Italy will provide Ukraine with an aid package worth 140 million euros

Italy will provide Ukraine with an aid package worth 140 million euros

Italy has announced the allocation of 140 million euros to Ukraine for reconstruction, including railway infrastructure. Part of the funds will be used to reconstruct the destroyed Transfiguration Cathedral in Odesa, as well as for healthcare, agriculture and demining.

This was announced by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani during a speech at the Berlin Conference on the Restoration of Ukraine on June 11. Tajani also announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Italy and Ukraine, which will strengthen bilateral cooperation.

Restoring the railway infrastructure is one of the key areas of the investment package. The Ukrainian railway has suffered significant damage due to Russian aggression, making logistics, transportation of goods and passengers, and the evacuation of civilians from the war zone difficult. Italian financial assistance will help modernize railways, restore important routes and improve transport infrastructure, which will contribute to economic growth and stability in Ukraine.

Tajani also noted that Italy will provide Ukraine with a new package of military assistance, including air defense equipment. This includes the Samp-T system, a single European system capable of intercepting ballistic missiles. “I completely agree with Dmytro Kuleba when he says that the first strategy for the restoration of Ukraine is to protect its infrastructure with the help of various air defense systems,” Tajani added.

The Ukrainian Recovery Conference (URC2024) takes place in Berlin on June 11-12. The event was attended by the President of Ukraine VolodymyrZelenskyy, as well as other officials, including the Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yuliya Svyrydenko, who led the Ukrainian delegation. The conference was the third since the outbreak of full-scale war and focused on mobilizing the private sector for reconstruction and economic growth, social recovery, local community development and Ukraine’s integration into the EU.