Ukraine and its allies agreed on Tuesday on the principles that should guide the country’s rebuilding after the war, including fighting corruption and implementing reforms.
Political leaders, representatives of international institutions and businessmen have been meeting since Monday in Lugano, in southern Switzerland, to reiterate their support for Ukraine and lay the foundations for the country’s rebuilding. .
Prime Minister Denis Shmigal, who heads the Ukrainian delegation in Lugano, estimated yesterday that at least US$750 billion will be needed to rebuild the country.
“We have completed the first step on the long road to rebuilding Ukraine,” said Swiss President Ignazio Cassis, who co-chaired the conference.
“Even though the conflict continues, our work is preparing for the post-war period,” he said.
“We must make sure that everything destroyed is better than before,” said the Ukrainian prime minister.
The Lugano Declaration states that its signatories “commit to fully support Ukraine throughout its trajectory” and recognize that the country must be at the forefront of reconstruction.
However, the prospect of receiving billions of dollars in aid is alarming given the country’s rampant corruption.
The document emphasizes that “the recovery process should contribute to accelerating, deepening, broadening and realizing reform efforts, (…) transparent and accountable to the Ukrainian people”.
The text insists that the process “must be inclusive and ensure gender equality” and calls for Ukraine’s rebuilding to be “sustainable”.
Ukraine’s prime minister noted that his country is ready to act quickly.
“When we say we are ready to act quickly, we mean it,” he said.
It also welcomed that two follow-up conferences are already planned: one to be led by the European Union in a few months; and a new conference on Ukrainian reconstruction in England next year.
“I believe that in a year or so we will no longer be talking about a draft plan, but about results, successful projects and realized opportunities,” Chmygal reaffirmed.
source: Noticias
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