Enlarge image
Final photo of the participants of the Ukraine reconstruction conference (in Lugano)
Photo: Alessandro della Valle/EPA
Ukraine should be rebuilt as soon as possible according to seven principles: »partnership«, »focus on reform«, »transparency«, »democratic participation«, »involvement of different stakeholders«, »gender equality« and »sustainability« .
The war-ravaged country agreed on this with international partners.
"This is the beginning of a long process," said Swiss President Ignazio Cassis.
He is the host of the conference with around a thousand participants in Lugano in the canton of Ticino.
"I am convinced that this is an important step on the long road to the reconstruction of Ukraine," Cassis wrote on Twitter about the "Lugano Principles".
Federal Development Minister Svenja Schulze (SPD) announced that Germany would host the conference again planned for the coming years in 2024.
In the coming year Great Britain will welcome the participants.
Schulze had already described the reconstruction of Ukraine as an "immense task" on Monday.
Among other things, the people in the country need “a roof over their heads, intact power grids, schools, water supply,” the minister wrote on Twitter.
»The reconstruction process must be transparent«
The joint declaration at the end of the meeting is now about the commitment to a democratic process in which the whole of society participates, but also about the involvement of private companies, a green transformation towards a CO2-free society, digitized administration and Development projects free from nepotism and enrichment.
"The reconstruction process must be transparent," the statement said.
"The rule of law must be systematically strengthened and corruption eradicated."
The Ukrainian government presented a comprehensive reconstruction plan for the first time in Lugano on Monday.
Schulze and others welcomed the detailed plans that now have to be implemented together.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said the Ukrainian population, who are suffering from the attacks every day, is encouraged by the international community's confidence in the victory in the war started by Russia.
Schmyhal had estimated the necessary sum for the reconstruction on Monday at around 750 billion dollars (almost 720 billion euros).
The infrastructure alone has already suffered damage of around 100 billion dollars.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for the country to start rebuilding now and not wait until the end of the Russian war of aggression.
Reconstruction must be about more than just putting up walls that have been destroyed: »Ukraine must become the freest, most modern and safest country in Europe.«
Prime Minister Schmyhal also suggested using the assets of the Russian state and oligarchs, which are currently frozen at around 300 to 500 billion dollars, for reconstruction.
Lawyers, however, point to the great difficulties in using confiscated assets.
Oligarchs would have to be shown direct responsibility for contributions to the war.
fek/dpa