch roundtable recognizing the outstanding contributions of four senior U.S. Embassy Kyiv Ukraine officials: Ambassador Julie S. Davis, Chargé d'Affaires a.i.; Jeremy Beer, Economic Counselor; Brig. Gen. Brad Nicholson, Senior Defense Official and Defense Attaché; and Leon Skarshinski, Senior Commercial Officer for the U.S. Department of Commerce's Foreign Commercial Service.

The event offered members an opportunity to personally thank U.S. diplomatic leadership for their tireless work advancing bilateral economic relations and to exchange practical ideas on reconstruction and Euro-Atlantic integration at this pivotal moment for Ukraine. During the reception, all four diplomats were presented with USUBC's Distinguished Service Award in recognition of their extraordinary careers in international relations and trade, exceptional dedication to strengthening U.S.-Ukraine bilateral economic cooperation, and steadfast support of USUBC's mission. Irina Paliashvili, USUBC President and CEO, expressed the Council's deep appreciation for the professionalism and commitment each diplomat, and the teams they led, have brought to the U.S.-Ukraine relationship, underscoring the indispensable role of strong diplomatic presence in Kyiv as Ukraine charts its path toward recovery and lasting prosperity.

📌 More Photos https://usubc.org/usubc_photos/usubc-business-lunch-for-ambassador-julie-s-davis-charge-daffaires-a-i-u-s-embassy-kyiv-and-the-rotating-u-s-embassy-leadership/

📌 On 12 June, USUBC held an in-person meeting in Kyiv with the leadership of Brave1. Irina Paliashvili, President and CEO, USUBC, Nadiia Khomaziuk, Vice President, USUBC and Dmytro Filonenko, Director, Programming & Business Development, USUBC, met with Iryna Zabolotna, Deputy Director of the Innovation Development Fund and Brave1 and Andrii Hrytseniuk, CEO of Brave1.

Brave1 is Ukraine’s government-backed defense technology cluster that brings together the military, government, private sector, investors, and innovators to accelerate the development and deployment of defense technologies. The platform supports defense tech projects through organizational, informational, and financial assistance while promoting collaboration among all stakeholders of Ukraine’s defense innovation ecosystem.

The meeting focused on expanding on-going cooperation between the two organizations, joint programming priorities and initiatives for the year ahead, aimed at strengthening cooperation, promoting Ukraine’s rapidly growing defense tech ecosystem, and fostering partnerships between U.S. companies and the Ukrainian defense tech community.

🤝 On 8 June, the U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC) facilitated a meeting between USUBC member America Unites Strategic Partnerships (AUSP) and the leadership of the National Technical University of Ukraine "Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute" КПІ ім. Ігоря Сікорського. Davis Richardson, Chief Executive Officer of AUSP, met with University’s Rector Anatolii Melnychenko and Vice-Rector Andrii Shysholin.

USUBC’s Director for Programming & Business Development, Dmytro Filonenko, facilitated and joined the meeting, as part of USUBC’s mission to foster connections between U.S. businesses and key Ukrainian private and public sector stakeholders, including prominent Ukrainian educational institutions.

The meeting served as a valuable platform for AUSP to present its programs to the University leadership. Discussion focused on AUSP’s efforts to expand access for Ukrainian students and innovators to internships with partner companies in the United States, professional webinars, and educational programs in dual-use technologies.

AUSP is a U.S.-based consulting company working at the intersection of finance, national security, and digital accountability, is actively engaged in supporting Ukraine’s reconstruction and promoting the international commercialization of Ukrainian innovations.

📣 On 11 June, USUBC and Ukraine Business News co-hosted a high-level joint event in Kyiv, bringing together government, diplomatic and business leaders, to discuss the strategic role of the private sector in Ukraine's recovery and sustainable development.

The event opened with welcoming remarks by Irina Paliashvili, President & CEO of USUBC, and Andrew Pryma, MBA, Founder of UBN Network, followed by a compelling geopolitical and macroeconomic outlook presented by Mark McNamee, Co-Founder of UBN Network.

The first panel, “Ukraine Is Winning Now and Leading the West Tomorrow” featured Peter Dickinson, Editor of the Atlantic Council & Business Ukraine Magazine, and Giorgio Provinciali, war correspondent.

The second panel, "Preview: Private Sector Participation in the Business Dimensions at URC 2026 in Gdańsk," opened with keynote remarks by Ambassador Piotr Łukasiewicz, Chargé d'Affaires ad Interim of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Kyiv, and was moderated by Nadiia Khomaziuk, Vice President of USUBC. Speakers included Dr. Maryna Baydyuk, Executive Director of United Help Ukraine; Maciej Chrzanowski, Counsellor and Head of Economic Section at the Embassy of Poland in Kyiv; Jock Mendoza-Wilson-Willson, Director of International and Investor Relations at System Capital Management and Co-Chair of the British Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce; and Andriy Nikolayenko, Member of Parliament of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and energy and minerals expert. The panels were followed by a Networking Reception, offering participants direct access to high-impact partnership and investment opportunities.

USUBC is grateful to the partners of the event — DHL, Creative States, and SHABO — for their generous support in making this gathering possible.

📌 More photos https://usubc.org/usubc_photos/usubc-and-ubn-network-joint-live-event-recovery-business-on-the-road-to-urc-2026-in-gdansk/

🎫 On 30 May, USUBC joined United Help Ukraine's "Her Voice" event — an immersive evening of Ukrainian art, fashion, music, and storytelling that brought together community members in a powerful celebration of creativity and resilience. The event raised $61,400 in support of the SMUHA Family Resilience Project, which provides psychological support, therapeutic activities, and safe spaces for children and families affected by the war. The evening also marked the launch of the 2026 edition of Marigold Magazine, celebrating women who raise their voices for Ukraine — with proceeds from magazine sales continuing to benefit SMUHA.

🕊️ On 28 May, the Kidsave community gathered for an unforgettable evening dedicated to transforming the lives of children in foster care and celebrating the power of saying “Yes.”

To Kidsave, “Yes” is a catalyst for change. It represents hope, opportunity, and a lifetime of difference. Today, every mentor, host family, adoptive parent, advocate, and supporter continues that mission by saying “Yes” to a child in need.

Two incredible community leaders, Darrell Booker and Sixto Cancel, were honored. Darrell Booker, leader of the Nonprofit Tech Acceleration of Black and African American Communities at Microsoft received the Inspirational Voices Award. And Sixto Cancel, the CEO and Founder of Think Of Us received the Champion for Change award.

The evening highlighted Kidsave’s urgent, ongoing work in Ukraine. As families continue to endure the hardships of war, the Kidsave Miracles Center, which celebrates its two-year anniversary this June, stands as a beacon of hope. There are currently 30 children arriving at the Miracles Center from the front lines of Kherson, where they face trauma, abduction, and human trafficking. Here, Kidsave provides a vital sanctuary of safety, healing, and joy, giving these children a chance to just be kids.

The event was a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when a community is dedicated to making a difference.

🇺🇸🇺🇦 On 18 May, USUBC and K&L Gates LLP co-organized the Business Forum: U.S. Private Sector Engagement in Ukraine’s Reconstruction in Washington, D.C., with support from Trident Group America, Inc. The event focused on mobilizing U.S. private sector interest and participation in Ukraine’s reconstruction ahead of the 2026 Ukraine Recovery Conference.

In his Keynote Remarks, Ambassador John Herbst, Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine and Senior Director of the Eurasia Center at the Atlantic Council, urged investors to engage now rather than wait for the war's end, arguing that early positioning offers the strongest long-term returns.

Panel One, moderated by Guillermo Christensen, Partner at K&L Gates, examined Ukraine's defense tech sector as a live innovation environment where drone, robotics, and AI development is accelerating rapidly — panelists pushed back on perceptions of high risk, warning that slow U.S. engagement cedes ground to already-active European partners. Panel Two, moderated by Maria Kostytska, Partner at K&L Gates, addressed energy and critical minerals, covering the war-driven shift toward decentralized and resilient energy systems, the renewed role of nuclear power, and the mandate of the U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund (URIF) across energy, minerals, infrastructure, telecom, and emerging technologies. Panel Three, moderated by Irina Paliashvili, President & CEO of the U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC), framed reconstruction as large-scale economic modernization tied to EU accession.

A recurring theme across all sessions was the gap between high-level reconstruction needs and bankable, investment-ready projects — with tools like URIF and DFC financing seen as critical bridges. Significant attention was devoted to the upcoming Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC 2026) in Gdańsk as a key opportunity for the U.S. private sector to engage. At an estimated $600 billion in reconstruction needs, Ukraine represents one of the largest modernization opportunities globally.

📌 Read more https://usubc.org/usubc-and-kl-gates-co-hosted-business-forum-u-s-private-sector-engagement-in-ukraines-reconstruction-on-the-road-to-the-ukraine-recovery-conference-urc-2026-i/

Photo credit: David Hunsinger

🇺🇸🇺🇦 On 7 May, USUBC, in partnership with Ukraine House and the Kyiv Mohyla Foundation of America, co-hosted an Evening with the Ukrainian Defenders Leadership Center at Ukraine House in Washington, D.C. The event brought together supporters, partners, and members of the Ukrainian and American communities to highlight ongoing efforts to support Ukrainian veterans through education, leadership development, and civic engagement as they transition from military service to civilian life.

Established within the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, the Ukrainian Defenders Leadership Center presented updates on its growing impact and future ambitions. Speakers included Yana Chapailo and Maria Savrun from the Ukrainian Defenders Leadership Center, as well as Dmytro Ternovyi, veteran and former Hospitallers combat medic and Marine, who shared his personal story of recovery and reintegration after being severely injured near Avdiivka. Over the past two years, the Center has graduated more than 120 veterans through four executive education programs, delivering over 860 hours of specialized training with support from corporate partners and international grants.

Keynote remarks were delivered by Ambassador William B. Taylor, who emphasized the resilience of the Ukrainian people and the importance of long-term support for veterans returning home. Marta Farion of the Kyiv-Mohyla Foundation of America also addressed guests, highlighting the role of philanthropy in advancing the Academy’s mission and recognizing supporters of the initiative. The evening was moderated by Mariia Ulianovska, Voice of America, and concluded with expressions of gratitude to all partners and attendees for supporting Ukraine’s veteran community and future leaders.

📸 Photo credit: Ukraine House