London (EFE).- The Ukrainian president, Volodímir Zelenski, assured this Wednesday that the reconstruction of his country after the Russian invasion “is a global task”, and he has asked governments and the private sector to invest in Ukraine.
In a telematic intervention at the beginning of the second Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC 2023) which will be held until Thursday in London, the Ukrainian president has argued his request that “when we protect Ukraine, we protect freedom; when we build Ukraine, we build freedom”
In addition, the president hoped that in this forum, “the agreements will be transformed into real projects”, which will allow his country not only to face the immediate challenges but also to rebuild in the long term.
The United Kingdom and Ukraine are the hosts of the London conference, which aims to seek financing and investment commitments for the reconstruction of the country, invaded by Russia on February 24, 2022.
According to a World Bank report, the estimated cost of this task ten years from now, amounted to 411,000 million dollars in March (about 376,000 million euros, at today’s exchange rate).
US and UK appeal to the private sector
Opening the conference, the British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, has urged the private sector to take advantage of the investment opportunities “that even now”, despite the war, exist in Ukraine, in order to help rebuild the country.
As the conservative leader has said, “Russia must pay” for the destruction it has caused in the neighboring country and that is the objective of freezing its assets abroad.
But until this is possible, “it is important that governments and especially the private sector boost the Ukrainian recovery by committing to invest at the right time.
Sunak recalled that before the war Ukraine was becoming a great economy, it was the granary of Europe and the leader in energy.
“Those opportunities are still there today,” maintained the prime minister, who has announced that the United Kingdom will guarantee loans from the World Bank worth 3,000 million dollars (2,750 million euros), a bilateral aid package of 240 million pounds ( 280 million euros) and an additional endowment of 250 million (290 million euros) for British investment in the country.
He also assured that some 400 companies from 38 countries have pledged to get involved in post-war reconstruction by signing a Companies Pact for Ukraine.
Economic and political reforms
For his part, the Secretary of State of the United States, Antony Blinken, has recognized in London that, despite the efforts of several countries and financial institutions, “only the private sector can mobilize the level of investment necessary to meet the needs of Ukraine ”.
The American politician reaffirmed his government’s long-term commitment both at the military level and with the Ukrainian recovery, for which he considered it key to also support political and economic reforms in the former Soviet republic.
Blinken announced an additional aid to kyiv of 1,300 million dollars, of which some 420 million will go to electrical infrastructure projects with special incidence in the ecological transition.
The future of Ukraine in the European Union
As regards the EU, the President of the Commission, Ukraine has assured that Ukraine imagines its future within the “Brussels club” and that the EU has the “responsibility” to make that dream come true.
In his speech, Von der Leyen reiterated yesterday’s announcement about aid of 50,000 million euros to Ukraine for the period 2024 and 2027, in the form of loans and grants.
“We are gathered here to tell the Ukrainians that their dream is also our dream. Ukrainians tell us that when they imagine their future they see the flag of Europe waving over their cities. I have no doubt that Ukraine will be part of our union, ”she pointed out.
A thousand delegates, including politicians, businessmen and representatives of civil society, attend this conference that will last until tomorrow, Thursday.