Von der Leyen calls on the US, Canada, Australia and Japan to join the initiative
The German Federal Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has demanded “the creation of a new Marshall Plan” for the reconstruction of Ukraine that begins to function before the end of the invasive war initiated by Russia. It is “a generational task that must begin now,” said the head of the German government at an international conference for the reconstruction of Ukraine that is being held in Berlin with international experts at the invitation of Scholz himself in his capacity as rotating president of the G7 and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
“In its struggle for freedom, independence and sovereignty, Ukraine is not alone,” said the Social Democratic politician, who again promised support to the kyiv authorities for as long as necessary. The efforts for the reconstruction of Ukraine and the continuation of its accession process to the EU “will release enormous synergies”, not only for that country, but for the entire continent.
The conference aims to find ways to design the future of Ukraine, but “not only in the coming months, but also in the coming years and decades,” stressed Scholz, who considers it necessary to meet this challenge to bring together public and private investors from all the world. The meeting in Berlin was also attended by the Prime Ministers of Ukraine and Poland, Denis Schmihal and Tadeusz Morawiecki, respectively.
The president of the European Commission also called for global efforts to carry out the reconstruction of Ukraine. “We are seeing how Putin attacks civilian infrastructure to cripple Ukraine, to terrorize people in Ukraine. We are not going to tolerate it,” said Von der Leyen, for whom there is no time to waste given the appreciable level of destruction that the country is experiencing.
The European leader stressed that no country or union can face this challenge alone and that strong partners such as the United States, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, Australia and other countries and institutions are necessary. “Every euro, every dollar, every pound sterling and every yen is an investment in Ukraine, but also in democratic values,” declared Ursula von der Leyen. She recognized that billions of euros will be necessary, since the infrastructure and buildings destroyed or damaged number in the thousands, from schools and hospitals to bridges, roads, power plants or railway stations. She also recalled that for many Ukrainians the important thing now is to have a warm home before the arrival of winter.
Entry into the EU
Like Scholz on Monday, the president of the European Commission pointed out that when it comes to rebuilding Ukraine’s infrastructure, it is necessary to do so with an eye on its path towards the country’s entry into the EU. In addition, Von der Leyen also assured that Brussels will support kyiv for as long as it takes. During the previous day and within the framework of an economic forum with German businessmen and industrialists, the Federal Chancellor stated that the reconstruction of Ukraine at the end of the war with Russia must have its entry into the European Union as its final goal. “We want Ukraine to be part of the European Union,” said the head of the Berlin government.
For his part, and connected to the meeting by videoconference, the Ukrainian president, Volodímir Zelenski, demanded rapid international investment in the reconstruction of his country. Whoever invests in Ukraine, invests in a future member of the EU, said the head of the invaded country, for whom “Ukraine and the EU are one”, in addition to stressing that his country “contributes to the security of Europe, supporting the Russian coup. The conference in Berlin was held to coincide with the first visit to Ukraine since the war began by German President Frank Walter Steinmeier. “Like many other Germans, I totally admire the people of Ukraine. For the courage and firmness they show, not only on the front, but also in the cities that are attacked and in the countryside,” the German leader said upon his arrival in kyiv.
In the meantime, kyiv has expressed the wish that Berlin regularly contribute to financing the public spending of its Administration. “We need every month from 4,000 to 5,000 million dollars for our budgets. We believe that Germany could assume about 500 million dollars a month, especially with a view to 2023. From the EU in total we expect to receive about 2,000 million dollars a month, “said Alexander Rodnianski, Zelenski’s economic adviser. He calculates that the latest Russian attacks suffered by his country “have caused damage to infrastructure worth 120,000 million dollars.” The Ukrainian Prime Minister, in turn, recently noted that 750 billion dollars will be needed for the reconstruction of the country.
Topics
Vladimir Putin, Volodimir Zelensky, European Union (EU), Germany, Australia, Canada (Country), United States, Europe, Japan, Russia, Ukraine, War in Ukraine
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