The conference was opened by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. He pointed out that this is the first conference since Ukraine became a candidate for EU membership.
The Chancellor recalled that exactly one year ago, Russia shelled a Kyiv plant that produced freight cars that transported Ukrainian grain around the world. But the plant is still operating because the workers did not stop working even after the shelling, even in a dilapidated building with no heating in winter. The Chancellor said that when asked if this was possible, the plant director said: "This is how our people are."
"That sentence says a lot about Ukrainians who don't give up, who defend their country and make sure everything works," Scholz said.
This includes providing emergency assistance for immediate needs, implementing rapid recovery projects, and creating an attractive business environment to unlock private sector investment in Ukraine, as well as actively engaging civil society in the recovery process.
The conference was opened by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. He noted that this was the first conference since Ukraine became a candidate for EU membership.
The Chancellor reminded that exactly one year ago, Russia shelled a Kyiv plant that produced freight cars that transported Ukrainian grain around the world. But the plant is still operating because the workers did not stop working even after the shelling, even in a dilapidated building with no heating in winter. The Chancellor said that when asked how this was possible, the director of the plant said: ‘That's how our people are’.
‘This sentence says a lot about Ukrainians who don't give up, who defend their country and make sure everything works,’ Scholz said.
In addition to Scholz and Zelenskyy, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke at the event.
The event will last for two days. The conference's website states that the main goal of URC2024 is to mobilise continued international support for the restoration, reconstruction, reform and modernisation of Ukraine.
This includes providing emergency assistance for immediate needs, implementing rapid recovery projects, and creating an attractive business environment to unlock private sector investment in Ukraine, as well as actively engaging civil society in the recovery process.
The conference will have four thematic blocks:
- business dimension: mobilising the private sector for economic recovery and growth
- human dimension: social recovery and human capital in the future of Ukraine
- local and regional: restoring municipalities and regions
- the EU dimension: EU engagement and related reforms
One of the members of the delegation, MP Mariya Mezentseva, said that transformers and generators from German and other partners had already arrived in Kharkiv - even before the event began. She said this on Svoboda.Ranok.
The parliamentarian expects the conference to focus on energy, job creation, and economic issues. She recalled that Ukraine needs €7 billion a month, of which €3.5 billion is borrowed, including from the IMF, the EU fund and other donors.
Security will be a separate issue: Ukrainian arms manufacturers will take part in the event.
"It is also very important to talk about security measures and the provision of air defence. After all, we know how difficult it is to make decisions to protect the sky. Germany had 11 Patriot systems, three of which were transferred to Ukraine. One system can be sponsored, is sponsored by our partners from the Netherlands. This is also an F-16 issue. Our pilots have already received flight certificates," she added.
There will also be humanitarian blocks.
Regarding the absence of the prime minister and the minister in charge of the conference (a new one was not appointed after Oleksandr Kubrakov was dismissed), Mezentseva assured that Germany did not see any difficulties in this.
Similar conferences on Ukraine's reconstruction have previously been held in the UK and Switzerland.