The visit of Ukrainian Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko and the delegation began with a commemoration of victims of a russian attack, followed by a meeting with investors in New York, and a speech at the UN Security Council where Svyrydenko called for strengthening defense aid and sanctions pressure on the rf.
Prime Minister of Ukraine Yuliia Svyrydenko and a representative of the President’s Office began their working visit to the U.S. with a service at St. George’s Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and a commemoration of those killed in the recent russian attack. Andriy Yermak announced the start of the visit on Telegram:
“Today, on the day of mourning, together with Prime Minister of Ukraine Yuliia Svyrydenko, we began the international visit to the U.S. with a service at St. George’s Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and a commemoration of those who perished as a result of the russian attack.”
Svyrydenko added: “russia is killing our future. It deliberately strikes civilians, trying to break us with terror.” She reported that 23 people died in the strike on the capital, including four children: “The youngest was a girl who was not yet three years old. She was born under russian shelling in the fall of 2022 and killed by it in August 2025.”
Later in New York, the Prime Minister held a meeting with American business leaders and potential investors. “Today in New York we met with American business. The investors began with a moment of solidarity with Ukraine after the tragic events in Kyiv,” Svyrydenko said.
The discussions focused on defense, energy, natural resource development, and infrastructure. Participants included Bank of America, Logistics Plus, GE Vernova, Parsons, Mastercard, J.P. Morgan, and others. The Prime Minister emphasized that investors “see positive changes in Ukraine’s regulatory environment” while expecting more active communication about investment opportunities. She also announced the preparation of the first founding meeting of the American-Ukrainian Fund’s council next week and the expected visit of a DFC delegation in September. As an example of private sector capability, she cited Kyivstar’s listing on Nasdaq.
The key point of the visit was Svyrydenko’s address at the UN Security Council meeting convened after the massive shelling of Kyiv. The Prime Minister emphasized the unacceptability of negotiations without a ceasefire and the necessity of increasing pressure on the rf. “The youngest victim was a girl not yet three years old. Born under russian shelling in October 2022, she died as a result of russian shelling in August 2025,” she said, showing photos of the victims.
Svyrydenko continued: “russia continues to choose killing instead of ending the war. We must take this into account in our efforts toward a peaceful settlement and reliable security guarantees… That is why a ceasefire remains a crucial condition for successful negotiations. How can genuine talks take place when russia’s contribution continues to be the bodies of Ukrainian children pulled from under the rubble?”
According to the Prime Minister, “Ukraine urgently needs additional air defense systems to protect our people and territory, as well as long-range strike capabilities to neutralize russian military sites from which attacks are launched.” Svyrydenko called for stronger sanctions, including the full disconnection of russia from international financial systems, restrictions on the “shadow fleet” of oil tankers, harsh tariffs to undermine the rf’s war economy, and expanded individual sanctions against the political and military leadership of the aggressor state. “As long as moscow rejects peace initiatives, we must intensify diplomatic, economic, and military pressure on russia,” she concluded.
Author: Danylo Pievchev