Ukraine can offer the United States effective cooperation in five key sectors, including agriculture, defense, energy, mining and processing of natural resources, and digitalization.
Ukraine’s Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova stated this during a video address at the “Dialogs with NV. Ukraine Changes the World” event, according to Ukrinform.
According to the ambassador, economic diplomacy, which has always been a vital element in Ukraine’s dealings with the U.S., will continue to play an even more significant role in relations with this strategic partner.
“What exactly can Ukraine offer to the U.S.? What can attract them? First of all, our agriculture sector and everything related to agri-products: seeds, quality machinery, and joint opportunities in these sectors,” Markarova said.
She said that even amid the war, Ukraine continues to supply food to over 400 million people globally. However, she noted that productivity in all subsectors of Ukrainian agriculture remains quite low.
“Therefore, additional investments, new technologies, and markets could significantly increase food production,” she said.
The second area of cooperation Markarova highlighted is the defense sector, especially its innovative component.
“In times when weapons are in short supply, it is Ukraine’s naval drones and developments that have been indispensable in liberating the Black Sea and opening (grain) corridors. This is not only crucial for us; it’s not just an economic opportunity, but also the weapon of the future for building the arsenal of democracy, for deterring other aggressors,” the diplomat said.
The third sector she mentioned was energy, recalling that before Russia destroyed half of Ukraine’s power generation, Ukraine was an exporter of electricity.
“With our storage facilities and our potential projects for extraction, storage, and transportation of energy resources, we certainly have the potential to become one of the largest energy hubs in Europe,” Markarova said.
As the fourth area, she pointed to Ukraine’s vast reserves of minerals and natural resources.
“Some 117 of the 120 minerals used across various industries are found in Ukraine, and 22 of those materials, which are considered critical by the U.S. Department of Energy, are also present in Ukraine. This part of President Zelensky’s Victory Plan has received significant positive feedback from President Trump and our partners. This is something we are actively discussing now with our American partners in the critical materials sector, as well as others,” she said.
She said the fifth area of cooperation was digitalization and IT innovation, emphasizing that Ukraine is not only the first country to implement effective digital services at the state level but also exports this experience to other nations.
“With the development of artificial intelligence and the growing focus on IT across virtually all sectors of the economy, this is our key advantage, where Ukraine has much to offer the world,” Markarova said.
Lastly, she highlighted Ukraine’s unique resilience, “something that no other country in the modern world has and that will undoubtedly serve as the foundation for changes in many processes and transformations far beyond Ukraine’s borders.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated earlier that he had proposed the idea to U.S. President Donald Trump that the U.S. gain access to Ukraine’s rare-earth minerals in exchange for security guarantees and financial incentives.
On February 12, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent visited Kyiv and suggested a partnership agreement, including the development of Ukrainian natural resources.
On February 15, Zelensky stated that an agreement with the United States regarding the use of Ukraine’s natural resources was still in the works. According to him, it should involve investments tied to security guarantees.
Source: Markarova highlights five key sectors for strengthening U.S.-Ukraine cooperation
