Ukraine prime minister calls for more investment in war-torn country during Chicago stop of US visit

1 of 12 |

Michael Polsky, founder and CEO of Invenergy, gives a tour of the company in the Loop to Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal after a roundtable with U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine’s Economic Recovery Penny Pritzker and business leaders, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

2 of 12 |

Michael Polsky, right, founder and CEO of Invenergy, gives a tour of the company in the Loop to Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal, left, after a roundtable with U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine’s Economic Recovery Penny Pritzker and business leaders, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)

3 of 12 |

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, center, speaks as Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, left, and U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine’s Economic Recovery Penny Pritzker listen to him at a news conference in Chicago, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. They delivered joint remarks recognizing the Illinois-Ukraine partnership. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

4 of 12 |

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal speaks at a news conference in Chicago, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. Ukrainian Prime Minister Shmyhal, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, and U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine’s Economic Recovery Penny Pritzker delivered joint remarks recognizing the Illinois-Ukraine partnership. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

5 of 12 |

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker speaks at a news conference in Chicago, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Illinois Governor Pritzker, and U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine’s Economic Recovery Penny Pritzker delivered joint remarks recognizing the Illinois-Ukraine partnership. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

6 of 12 |

U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine’s Economic Recovery Penny Pritzker speaks at a news conference in Chicago, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, and U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine’s Economic Recovery Pritzker delivered joint remarks recognizing the Illinois-Ukraine partnership. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

7 of 12 |

U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine’s Economic Recovery Penny Pritzker, center, speaks as Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, left, and Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal listen to her at a news conference in Chicago, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. They delivered joint remarks recognizing the Illinois-Ukraine partnership. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

8 of 12 |

9 of 12 |

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, center, speaks as Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, left, and U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine’s Economic Recovery Penny Pritzker listen to him at a news conference in Chicago, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. They delivered joint remark recognizing the Illinois-Ukraine partnership. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

10 of 12 |

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, right, speaks as Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker listens at a news conference in Chicago, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. They delivered joint remarks recognizing the Illinois-Ukraine partnership. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

11 of 12 |

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, center, speaks as Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, left, and U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine’s Economic Recovery Penny Pritzker listen at a news conference in Chicago, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. They delivered joint remarks recognizing the Illinois-Ukraine partnership. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

12 of 12 |

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, second from right, speaks as Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, right, listens at a news conference in Chicago, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. They delivered joint remarks recognizing the Illinois-Ukraine partnership. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

By SOPHIA TAREEN

CHICAGO (AP) — Ukraine Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal kicked off a United States visit Tuesday with multiple stops in Chicago aimed at drumming up investment and business in the war-torn country.

He spoke to Chicago-area business leaders before a joint news conference with Penny Pritzker, the U.S. special representative for Ukraine’s economic recovery, and her brother, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

Shmyhal’s trip comes comes as Congress is considering an aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other allies.

“We would warmly welcome the participation of Illinois companies in projects related to the recovery of Ukraine,” he told reporters, calling it the country’s “most difficult time” in recent history.

He cited World Bank estimates of $486 billion needed for recovery over the next decade. For example, more than 250,000 residential buildings that have been damaged or destroyed since Russia invaded in 2022, he said.

Shmyhal also thanked Illinois for sending hundreds of ambulances.

Penny Pritzker, former U.S. Commerce secretary, said the U.S. aid package is critical to save Ukraine’s economy and win the war.

She said the mission was also personal with her family’s Ukrainian roots. The Pritzkers are heirs to their family’s Hyatt hotel fortune. Their great-grandfather fled Kyiv, Ukraine, more than 140 years ago, Penny Pritzker said.