Leaders of Germany and the European Union brought together experts on Tuesday to begin work on what the German Chancellor dubbed a "new Marshall Plan" for Ukraine's reconstruction.
The Marshall Plan was an initiative promoted by the US World War II. A one-day conference was convened in Berlin to discuss "how to secure and sustain funding for the recovery, reconstruction and modernization of Ukraine for the years and decades to come," said Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Scholz, who co-hosted the meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, said he was "striving for nothing less than the creation of a new Marshall Plan for the 21st century, a generational task that must begin now."
Von der Leyen said the World Bank put the damage in Ukraine to date at 350 billion euros ($345 billion). Reconstruction efforts as part of their path to the European Union," he said. In addition to long-term aid, "Ukraine needs rapid rehabilitation now, as we speak," as Russia targets Ukrainian electricity and other infrastructure before winter begins, " said of the Leyen. She called these "pure acts of terrorism." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made this clear in a video address from Kyiv.
He told attendees at the Berlin conference that Ukraine has a $17 billion "rapid recovery" plan to repair damage to hospitals, schools, transportation and energy infrastructure, and other structures." So far we have not receive a penny for the implementation of the rapid recovery plan," he said through an interpreter. Scholz underscored Germany's commitment to supply Ukraine with weapons, including air defense systems, for as long as they are needed. "The best
reconstruction is the reconstruction that doesn't have to happen at all because Ukrainian cities and power plants are protected from Russian bombs, drones and missiles," he said. "We still don't know when this war will end, but it will end," he said. the German leader. .
"We also know from our own historical experience that reconstruction is always possible and that it is never too early to tackle this task. Scholz and von der Leyen invited the heads of state and government of Poland and Switzerland to the International Monetary Fund , the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the US Development Program and others on Tuesday's meeting
The extent of the destruction is overwhelming," von der Leyen said. “We need all hands on deck: the G-7, the European Union, Europe; strong partners like United States, Canada, Japan, USA, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and many, many more.