Ukraine, Azerbaijan discuss reconstruction cooperation at WUF13 in Baku

World Urban Forum has become an important platform for expanding cooperation between Ukraine and Azerbaijan on post-war reconstruction, infrastructure and humanitarian initiatives, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba said on the sidelines of the global gathering in Baku.

Speaking during the forum, Kuleba said the two countries are holding discussions on a wide range of restoration and development projects aimed at rebuilding areas damaged by war, including joint infrastructure initiatives in the city of Irpin.

“Today’s forum is the best example of our cooperation with Azerbaijan,” Kuleba said. “At WUF13, we are meeting with government representatives to discuss issues ranging from restoration and infrastructure to economic cooperation.”

Irpin reconstruction remains key focus

The Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister highlighted the restoration of Irpin as one of the central pillars of bilateral cooperation. The city, located near Kyiv, became one of the symbols of resistance and destruction during the early stages of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

According to Kuleba, Azerbaijan is currently assisting in the restoration of four symbolic sites in Irpin.

“We have joint projects in Irpin. Azerbaijan is helping restore four sites that are symbolic for Ukraine. We are very grateful to Azerbaijan for this support,” he said.

Since the outbreak of the war, Azerbaijan has provided humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and has participated in several reconstruction initiatives, particularly in areas heavily affected by fighting. Baku previously supported the rebuilding of social and educational facilities in Irpin, including infrastructure damaged during the conflict.

Technical talks and long-term cooperation

Kuleba noted that both sides are continuing technical consultations on the implementation of specific projects, expressing confidence that cooperation between Kyiv and Baku would deepen further.

“We are discussing implementation details at the technical level, and I am confident that this will be very fruitful cooperation for both Ukraine and Azerbaijan,” he said.

Beyond reconstruction, Kuleba also pointed to growing humanitarian cooperation between the two countries, including programmes aimed at the rehabilitation and support of Ukrainian children in Azerbaijan.

Reconstruction as an opportunity

Addressing Ukraine’s broader vision for post-war recovery, Kuleba stressed that Kyiv sees reconstruction not only as rebuilding what was destroyed, but also as a chance to modernise the country and create more resilient urban infrastructure.

“Today, we are not only talking about tragedy,” he said. “We view reconstruction as an opportunity to create new, more resilient infrastructure, and we are ready to share this experience with our partners.”

The World Urban Forum (WUF), hosted in Baku under the auspices of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, has brought together government officials, urban planners and international organisations to discuss sustainable urban development, housing and post-conflict reconstruction.

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News Ukraine Azerbaijan Reconstruction cooperation World Urban Forum WUF13 Baku