As part of the official agenda of the AI+ Expo in Washington, D.C., the U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC), in partnership with the Diia City Union and the Embassy of Ukraine in the United States, hosted a high-level side event titled “Innovation Under Fire: How Ukrainian Tech Powers the Fight for Freedom.” The event took place on Monday, June 2, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
The session spotlighted how Ukraine’s tech sector is not only enduring the pressures of full-scale war but also scaling globally, exporting innovations, and driving breakthroughs in AI, cybersecurity, defense tech, and digital governance.
The event opened with welcoming remarks from Nadiia Khomaziuk, Executive Director, USUBC, Valeria Kushnerchuk, CEO, Diia City Union, and Joe Wang, Program Officer, SCSP, who framed the significance of Ukraine’s digital resilience and growing role in global tech collaboration.
Ambassador Oksana Markarova delivered powerful keynote remarks, emphasizing Ukraine’s position as a strategic partner for the U.S. and Europe in the innovation space: “When we are talking about innovations in Ukraine, we are not asking for help – we are offering partnership.”
The panel featured:
- Chris Baker, Member of the Board, SoftServe
- Valery Krasovsky, CEO, Sigma Software Group; GP, SID Venture Partners
- Amy Lewin, Chief Business Officer, ELEKS; Chairperson of the Board, GARUDA
Vitaliy Goncharuk (Founder of 12New.AI and Augmented Pixels; Chairman of Ukraine’s AI Advisory Committee, 2019–2022) moderated the conversation, which evolved into a vivid and candid discussion about the daily cyber threats faced by Ukrainian IT companies, their pivotal role in state-level digital projects, and the development and global export of dual-use technologies. The panel also explored Ukraine’s role in the international AI ecosystem, where the country continues to make bold strides despite ongoing wartime challenges.
The session concluded with a dynamic Q&A, where attendees raised forward-looking questions – from how to scale and institutionalize U.S.-Ukraine tech partnerships to practical insights on defending energy infrastructure against cyberattacks and managing blackouts. Additional questions touched on talent development, cross-border investment opportunities, and Ukraine’s growing contribution to AI ethics and regulation.
Audience engagement highlighted Ukraine’s reputation not only as a resilient nation, but also as a frontline innovator offering scalable, globally relevant tech solutions.We are deeply grateful to event partners Alcor and Sigma Software for their generous support – and to all speakers, partners, and attendees who helped make this event a powerful moment of insight, inspiration, and international collaboration.
