Ukraine’s Mobile Operator Veon CEO Calls for End to Ukraine War, Highlighting Human Cost
Kaan Terzioglu, CEO of Veon Ltd., the parent company of Ukraine’s largest mobile provider Kyivstar, has called for an end to the ongoing war in Ukraine, highlighting the devastating impact on the country and its people, Bloomberg reports.
Speaking to Bloomberg News, Terzioglu emphasized the human cost of the conflict, which has been raging for nearly 1,000 days. He expressed concern for Kyivstar employees, many of whom have lost loved ones or been displaced by the war.
“Every plane that takes off has to land at certain point. Every war has to stop,” he said when asked about the consequences of Donald Trump’s election win in for Ukraine.
The war has severely impacted crucial services like telecommunications, with Kyivstar facing cyberattacks and disruptions to its network. The company has committed to investing $1 billion over the next five years to rebuild Ukraine’s digital infrastructure, but Terzioglu stressed the need for a lasting peace to allow for reconstruction and recovery.
Terzioglu’s comments come amidst speculation about a potential shift in US policy towards Ukraine following the election of Trump. Before his victory, Trump had expressed a desire to broker a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia.
The war has also forced Veon to re-evaluate its presence in Russia, its country of origin. Founded in 1992 as VimpelCom, the company has since expanded to six markets, including Pakistan and Bangladesh. Veon is currently in the process of delisting its shares from Euronext Amsterdam.
Meanwhile, one of Veon’s shareholders, Shah Capital Management Inc., has urged the company to list Kyivstar on the Nasdaq, citing the potential for the Ukrainian mobile provider to become a major investment theme on the US equity market. Terzioglu has confirmed that Veon is considering a listing for Kyivstar, with potential venues including Kyiv, Warsaw and London.
