Ministry for Communities and Territories Development: Vienna hosts a meeting of international special coordinators for Ukraine's reconstruction and recovery

A meeting of international special coordinators on the reconstruction and restoration of Ukraine took place in Vienna.

The Ukrainian side was represented by Deputy Ministers for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine Artem Rybchenko and Andrii Kashuba. The meeting was held at the initiative of the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs and Government Coordinator for Ukraine Reconstruction, Wolfgang Anzengruber.

The meeting was attended by about 50 representatives from Europe, Canada, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Turkey, as well as international financial institutions, including the World Bank, the European Investment Bank, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

The event aimed to strengthen international coordination of efforts to rebuild Ukraine, discuss financing mechanisms, and involve businesses in the implementation of recovery projects.

The Ukrainian delegation informed its partners about the scale of destruction caused as a result of russian aggression, the need for reconstruction (according to updated World Bank estimates, approximately USD 588 billion), as well as the current status and strategic priorities for recovery.

Artem Rybchenko thanked international partners for supporting Ukraine during the winter amid attacks on energy infrastructure and stressed the importance of attracting international investment and technical expertise, in particular for road reconstruction.

"Ukraine has just endured its most difficult winter since the start of russia's full-scale invasion. In addition to problems in the energy sector, the extremely severe frosts have also affected other areas, in particular the condition of roads. In wartime, this is critical, as most national resources are directed toward defense. At the same time, key transport routes must remain functional. Therefore, the Government is working to mobilize international support for the maintenance and restoration of road infrastructure as a component of national security. Given the geographical proximity of our countries, we have significant opportunities to expand cooperation in the field of logistics, transport, and the introduction of new technologies," said Artem Rybchenko.

The visit also served as a preparatory step for the meeting of the Ukrainian-Austrian Joint Commission on Trade and Economic Relations.

In addition, Artem Rybchenko and Andriy Kashuba held a series of meetings with representatives of Austrian ministries and heads of private companies. During negotiations with representatives of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Climate and Environmental Protection, Regions and Water Management, the strategic importance of the Danube region, the need to develop a separate strategy for its development, and challenges in the areas of water management and navigation were discussed. The Ukrainian side also expressed interest in attracting investors to the development of port infrastructure, in particular within the framework of public-private partnerships.

Andrii Kashuba thanked Austria for supporting Ukraine within the Danube Commission, particularly with regard to the creation of a Registry of Damages from russian Aggression on the Lower Danube, as well as for its consistent position on the “shadow fleet” and sanctions policy at the International Maritime Organization.

"Ukraine is working in wartime conditions every day, but even under such circumstances, we manage to keep the maritime and Danube ports operational and ensure exports. Our task is to make these routes sustainable: to strengthen the energy independence of ports, protect infrastructure, and develop the Danube cluster as a reliable logistics route. We see significant potential for joint investments and count on the active participation of Austrian companies in the development of port infrastructure," Andrii Kashuba emphasized.

Austrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs Beate Meinl-Reisinger noted that Austrian businesses were keen to participate in Ukraine's reconstruction, adding that this was not only an expression of solidarity but also a long-term investment in the stability and economic development of Europe.