Inside a prison where Russia tortured Ukrainian POWs
The Olenivka POW camp, located in the Russian-occupied part of Donetsk Oblast, was a notorious Russian-controlled prison where Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian hostages from Mariupol have been subjected to torture. The Kyiv Independent’s War Crimes Investigations Unit will name those responsible for torturing prisoners in Olenivka.
Skip to content
Edit post

Biden appoints Penny Pritzker as US representative for Ukraine's economic recovery

by Elsa Court and The Kyiv Independent news desk September 14, 2023 8:06 PM 2 min read
Penny Pritzker, former US secretary of commerce, speaks during the Semafor World Economy Summit in Washington, DC, on April 12, 2023. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
This audio is created with AI assistance

U.S. President Joe Biden appointed Penny Pritzker, as the first-ever special representative for Ukraine’s economic recovery.

It's the "next step to help Ukraine forge a stronger future," the White House announced on Sept. 14.

Pritzker, an entrepreneur and former commerce secretary, has been appointed to the role due to her decades of experience in business, Biden said. Her family found a business empire, which includes the Hyatt hotel group.

Pritzker has "deep familial ties to Ukraine," he added.

Pritzker's tasks will include mobilizing foreign investments, supporting the re-opening businesses shut down by Russian attacks, and helping Ukraine grow its exports, Biden said.

Kenneth Rogoff: Europe must lead Ukraine’s reconstruction
Who should pay for Ukraine’s postwar reconstruction? Shortly after Russia’s invasion, my co-authors and I estimated that it would cost roughly €200-500 billion ($220-550 billion) to rebuild the country and called for Europe to spearhead the recovery effort. After more than 500 days of de…

Biden also said that the special representative will support the Ukrainian government make "reforms needed to strengthen its economy."

Pritzker plans to travel to Ukraine "in the coming weeks", the New York Times reported, to to meet with Ukraine's political and business leaders.

The appointment of Pritzker "demonstrates our commitment to strengthen Ukraine’s European future," U.S. State Secretary Antony Blinken said in his own statement.

Pritzker will "see to it that Ukraine not only survives but thrives, standing on its own," he added.

Reconstruction amidst ongoing Russian attacks was one of the topics on the agenda when Blinken visited Kyiv on Sept. 6.

At the Yalta European Strategy (YES) Conference in Kyiv on Sept. 8-9, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that while the war is not over, “Ukraine’s economy has kept going, and reconstruction has started.”

The World Bank published estimates in March 2023 that the cost of Ukraine's reconstruction and economic recovery will be around $400 billion.

Ukraine Business Roundup — Issue 1
The following is the first edition of our new Ukraine Business Roundup weekly newsletter. To get the biggest news in business and tech from Ukraine directly in your inbox, subscribe here. International meeting in Kyiv Last Friday and Saturday, Ukrainian and foreign political and business leaders,…

Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight.
Freedom can be costly. Both Ukraine and its journalists are paying a high price for their independence. Support independent journalism in its darkest hour. Support us for as little as $1, and it only takes a minute.
visa masterCard americanExpress

News Feed

7:45 AM

US imposes fresh sanctions on multinational network helping Russia.

The U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on Dec. 5 imposed new sanctions targeting an international weapons procurement network that Washington says involves numerous Cyprus-incorporated entities as well as businesses registered in Sweden, Hong Kong, and the Netherlands.
Ukraine Daily
News from
Ukraine in your
inbox
1:41 AM

Russia shells 7 communities in Sumy Oblast.

Russian forces attacked seven communities along the Sumy Oblast border on Dec. 5, firing 15 times over the course of the day, the Sumy Oblast military administration reported.
9:19 PM

Iran, Russia agree to jointly combat Western sanctions.

Moscow and Tehran signed a declaration on jointly combating Western sanctions imposed against the two regimes over their role in the war against Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Dec. 5 at a meeting with his Iranian counterpart.
5:40 PM

Politico: Macron invites Orban to Paris to 'strike compromise' on EU support to Ukraine.

French President Emmanuel Macron has invited Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to meet in Paris for talks this week, following Orban's threats he will block EU support to Ukraine and Ukraine's accession to the bloc, Politico reported on Dec. 5. European Council President Charles Michel will also cut his trip to China short amid the growing diplomatic crisis, Politico said.
MORE NEWS

Editors' Picks

Enter your email to subscribe

Please, enter correct email address

Subscribe

* indicates required
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
Successfuly subscribed
Thank you for signing up for this newsletter. We’ve sent you a confirmation email.