Preparing new joint projects with the German Government in the housing sector: Oleksii Kuleba

Deputy Prime Minister for Ukraine’s Restoration — Minister for Communities and Territories Development Oleksii Kuleba held an online meeting with German Federal Minister for Housing, Urban Development, and Building, Verena Hubertz.

The focus of the meeting was to deepen cooperation in the areas of housing and spatial planning with the German Government. The Ministry for Communities and Territories Development is interested in expanding German programs and initiatives in Ukraine to support the comprehensive reconstruction of cities and towns.

Currently, Ukraine employs several tools for restoring its housing stock: the eVidnovlennia compensation mechanism for damaged or destroyed housing, major repairs, and the social housing model (long-term subsidized rentals). Through eVidnovlennia, over 140,000 families have already received compensation for damaged or destroyed homes.

“Housing is the foundation for people returning home, for community life, and for economic recovery. Over 300,000 homes have been either damaged or destroyed, with 4.6 million people internally displaced, and the reconstruction needs amounting to USD 80 billion. We are already seeing initial results in housing restoration, and in 2026, we plan to scale up these efforts, including with the support of the German Government,” stressed Oleksii Kuleba.

The priority in housing restoration is to accelerate the attraction of funds and streamline urban planning procedures. The Ministry for Communities and Territories Development has initiated a pilot project for spatial planning of destroyed and new settlements, which has sparked interest from the German side.

Additionally, the German Government is ready to support the development of urban planning and housing policy reforms, particularly in establishing a social housing system. This involves a rental model where housing remains under community ownership and is leased at a fixed, below-market price.

Oleksii Kuleba expressed gratitude for the humanitarian and technical assistance, participation in infrastructure restoration, and support for reforms provided by the German Government. The parties also discussed preparations for signing a Memorandum of Cooperation in the fields of housing, urban planning, architecture, and landscaping.