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REMARKS 

by Ambassador of Ukraine to Romania H.E. Ihor PROKOPCHUK 

at the panel dedicated to rebuilding of Ukraine 

Roundtable “The Power of Convening in Turbulent Times: The Role 
and Impact of Aspen Institutes around the world”
by Aspen Institute Romania  

(Bucharest, 11 February 2025)

 

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is my great pleasure and honour to take part in this event and to deliver my remarks about such important task as rebuilding Ukraine.

I am grateful to the organisers – Aspen Institute Romania – for the invitation and for the strong advocacy in promoting the vision of just peace and co-operation, democracy and shared values, sustainable development.

Dear friends,

There are few key points that I would like to offer for your consideration within the time limit set by the moderator.

First. We are approaching the mark of 3 years since Russia launched its war of aggression against Ukraine on 24 February 2022. Today is day 1084. Russia’s brutal aggression continues every day causing more victims and destruction. In the night and early morning hours of today, Ukraine was attacked by 19 cruise and ballistic missiles and 124 attack drones, targeting civilian, energy and specifically gas extraction and supply infrastructure.

In 2024 the Defence Forces of Ukraine shot down 1310 cruise and ballistic missiles and nearly 8000 Iranian Shahed attack drones.

I am giving these figures to demonstrate that when we engage in discussion about reconstruction of Ukraine, it is absolutely essential to bear in mind the critical necessity of timely supplying Ukraine with capabilities to defend its people, the functioning part of the economy, infrastructure and civilian facilities. On top of the priorities list are air-defence systems, particularly advanced systems like Patriot and SAMP/T, and long-range strike capabilities.

Second. Russia’s war of aggression has already inflicted huge losses and destruction on Ukraine. The task of reconstruction of Ukraine will be an ambitious business undertaking not seen in Europe since WW2.

Let me quote few figures: in February 2024 the damages from russia’s aggression against Ukraine were estimated at 486 bln. US dollars by the WB, IMF, the European Commission and the Government of Ukraine.

A year earlier, in February 2023 such damages were estimated at 411 bln. US dollars.

We do not yet have a figure that would reflect the damages in the course of 2024, but definitely the figure rose significantly, as Russia continued its massive terror by targeting missiles and attack drones at civilian and critical infrastructure across the country.

In particular, let me point out that in the course of 2024 the Russian forces have destroyed nearly 10 GW of generation capacity in Ukraine. Is it a lot, you may ask? It is equivalent to the peak winter energy consumption of some European countries, including Romania or the Netherlands. In Ukraine in the winter of 2023-24 we had the peak energy consumption of 18 GW.

It is highly important that the international partners of Ukraine stay committed to the reconstruction goals that encompass various areas: infrastructure, economy, social and humanitarian spheres. The sources of funding are foreseen as coming from individual governments and multilateral donor institutions, as well as from private actors.

What is necessary is to make Russia pay for the horrific damages it had inflicted. We are grateful to the EU for the first 3 bln EUR from G7 loan based on Russian frozen assets. Further steps are needed.

Ukraine’s firm view is that Russia’s frozen assets must be confiscated and directed towards assisting Ukraine as the victim of Russia’s aggression. It will be fair in moral terms and fully consistent with international law.

In Ukraine, the process of “quick” restoration has already begun. It focuses mainly on rebuilding critical energy and transport objects, residential and humanitarian infrastructure. As you may see in the table on the screen, Ukraine has already rebuilt from 2 up to 30 percent of the destroyed or damaged facilities, most of them in the center and north of the country.

Third. One specific aspect relating to reconstruction and recovery of Ukraine is the task of demining the territory of the country. Unfortunately, currently Ukraine is one of the most mined countries: nearly 139 000 sq. km or about 25% of the country's total area, remain potentially contaminated with Russian mines.

The President and Government of Ukraine have set an ambitious goal - to make Ukraine mine-free by 2033.

Ukraine’s losses due to mines and other explosive devices amount to 11,2 bln USD annually. The World Bank estimates that the full range of humanitarian demining works will cost approximately 37 bln USD, but these costs would be recovered within 3,5 years.

We are building a long-term international coalition for mine clearance in Ukraine. Over 50 partner countries have already joined the demining coalition.

Dear friends,

In the past three years Ukraine and Ukrainian have shown remarkable courage and resilience in defending the freedom and democracy of Ukraine and Europe. We fight for restoration of just and lasting peace, based on respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and international law.

It is extremely important to stay united in supporting Ukraine as we continue to explore further practical ways of making successful reconstruction of Ukraine with the motto: Build back better.

Thank you for your attention.