The EU pledges to mobilize more than €10 billion for Ukraine's reconstruction.
Zelensky calls on his allies for a 'Marshall Plan' that includes frozen Russian assets, not just the profits they generate.
RomeAfter Lugano, London, and Berlin, Rome hosted the 4th International Summit for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, led by the European Union, on Thursday. The summit aims to mobilize public and private investment to boost the country's reconstruction process after more than three years of war. During the inauguration, attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the creation of a European fund worth €220 million to attract private investment, with the participation of Italy, Germany, France, Poland, and the European Investment Bank.
Von der Leyen, who spoke at the La Nuvola convention center in the Italian capital, minutes before passing the vote in the European Parliament on the motion of censure against her, has also announced the disbursement of €1 billion in macro-financial support to Kiev, as well as the payment of more than €3 billion under the Ukraine Facility instrument, with which the EU aims to guarantee the country's economic stability. Financing agreements worth €2.3 billion, between loans and direct aid, which "will mobilize more than €10 billion in investments for Ukraine's growth, recovery, and reconstruction," she said.
"Our determination is unquestionable," said Von der Leyen, who acknowledged that Kiev was carrying out the necessary reforms to become a full member of the EU in the future. business leaders and financial institutions present at the summit, to invest in the attacked country. "We should be proud of the results we are achieving." Together we have committed today for more than 10 billion euros." And he added: "Don't be afraid to invest in Ukraine. Do it in Europe, all our citizens."
Pedro Sánchez announces an office for reconstruction
One of the first to confirm his commitment was the president of the Spanish government, Pedro Sánchez, who upon arriving at the Italian congress center announced the creation of an office for the reconstruction of Ukraine and the organization of a forum at the end of the year with companies interested in helping the country invaded by Russia in February 2022. of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, who arrived yesterday Wednesday in Rome to meet for the second time with Pope Leo XIV, has traveled to the Italian capital with the objective, among others, of signing agreements that guarantee the country's energy supply in the face of recent Russian attacks on its distribution network. in his speech, the Ukrainian head of state has asked the participants in the summit to increase their investments in the Ukrainian defense industry to boost the production of drones and respond to the escalation of Russian air attacks, such as those that This Wednesday, six people were killed in the capital with a record launch of missiles and drones.. This same morning, a new attack killed two more people in Kiev. "When Russia increases its attacks, we cannot have a funding deficit," said Zelensky, who asked his allies for Marshall Plan for Ukraine with "specific financing mechanisms," which include Russian assets frozen in the West and not just the profits they generate, as has been the case until now. Speaking at a private forum in the Italian capital, he referred to the war in Ukraine as a "catastrophe worse than Vietnam." But above all, it will allow key European leaders to advance collaboration with Kiev to confront Russian aggression. on an official trip, the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, did so by videoconference, as did British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
