Kyivstar Expects Russia-Ukraine Deal Impact on U.S Listing
Last update: August 15, 2025
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The CEO of the Ukrainian Telco says the Russia-Ukraine peace deal would boost the firm's value ahead of US listing.
A peaceful resolution to the war between Russia and Ukraine would boost the value of Ukrainian mobile operator Kyivstar, says CEO Oleksandr Komarov ahead of the company's stock market listing in New York.
Kyivstar's shares will begin trading on the Nasdaq later on Friday, becoming the first Ukraine-based company listed on a U.S. stock exchange.
The listing coincides with a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, which has been closely watched by Ukraine and European nations as a potential turning point in peace negotiations.
"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 told Reuters in an interview.
Komarov said the company chose Nasdaq, where its parent VEON is also listed, over London or Warsaw because it was even more important to "strengthen the link between the United States and Ukraine rather than between Ukraine and Europe.
CBI News reports that the company has deepened its U.S. ties during the conflict, appointing former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to its board.
It also signed a deal with Elon Musk's Starlink for satellite services.
Komarov said that the first few weeks of trading will be extremely volatile.
When asked if the outcome of the IPO depends on political developments, he said the volatile external environment was already incorporated in Kyivstar's valuation.
Kyivstar, which has been given a pro forma valuation of $2.3 billion, carried out the listing by merging with fintech entrepreneur Betsy Cohen's special purpose acquisition company.
The company raised $178 million.
What to Know about Kyivstar
Kyivstar is the biggest mobile operator in Ukraine with 24 million subscribers.
Founded in 1994, it became part of Veon in 2010.
Apart from telecoms, it owns digital health platform Helsi and ride-hailing firm Uklon.
Posted by David Taylor · Last updated: August 15, 2025
