We invite you to read the thirteenth Ukraine Rebuilding Digest with an overview of the recovery news from the Ukraine Rebuilding Alliance for 10—16 June.
More than 100 international agreements were signed at the Ukraine Recovery Conference
More than 100 international agreements worth about 16 billion euros were signed at the third Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal noted that the projects relate to energy, defense, infrastructure and economic recovery.
The United States will provide $824 million for energy infrastructure, and Germany has signed a €30 million agreement to improve the reliability of the energy system. The World Bank will provide $47 million for thermal equipment for Kharkiv, and the EU will provide 1,000 generators and solar panels.
Memorandums were also signed with leading companies on decentralized electricity production and the introduction of energy-efficient technologies. A meeting of the Multi-Donor Coordination Platform was held for the first time. By the end of June, Ukraine will receive €1.9 billion in budgetary funding from the EU, as well as €1.4 billion under the Ukraine Facility program.
A clear plan for Ukraine’s recovery, similar to the Marshall Plan, is needed
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on the G7 member states to develop a plan for Ukraine’s recovery similar to the Marshall Plan after World War II. He suggests that this plan should be agreed upon by a joint G7+ declaration, which should also become a symbol of peace. Zelenskyy emphasizes the need to prepare such a declaration for the NATO summit in Washington, D.C., scheduled for July 9-11, and to adopt it at that summit.
Ukraine’s recovery depends on restoring children’s education
In October 2024, an international conference was held in Geneva, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on world leaders to increase investment in rebuilding Ukraine’s education sector. The war and the COVID-19 pandemic have caused major disruptions to the educational process for millions of Ukrainian children. The closure of schools and damage to educational facilities due to the hostilities have deepened the learning gap among students. More than half of young people who have moved to neighboring countries do not have access to a full education.
Zelenskyy emphasized the need for large-scale investment in education as a key step in Ukraine’s recovery. This includes supporting the rehabilitation of schools, investing in the educational process, and developing the necessary skills for the future careers of Ukrainian children. Such measures should minimize the negative effects of war and displacement on young people and help build a strong human capital for Ukraine’s future.
Black Sea Security Forum 2024 was held in Odesa
The Black Sea Security Forum 2024 was held in Odesa to discuss key geopolitical and security issues in the Black Sea region. Participants emphasized Ukraine’s central role in ensuring regional stability and security in Europe and the world. Despite the naval blockade, Odesa continues to play a key role as a humanitarian corridor and logistics hub in the Black Sea basin.
The event was attended by leading politicians, diplomats and experts from around the world, including US diplomat Kurt Volker, Moldovan Foreign Minister Mihai Popschiu and others. The forum also featured the presentation of Ukraine’s new Stalker 5.0 maritime drone, which is designed for a variety of maritime operations, including humanitarian aid delivery and patrolling.
The Black Sea Security Forum 2024 emphasized the importance of international cooperation in strengthening the security and development of the region. Ukraine continues to work actively to attract investment and support key sectors of its economy in the international arena.
Restoring Ukraine now and in the future. What was decided in Berlin
On June 11-12, 2024, the third international Conference on Ukraine’s Recovery, organized jointly by Germany and Ukraine, took place in Berlin. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended the event, which was accompanied by unprecedented security measures.
Zelenskyy, Chancellor Olaf Scholz and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke at the opening of the conference. Scholz emphasized the importance of supplying Ukraine with air defense systems, missiles, and ammunition to prevent the need for reconstruction. Zelenskyy emphasized the restoration of the energy sector and the signing of billions of dollars in contracts in this area.
Important results include the US pledge of $824 million to support Ukraine’s energy sector and a €30 million deal with Germany to improve the reliability of the power grid. The EU will provide €1.9 billion by the end of the month, with a possible additional €1.5 billion from frozen Russian assets in July.
Von der Leyen and Scholz also raised the issue of Ukraine’s accession to the EU. At the same time, Ukrainian companies and regions were looking for investors to develop projects at an exhibition at the Berlin International Congress Center.
