Prime Minister of Ukraine, the leadership of the EU and the World Bank presented the Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment report
The cost of Ukraine's reconstruction and recovery needs, according to the Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA) report, is estimated at more than $349 billion. The Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal announced in an online statement during the presentation of the RDNA report, which took place in Brussels on September 9 with the participation of the Vice-President of the European Commission Maroš Šefčovič, and the World Bank Regional Vice-President for Europe and Central Asia Anna Bjerde.
The Prime Minister of Ukraine emphasized that urgent restoration of social infrastructure, preparation for the coming winter, urgent repair works, gas purchases, restoration of important transport routes are the state's priorities for the near future.
"With joint efforts, we have already started reconstruction in the de-occupied Ukrainian territories, but reconstruction requires a comprehensive approach and the mobilization of joint resources of the Ukrainian government and international partners. The assessment of the destruction and the identification of reconstruction needs creates a solid basis for the national Reconstruction Plan and is a prerequisite for effective financing," said Denys Shmyhal.
The Head of the Ukrainian Government has said, in order to solve the priority needs, according to the assessment results, Ukraine will need $105 billion dollars in the short term. Only for the first stage — rapid recovery —the needs are estimated at $17 billion, of which Ukraine needs $3.4 billion already in the next three months: "We hope for such support and call on our partners from the G7 and the EU, the IMF and the World Bank to support relevant recovery projects yet today."
Denys Shmyhal noted that this amount does not yet fully reflect the scale of destruction and losses for Ukraine and called on the World Bank and other partners to update the report regularly.
Vice-President of the European Commission Commission Maroš Šefčovič, for his part, has stressed that it will be necessary to consolidate the extraordinary financial efforts of international partners to rebuild Ukraine and create the foundation of a free European country that will be integrated into the European and global economy.
World Bank Regional Vice-President for Europe and Central Asia Anna Bjerde noted that the russian invasion of Ukraine continues to exact a terrible toll, from significant civilian casualties and to the widespread destruction of infrastructure and economic activity, so the Government of Ukraine now faces the difficult task of balancing recovery with the country’s immediate needs: “The RDNA will help in identifying priorities for recovery while we continue to support the continuation of essential core services.”
President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has said that Ukraine is fighting for democracy and common European values: "The EU cannot match the sacrifice Ukraine is enduring but we are mobilising all our instruments to address the most immediate needs, including for housing for internally displaced populations and to repair critical infrastructure. Since the start of Russia’s brutal and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, the EU has mobilised 10 billion euro in financing, humanitarian, emergency and military assistance for Ukraine and another 5 billion euros in financing are in the pipeline. The EU will walk every step of the way with Ukraine to rebuild a democratic, independent and prosperous country on its path to the EU."
