Fedorov Plans U.S. Trip After Leaving Defence Ministry
Ukraine’s ousted defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov is planning to travel to the United States to raise funding for new defence technology projects, according to a source close to the former minister who spoke to Reuters.
Fedorov was dismissed from the defence ministry in July, triggering protests in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities demanding his reinstatement. Those demonstrations have since faded.
His planned U.S. trip comes as he seeks to establish new ventures focused on military technology and Ukrainian startups.
Former Minister Turns Toward Defence Technology
The source said Fedorov plans to launch several projects connected to the war and Ukraine’s technology sector, including an investment fund.
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Fedorov became one of the strongest advocates of new military technologies and drone warfare following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
His experience in technology and digital government has also given him strong connections with major U.S. technology companies.
The source said Fedorov’s trip was not intended to seek political backing for his recent call for wartime elections and that he would not meet U.S. politicians or government officials.
Fedorov Breaks With Zelenskiy Over Elections
Fedorov’s plans come after a significant political rupture with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
On Tuesday, he became the first prominent Ukrainian political figure to publicly call for wartime elections, despite elections being prohibited under Ukraine’s constitution during martial law.
The move puts Fedorov at odds with the government’s existing position and could further complicate his political future.
The source, however, rejected reports that his planned U.S. trip was primarily political.
His Deep Links to U.S. Technology Companies
Fedorov has developed close relationships with major U.S. technology firms through Ukraine’s wartime technology efforts.
His most prominent connection is with SpaceX, whose Starlink satellite internet network has become critical to Ukraine’s military communications.
Fedorov personally appealed to SpaceX founder Elon Musk at the beginning of the war, helping secure the activation of Starlink services in Ukraine.
Tens of thousands of Starlink terminals are now used across the country, supporting battlefield communications and drone operations.
The source said Fedorov remains in contact with Musk about Starlink services, although no meeting between the two is currently planned.
Ukraine’s Defence Industry Becomes a Strategic Asset
Fedorov’s planned projects highlight how Ukraine’s war has accelerated the development of a domestic defence technology ecosystem.
Drones, satellite communications, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies have become increasingly important to Ukraine’s ability to fight a larger military.
For Kyiv, attracting private investment into these sectors could help sustain innovation even as the war continues and international military assistance remains politically uncertain.
Analysis: Is Fedorov Building a New Role Outside Zelenskiy’s Government?
Fedorov’s U.S. trip could mark the beginning of a new chapter in his political and professional career.
Rather than immediately pursuing a conventional political comeback, his focus on defence technology and investment could allow him to maintain influence through Ukraine’s rapidly expanding military-tech sector.
His connections with Silicon Valley companies and his role in developing Ukraine’s digital wartime infrastructure give him an unusual network of international relationships for a former government minister.
At the same time, his decision to publicly call for wartime elections creates a political dimension that cannot easily be separated from his future plans.
Fedorov may therefore be positioning himself at the intersection of Ukraine’s defence industry, technology sector and future political landscape. If his planned investment projects succeed, they could strengthen Ukraine’s military capabilities while giving the former minister an influential platform outside the government he recently left.
With information from Reuters.
