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Ukraine Business Alliance

There was no other U.S. statesman who advocated for Ukraine more than Senator John McCain. In 2014, as Russia began its takeover of Crimea Senator McCain said, “We are all Ukrainians,” as he urged America and the world to oppose Vladimir Putin’s theft of land from a sovereign Ukraine. Senator McCain believed a free and democratic Ukraine would be a bulwark against Putin’s authoritarian regime in Russia and something that emerging states around the world could aspire to. Senator John McCain’s public legacy of support for Ukraine and its people remains a guiding principle of our Democracy program. Now more than ever, Ukraine requires staunch allies and U.S. support to win the war, secure its democracy, and rebuild its economy stronger than before.

The McCain Institute’s Ukraine Business Alliance convenes executives from American technology and defense companies, senior U.S. and Ukrainian government and military leaders, and foreign policy experts to strategize innovative public-private partnerships to support Ukraine. The Ukraine Business Alliance meets regularly throughout to encourage cross-collaboration to advance the goal of supporting Ukraine’s goals. The Ukraine Business Alliance also organizes periodic fact-finding missions to Ukraine and other frontline states to gauge how the business community can further support Ukraine.

The Ukraine Business Alliance seeks to advance to following objectives:

  1. Convene regular meetings in Washington, D.C. among Alliance members, the expert community, U.S. government officials and Ukrainian officials.
  2. Explore how Ukraine can get the most out of technologies currently being deployed against Russia and how to leverage new tools which could be used to further support the war and reconstruction effort.
  3. Encourage cross-collaboration among Alliance members to advance the goal of supporting Ukraine’s war effort and reconstruction.
  4. Organize periodic fact-finding missions to Ukraine and other frontline states to gauge how the business community can further support the war and reconstruction efforts.

Business Alliance Trip to Ukraine

In October 2023, the McCain Institute’s Ukrainian Business Alliance, under the leadership of Executive Director Dr. Evelyn Farkas, led a delegation of American technology and defense executives to Kyiv and Lviv for meetings with senior Ukrainian officials.

Leaders from Palantir Technologies, Microsoft, Skydio, Fortem Technologies, and more met with the prime minister of Ukraine, the US ambassador to Ukraine, and the prosecutor general, as well as with current government leaders, former ministers, members of the parliament, members of civil society, and the media.

Members of the McCain Institute’s Ukraine Business Alliance meeting with Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.
Members of the McCain Institute’s Ukraine Business Alliance meeting with Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.
McCain Institute Executive Director Dr. Evelyn Farkas, Ambassador Beth Van Schaack, Prosecutor General of Ukraine Andriy Kostin and International Government Lead at Palantir Noam Perski.
McCain Institute Executive Director Dr. Evelyn Farkas, Ambassador Beth Van Schaack, Prosecutor General of Ukraine Andriy Kostin and International Government Lead at Palantir Noam Perski.
Members of the McCain Institute’s Ukraine Business Alliance at the Ministry of Defense.
Members of the McCain Institute’s Ukraine Business Alliance at the Ministry of Defense.
Members of the McCain Institute’s Ukraine Business Alliance with First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Economic Development, Yulia Svyrydenko.
Members of the McCain Institute’s Ukraine Business Alliance with First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Economic Development, Yulia Svyrydenko.
Members of the McCain Institute’s Ukraine Business Alliance with Ambassador Bridget Brink at the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine.
Members of the McCain Institute’s Ukraine Business Alliance with Ambassador Bridget Brink at the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine.