Kuleba: Foreign Ministry working to bring IKEA, H&M, Zara back to Ukraine

The Foreign Ministry is working to bring global brands like IKEA, H&M, and Zara, which ceased operations in Ukraine after the full-scale war started in 2022, back to Ukraine, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Oct. 15.

Kuleba noted that McDonald's resumed operations in Ukraine after he held a phone call with U.S. State Secretary Antony Blinken, adding that the fast food chain's return to Ukraine is a green light for investors.

"I believe that the more international businesses work here (in Ukraine), the more confidence in victory it will add," Kuleba said.

H&M said it will open up shop again in Ukraine beginning in November. The Swedish fashion retailer first opened in Kyiv in August 2018 and closed due to the full-scale invasion in February 2022.

"In close dialogue with partners and authorities," the company plans to "gradually reopen" more stores in the country from November, H&M Group said in a press release.

IKEA, meanwhile, opened it's first store in Ukraine on Feb. 1, 2021, just over a year before the full-scale war began.

‘She needs armor.’ Female Ukrainian soldiers call for equality

Many passersby raise their heads when walking past the Princess Olga monument in downtown Kyiv. Some even stop, gazing at the statue with surprise. Although it has been there for years, it seems the monument has never gotten as much attention as it has in recent weeks. In early September,

The Kyiv IndependentDaria Shulzhenko