Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States, according to Ukraine’s Deputy Economy Minister and Trade Representative Taras Kachka.
Speaking on Tuesday at the “Trade Wars: The Art of Defense” conference in Kyiv, Kachka said the proposal was included in a letter Zelensky recently sent to US President Donald Trump outlining new opportunities for cooperation in defense and trade.
“To the best of my knowledge, President Zelensky addressed this proposal to President Trump in that letter,” Kachka said. “Accordingly, this will be the next phase of our discussions.”
Kachka said Ukraine is eager to pursue an agreement, even though the US is not among its top trading partners. He noted that Ukraine already has trade deals with the United Kingdom, Canada and the European Union.
“We are interested in FTAs with all G7 countries,” Kachka said. “What we still need are the United States and Japan.”
He said more Ukrainian manufacturers are targeting wealthy markets with high standards, which can offer greater returns.
“From that perspective, it is important for us to focus on the possibility of exporting to the US and, accordingly, having a relevant free trade agreement,” he said.
Kachka added that the newly established US-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund offers a strong foundation for deeper trade ties.
“That’s why I think the United States might find this interesting,” he said. “But we shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves – we are still at the very beginning of this journey.”
Ukrainian exports to the US rose by 67% in 2024 to $869 million, while imports from the US reached $3.4 billion, Kachka said. US goods made up less than 5% of Ukraine’s total imports last year.
Asked about the 10% tariffs currently imposed by the US on Ukrainian products, Kachka said previous talks focused mainly on setting up the recovery fund. He also confirmed upcoming discussions with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
“The tariffs and the new approach to them represent a certain new reality,” he said, cautioning that no commitments have been made.
“We are really just at the starting line,” Kachka said.