The war in Ukraine is not over yet, but reconstruction is now being considered at a German-Ukrainian economic forum. Kyiv estimates the cost at $750 billion. Chancellor Scholz lures investors by pointing out that it is a future EU member.
After the end of the war, Chancellor Olaf Scholz wants to focus the reconstruction of Ukraine entirely on the country's EU membership. "If we rebuild Ukraine, then we will do it with the goal of Ukraine as a member of the EU in mind," said the SPD politician at a German-Ukrainian economic forum in Berlin. The traffic infrastructure as well as the logistics and transport sector must be built in such a way that the country can be easily connected to the EU.
The prospect of accession should also be understood as a signal to private investors. "Anyone investing in the reconstruction of Ukraine today is investing in a future EU member state that will be part of our legal community and our internal market," said Scholz.
The Chancellor pointed out that more than 2,000 German companies are active in Ukraine, others want to go back as soon as possible. He appealed to the Ukrainian government to further improve the framework conditions for investments. He called for more rule of law, more transparency and an even more determined fight against corruption. Scholz also again promised Ukraine further military aid, in particular to protect against attacks from the air. "We will support Ukraine for as long as it takes," he said.
Vice-Chancellor and Economics Minister Robert Habeck also promised Ukraine help with reconstruction. The Greens politician said that "winter aid" -- that is, support for repairs to the energy sector that Russia had targeted for repairs -- currently has absolute priority.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal put the financial requirements for reconstruction at $750 billion. Economics Minister Julia Swyrydenko said the government in Kyiv wants to privatize 800 companies. The economic conference takes place one day before the international meeting of the EU and the German G7 presidency in Berlin, at which the general conditions for reconstruction are to be discussed. In a guest article for the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Chancellor and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke of a necessary "Marshall Plan" for Ukraine.
