Ukrainian tech delegation visits Manchester amid Zelensky warning that peace talks are being delayed

On Thursday 19 March, a delegation of more than twenty Ukrainian technology and cyber companies visited Greater Manchester as part of the UK–Ukraine TechBridge, days after President Volodymyr Zelensky warned the BBC that the conflict in Iran is delaying efforts to secure peace for Ukraine.

The visit also follows the UK–Ukraine Strategic Dialogue on 17 March, where Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Zelenskyy reaffirmed progress under the 100‑Year Partnership and ongoing cooperation across security, trade and innovation.

Organisers said the timing of the visit during UK Tech Week underscored the importance of continuing economic cooperation, partnership‑building and long‑term planning despite wider geopolitical pressures.

TechBridge and the 100‑year partnership

The Manchester visit formed part of the UK–Ukraine TechBridge roadshow, a joint initiative launched in January 2024 by the UK and Ukrainian governments to strengthen technology, innovation and investment ties.

The initiative also sits within the broader 100‑year partnership announced in 2025 in Kyiv by Prime Minister Starmer and President Zelensky, aimed at deepening long‑term cooperation across economic development, defence, digital transformation and reconstruction.

The Manchester leg of the roadshow coincided with UK Tech Week, a nationwide programme highlighting innovation across the UK’s regional ecosystems. Organisers said the city region’s strengths in digital and cyber industries were central to its selection. Greater Manchester is home to more than 6,000 cyber professionals and over 150 cyber firms across the North West, along with established clusters in data science, digital commerce, advanced manufacturing and creative technology.

Mark Hughes, Chief Executive of The Growth Company, said the TechBridge programme was “about turning international collaboration into practical partnerships between UK and Ukrainian businesses.”

More than seventy people took part in the Manchester visit, including Ukrainian founders working across AI, software, digital and cyber, as well as representatives from the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), the GM Business Growth Hub and around thirty local technology firms. Organisers said the sessions were designed to give delegates an overview of the UK’s innovation ecosystem and to help build relationships that could support future expansion, investment and collaboration.

Cyber expertise shaped by conflict

Delegates discussed how Ukraine’s technology sector has adapted during the war. Petro Rewko, Chair of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain, said “before the full‑scale invasion in 2022, not many people in the UK knew about Ukraine’s digital capabilities.” He described the conflict as “extensively a cyber war”, noting around 3,000 cyber‑attacks in the first year and 6,000 last year, and said the delegates represented “the best of what happened and how Ukraine responded”.

Reconstruction and long‑term cooperation

UK‑based organisations are also contributing to early‑stage planning for Ukraine’s future recovery, with current initiatives already demonstrating how international collaboration is translating into tangible projects. Paul Hammond, Director of Economics at Jacobs, highlighted long‑term planning work such as the Lviv Airport City development, which is an example of cooperation already underway, supporting long-term economic development and resilience. Hammond said such efforts focused on “enabling commercially viable opportunities by strengthening capabilities and supporting sustainable growth in Ukraine over the long term.”

Local leaders said the visit reflected Greater Manchester’s long‑standing commitment to Ukraine and its intention to support long‑term partnership through the UK–Ukraine TechBridge.

Supporting displaced professionals across the UK

More than forty Ukrainian companies have already accessed over 14 million dollars in commercial partnerships through the UK–Ukraine TechBridge Investment Accelerator, reflecting the scale of support available across the UK for firms looking to expand internationally.

Alongside this, regional programmes such as United for Ukraine, part of the Growth Company, have supported more than 7,000 Ukrainians since 2022 and helped 1,000 people into work. Co‑founder Marianna Vaszilyiv said many skilled Ukrainians arriving in the UK had to restart their professional lives after the full‑scale invasion but with sixty‑nine percent of Ukrainians in the UK now in employment their work ethic is clear to see.

While the UK offers a wide range of support for international firms, Ukrainian founders noted that entering a new market can still present challenges, including unfamiliar regulations, different sales practices and the difficulty of building early networks. Some delegates said the system can feel bureaucratic for newcomers, with one observing that “it’s easy to get wrapped up in red tape and you need someone to unravel you”.

Organisers said these challenges highlighted the importance of effective local support.
Petro Rewko pointed to Greater Manchester as an example of where that support is already well established, citing DBT and the GM Business Growth Hub’s cohort programmes, mentoring and one‑to‑one guidance as practical routes into the UK market. He said the delegation’s visit demonstrated how humanitarian support for displaced Ukrainians is now evolving into long‑term economic partnership across the country.