Italy is hosting the fourth annual international conference on Ukraine's reconstruction, as Russia ramps up its aerial and ground assaults on Ukraine. The event brings together political leaders, international organisations, and businesses to foster public-private partnerships in Rome.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy formally opened the conference on Thursday, as Russian forces launched a record number of drone attacks across ten Ukrainian regions earlier in the week.
Held at Rome’s modern 'Cloud' conference centre in the business district of EUR, the forum includes 100 official delegations, 40 international organisations and development banks, and more than 2,000 representatives from private industry, civil society, and local Ukrainian administrations. The goal is to connect international investors with Ukrainian partners to advance both immediate reconstruction and long-term reforms necessary for Ukraine’s integration into the European Union.
Italy has already pledged new aid initiatives. On the eve of the conference, the Italian Justice Ministry announced a memorandum of understanding with Kyiv on penitentiary cooperation, while the Foreign Ministry confirmed a €30 million credit line to construct a new pavilion for the Odesa children’s hospital and supply medical equipment.
Despite the ongoing war, organisers argue that planning for Ukraine’s reconstruction is not premature but an urgent necessity.
“It may seem counterintuitive to talk about rebuilding during active conflict, but it’s actually a pressing priority,” said Eleonora Tafuro Ambrosetti, a senior fellow at the Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI) in Rome.
Previous editions of the Ukraine recovery conference were held in Lugano (2022), London (2023), and Berlin (2024). The Berlin conference established four key pillars—business development, human capital, regional governance, and EU-related reforms—that remain central in Rome.
This year’s event distinguishes itself by focusing on specific sectors and actionable projects. Workshops and panels address issues such as risk mitigation for investors, and investment opportunities in Ukraine’s energy, mining, pharmaceutical, defence, and transport sectors. Ukrainian-British businessman and former Russian deputy defence minister Alexander Temerko noted that this hands-on approach makes the Rome conference unique among its predecessors.
Kurt Volker, former U.S. special envoy for Ukraine negotiations, said the success of the conference could depend on Italy’s leadership. He called for the creation of a coordinating body to maintain momentum and provide strategic oversight of recovery efforts.
“If there is a sustainable ceasefire, Ukraine could see double-digit economic growth, but high-level focus on economic development is still lacking,” he said.
Alongside Meloni and Zelenskyy, several European leaders are attending, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
French President Emmanuel Macron is absent, remaining in the UK for talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. However, both will join a virtual meeting of the so-called “coalition of the willing,” a group of countries open to sending peacekeeping forces to Ukraine if a future agreement with Russia is reached.
Retired U.S. Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, former special envoy under President Donald Trump, met with President Zelenskyy in Rome. The success of future peacekeeping or reconstruction efforts, analysts say, will hinge on U.S. military backing—particularly in airpower.
Although the Trump administration has not issued a formal commitment, the former president stated Monday that more weapons would be sent to Ukraine. This came just days after the U.S. paused key weapons deliveries, triggering frustration from Trump over what he viewed as poor coordination between The Pentagon and The White House.
With U.S. policy in flux, Europe’s leadership is stepping up its role in Ukraine’s recovery—even as the war continues to rage.
President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia have met in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in what many analysts ...
The governments of Malaysia and the United States signed a memorandum of understanding on strategic civil nuclear cooperation on the occasion of the w...
The agreement between Russia and Oman to mutually waive visas will come into force on 18th July, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement....
Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s state-owned renewable energy company, and Iberdrola, one of the world’s largest energy firms, have signed two major agreements...
President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia have met in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in what many analysts describe as a qualitatively new stage in the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process.
Italy has called for companies with ties to Russia to be excluded from Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts, arguing that those who helped fund Moscow’s war should not profit from rebuilding the country they helped destroy.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Thursday called for stronger sanctions against Russia to intensify pressure to end the war in Ukraine.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has survived a no-confidence vote in the European Parliament, overcoming accusations of secrecy and mismanagement by far-right lawmakers.
Australian researchers have pioneered a low-cost and scalable plasma-based method to produce ammonia gas directly from air, offering a green alternative to the traditional fossil fuel-dependent Haber-Bosch process.
A series of earthquakes have struck Guatemala on Tuesday afternoon, leading authorities to advise residents to evacuate from buildings as a precaution against possible aftershocks.
Archaeologists have uncovered a 3,500-year-old city in northern Peru that likely served as a key trade hub connecting ancient coastal, Andean, and Amazonian cultures.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged stronger sanctions and defence support for Ukraine as the EU's 18th sanctions package against Russia nears approval.
A deadly mass shooting early on Monday (7 July) in Philadelphia's Grays Ferry neighbourhood left three men dead and nine others wounded, including teenagers, as more than 100 shots were fired.
As pressure mounts over military spending and shifting defence priorities, top U.S. and South Korean generals have met in Seoul to reaffirm their alliance and address growing tensions surrounding cost-sharing and regional security.
At a major Beijing forum, President Xi Jinping highlighted the need to bridge cultural divides through dialogue, promoting a global network that supports peaceful coexistence and sustainable development amid worldwide uncertainty.
As Washington prepares to impose new tariffs, Japan has voiced concern over global trade tensions, urging stronger support for multilateral economic systems during ASEAN talks in Kuala Lumpur.
European Union member states have asked the European Commission to keep secret their national strategies for phasing out Russian oil and gas by the end of 2027.
Chinese and Russian foreign ministers met in Kuala Lumpur to discuss the Iranian nuclear program and regional security, emphasizing dialogue over force amid recent US and Israeli strikes on Iran.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment