Ukrainian media reports that the arrest of Kyivstar's shares may soon be lifted as the company is set to receive American investments.

The seizure of part of the corporate rights of the company "Kyivstar" may be lifted soon. Instead of nationalization, the company is expected to welcome American investments. This is reported by "Mediasat", citing a publication from the Washington-based Capitol Intelligence Group (CI).

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As the journalists note, a group of leading American investment funds has expressed interest in acquiring VEON. This Dutch holding is the owner of Ukraine's largest mobile operator, "Kyivstar".

Earlier, the court imposed a seizure on all corporate rights in Ukraine owned by Russian oligarchs Mikhail Fridman, Petr Aven, and Andrei Kosogov. However, VEON sold its Russian assets at the end of 2023 and completely exited the Russian market.

According to media reports, a significant role in the process of attracting foreign investments is played by Mike Pompeo – a key player on Trump's team, former U.S. Secretary of State, and former CIA director. In November of last year, he took on the role of independent non-executive director of "Kyivstar".

“Acting as an independent board member of VEON, Pompeo told reporters that he welcomes the acquisition proposal from American investment giants such as Blackstone, KKR, and Carlyle, and that the former controlling shareholder of VEON, sanctioned Russian oligarch Mikhail Fridman, has completely exited VEON,” the publication states.

Additionally, the publication Capitol Intelligence Group claims that the acquisition of VEON by the mentioned investment funds is welcomed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, the President of the World Bank, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

The publication reminds that alongside the seizure of part of the shares of "Kyivstar", a similar case was initiated concerning Lifecell, but subsequently, in this seemingly identical situation, the Ukrainian government lifted the seizure of corporate rights for Lifecell. As a result, the company successfully changed ownership and transferred to the French holding "NJJ Capital".

“We now have sufficient grounds to assume that Kyivstar is following the path of Lifecell. Once the value of VEON is agreed upon by all interested parties, the seizure of 47.85% of Kyivstar's corporate rights will be lifted. What does the sale of VEON to new owners mean for Ukraine and its citizens? The change in the shareholder composition will not affect Kyivstar subscribers or the operator itself,” the journalists note.