Ukraine’s Mobile Giant Poised to Gain from Potential Peace Deal, Says CEO
Kyivstar CEO Oleksandr Komarov said that a peaceful resolution to the war between Russia and Ukraine would “significantly” increase the value of the Ukrainian mobile operator.
The Gaze reports on it, referring to Reuters.
This announcement came on the eve of the company's historic listing on the New York Stock Exchange.
Kyivstar shares will begin trading on Nasdaq later on Friday, becoming the first Ukrainian company to be listed on the US stock exchange.
The listing coincided with the long-awaited summit between the US and Russian presidents in Alaska, which Ukraine and European countries are closely watching as a potential turning point in peace talks.
“We will be the best asset for the international investment community to invest in Ukraine, to invest in the Ukrainian recovery, to invest in the Ukrainian support,” Komarov said in an interview.
He also noted that the company chose Nasdaq because it is more important to “strengthen the connection between the United States and Ukraine than between Ukraine and Europe.”
Moreover, the company has recently deepened its ties with the US by appointing former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to its board of directors and signing an agreement with Elon Musk's Starlink for satellite services.
It should be mentioned that on August 12, Ukraine successfully tested Starlink’s Direct to Cell technology, enabling Kyivstar smartphones to connect directly to satellites without extra equipment, ensuring connectivity in remote areas or during outages. The trial phase allows sending text messages, with gradual network expansion expected to provide more advanced features and nationwide satellite coverage.
VEON, Kyivstar's parent company, presented the listing as an opportunity for foreign investors to bet on Ukraine's recovery, although its success depends in part on reaching a peace agreement.
Komarov noted that the first few weeks of trading will be extremely volatile, but stressed that political risks are already factored into the company's valuation.
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