Ex-defence minister Fedorov reveals his next steps: venture fund, think tank and teaching

Former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, following his dismissal from government, plans to work on a venture fund to attract investment in Ukrainian defence start-ups, an analytical centre he calls a think tank, civic initiatives aimed at "returning to democracy", as well as teaching at universities.

Source: Fedorov in an interview with 24 Kanal

Details: Fedorov said the plan he brought to the Defence Ministry was called Air-Land-Economy and envisaged protecting Ukraine's airspace, halting the Russian advance and exhausting Russia's economy.

"I realised that it would be difficult to achieve this plan without effective managers and updating the system, so I added another point – Democracy. I will work on implementing this plan," he noted.

Quote: "This is how I see my path: I need to set up a venture fund that will attract Western funding to invest in Ukrainian startups and developers. I have a few priorities – cheap AI-powered missiles… also robotising the line of contact and adding sensors. We need to think about how to remove infantry from the line of contact, because assault troops will already be moving into territory previously held by the enemy after robots and drones have gone in… Our task is to saturate the battlefield with sensors that react to enemy infantry movement, triggering immediate reconnaissance and destruction of the enemy.

We started working on this at the Defence Ministry, and I want to continue doing it in the private sector. It will be a fund with Western investment that will invest in various projects in Ukraine and bring projects to Ukraine that will help us win."

Details: According to Fedorov, another project will be a "think tank – an organisation with analysts who come up with ways to stop the war, defeat Russia and, in general, generate ideas. It will be a team of policymakers who develop the rules of the game for the next stages."

The former minister said the think tank's task will be to "generate a vision for the next stages of the war, stay relevant, and propose to the government what needs to be done to implement these changes".

"There may also be some start-ups related to artificial intelligence, which will also be connected with defence tech, such as how to help in the war. This is a key area of activity that I want to develop. I am confident that a large number of people from all over the world can join this project and support it," he added.

Fedorov also plans to engage partly in "civic activities related to preparing the country for a return to democracy".

"I have a very large team, hundreds of very talented people who are building their lives around the projects I will launch. This is invaluable social capital, and I really want to support these people so that they can fulfil their potential. I think we will manage to achieve results in these areas," the former minister said.

He also plans to teach "a course on reforms at some universities".

Quote: "Plus, I already have projects that I started working on as soon as I left the government. I am helping several foundations working on reforms – how to prepare partner investment and funding for the changes taking place in the government. How, in connection with the change in strategy, to help the government in the most effective way possible."

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