KYIV, Nov 30 – Proposed nationalization of Ukraine's largest telecom operator Kyivstar, owned by VEON, would be a step backwards, said Mike Pompeo, former U.S. Secretary of State, who recently joined the supervisory board of Kyivstar.

He said in an interview with NV published on Wednesday that talking about nationalization would be a step backwards because Ukraine would need a huge amount of private sector investment, foreign direct investment, and support from Europe and the United States private sector to overcome the consequences of the war.