The third edition of the Conference on the Reconstruction of Ukraine was opened in the German capital by Chancellor Olaf Scholz. He was followed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The main objective of this year’s meeting was to bring together actors from the private sector, civil society and local organisations involved in the reconstruction of the country, which is now in its third year of resisting Russian aggression. Participants included political leaders, representatives of private companies and NGOs and international organisations from more than 60 countries and the European Union.

“At this moment, Czech support is mainly focused on projects aimed at electricity generation, water treatment and the construction of primary healthcare infrastructure,” said Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský in his speech. He added that Czechia had taken over the patronage of the reconstruction of the Dnipropetrovsk region in the south-east of the country. To keep investments and reconstruction projects safe from Russian missile and drone attacks, allies must strengthen Ukraine’s air defences, according to Minister Lipavský.

On the sidelines of the official programme, Minister Lipavský met with Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister for European and North Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna. He discussed with her Czech support for Ukraine and Ukraine’s future prospects in the European Union and the North Atlantic Alliance.

The head of Czech diplomacy also held talks with Anton Hofreiter, a member of the German Bundestag, and with representatives of Czech companies involved in the reconstruction of areas in Ukraine affected by the Russian war of aggression.

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