Officials from over 60 countries and hundreds of major global companies are set to attend the second International Conference on Ukraine Reconstruction in London next week, as announced by the British government on Saturday.
The conference, scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, will be opened by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who will emphasize the importance of rebuilding Ukraine’s economy alongside its military strategy, according to a statement from Downing Street.
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine will deliver a speech via video, and non-governmental organizations will also participate in the conference, which focuses on reconstruction. This event marks the second conference held since the beginning of the war, following last year’s conference in Lugano, Switzerland.
Prominent political leaders expected to attend include European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna.
The immediate needs for Ukraine’s reconstruction have been estimated at $14 billion by the World Bank, with a projected cost of $441 billion for the country’s economic recovery, according to a recent study by international financial institutions, the United Nations, the European Union, and the Ukrainian government.
The challenge at this conference lies in mobilizing both the private sector and major financial institutions to support Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts. The United Kingdom intends to unveil initiatives in the technology and green energy sectors to facilitate collaboration between British and Ukrainian companies during the conference.