Discussions on how to reconstruct Ukraine are being held in Berlin, Germany. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has told the participants that to advance recovery efforts his country needs more support for its air defense system.
Around 2,000 people, including government and corporate officials from more than 60 countries, have gathered in the German capital for the two-day conference that started on Tuesday.
The World Bank and others estimate that the recovery and reconstruction effort in Ukraine will cost 486 billion dollars over the next ten years.
Zelenskyy, who attended the meeting in person on Tuesday, condemned Russia for intentionally targeting power infrastructure in Ukraine. He appealed for support and asked the participants to invest in his country’s recovery efforts.
Zelenskyy said, “Air defense is really the answer for everything.” He said his country needs at least seven additional Patriot air defense systems to prevent Russia’s strikes and advance the recovery and reconstruction efforts.
At the meeting, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU is signing an agreement worth 1.4 billion euros, or around 1.5 billion dollars, to attract investment in Ukraine from the private sector.
Japan’s Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Fukazawa Yoichi promised that his country will provide support for the electricity sector and countermeasures against land mines. He also noted that support will be provided through public and private sector partnerships.
Following the conference, the Group of Seven nations will hold a summit in Italy. The meeting will begin on Thursday. An international conference aimed at trying to implement a peace plan proposed by Ukraine will be held in Switzerland. It will begin on Saturday.
Zelenskyy is believed to be trying harder to urge the international community to provide support.