On 13 August 2026, PwC Ukraine hosted a working lunch in Kyiv with Sandra Oudkirk, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim at the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine, and Meghan Gregonis, Deputy Chief of Mission.
Initiated by the U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC), the lunch brought together prominent U.S. and Ukrainian business leaders for a focused discussion on Ukraine’s economic outlook, opportunities and challenges for companies operating in Ukraine, and prospects for strengthening U.S.-Ukraine commercial cooperation.
Representatives from the defense, energy, metals and mining, technology, infrastructure, agriculture, legal, and financial sectors met with the newly appointed U.S. Embassy leadership to share views on the business environment and explore new ways to deepen economic ties between Ukraine and the United States.
Opening the event, Maxim Vykhovanets, Country Managing Partner at PwC Ukraine, underlined Ukraine’s strong economic potential and the importance of closer U.S.-Ukraine collaboration to support investment, innovation, and long-term growth.
The event provided an opportunity for Sandra Oudkirk and Meghan Gregonis to engage directly with the business community operating in Ukraine and gain insight into both the opportunities and the challenges shaping the country’s economic future.
Drawing on her extensive diplomatic experience and longstanding work with Ukraine and the wider region, Sandra Oudkirk highlighted how commercial diplomacy can advance economic development, encourage investment, and strengthen bilateral ties.
The event gave participants space to present their businesses, share sector-specific perspectives, and discuss areas for expanding collaboration with American organisations. Participants stressed the resilience of Ukrainian companies and the crucial role of international collaborations in driving investment, reconstruction, and economic growth.
Business leaders also spoke openly about the realities of operating during Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine, including security risks, infrastructure damage, supply chain disruptions, and the urgent need for effective war risk insurance. Despite these pressures, they reaffirmed their commitment to growth, including expansion into new markets and sectors. They identified strong collaborations with the United States as a key driver of this progress.
The discussion was co-moderated by Maxim Vykhovanets and Dmytro Filonenko, Director of Programming & Business Development at USUBC.
About the Participants
Sandra S. Oudkirk is Chargé d’Affaires ad interim at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv. A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, she brings more than 30 years of diplomatic experience representing U.S. interests around the world. Prior to her current role, she served as Director of the American Institute in Taiwan and held senior positions within the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. European Command. She holds a degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and speaks Mandarin Chinese and Turkish.
Meghan Gregonis is Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv and a career member of the Senior Foreign Service with the rank of Minister Counselor. Throughout her career, she has advanced U.S. interests through commercial diplomacy, security cooperation, and innovation-focused initiatives. Her previous assignments include serving as U.S. Consul General in Dubai and senior diplomatic postings in Munich, Islamabad, Riyadh, Rome, Baghdad, and Jerusalem. She is a distinguished graduate of the National War College and holds a degree from New York University.
Maxim Vykhovanets is Country Managing Partner at PwC Ukraine. With more than 22 years of experience in audit and assurance, he has led work for major organisations in the energy, mining and metals, and renewable energy sectors. His professional background includes extensive experience working with both Ukrainian and international organisations under Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) standards and International Standards on Auditing.
Dmytro Filonenko is Director of Programming & Business Development at the U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC). In this capacity, he oversees programming at the USUBC office in Ukraine and provides comprehensive support to the business needs of USUBC members operating in the country, as well as those visiting. Additionally, Dmytro is part of the USUBC Defense Working Group — driving engagement between key U.S. defense companies and their Ukrainian counterparts from both the government and private sectors.
About PwC
At PwC, we help clients build trust and reinvent so they can turn complexity into competitive advantage. We are a tech-forward, people-powered network of more than 364,000 people across 136 countries and 137 territories. Through our services in audit and assurance, tax and legal, deals, and consulting, we help organizations build, accelerate, and sustain momentum. Learn more at PwC Ukraine.
About USUBC
The U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC) was established in 1995 to promote trade and investment between the United States and Ukraine, advocate for a stronger business environment, and support the development of bilateral economic ties. USUBC serves as a leading platform for engagement between the American and Ukrainian business communities. Learn more at USUBC.
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