Ukraine's Former Defence Minister to Seek US Funding for Tech Projects
Ousted Ukrainian defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov will travel to the US to raise funds for new defence tech projects, a source says.
Mykhailo Fedorov, who was removed as Ukraine's defence minister in July, is preparing to visit the United States to secure funding for new defence technology initiatives, according to a person familiar with his plans.
The trip comes weeks after his dismissal triggered protests in Kyiv and other cities, though those demonstrations have since subsided. Fedorov has also broken with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy by becoming the first senior Ukrainian political figure to advocate for wartime elections, which are currently barred under the constitution.
The source dismissed earlier media reports suggesting Fedorov would use the visit to gather political backing for his election stance, and said he would not meet with US politicians or officials. Instead, the former minister, known for his tech-focused and reformist approach, is expected to launch several projects tied to the war effort and Ukrainian startups, including an investment fund. No specific dates were provided.
Fedorov has been a strong advocate for modern military technology and drone warfare since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. He maintains close ties with American firms like SpaceX and Palantir. His personal appeal to SpaceX owner Elon Musk helped activate Starlink services over Ukraine early in the war, and thousands of those satellite terminals now underpin Ukrainian battlefield communications and drone operations.
The source added that Fedorov remains in contact with Musk regarding Starlink, but no meeting between the two is currently scheduled.