PR_MCURC 2025: Highlights and Results
📍On July 10–11, 2025, one of the largest events in the field of international cooperation and partnership took place in Rome — the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC). The forum brought together representatives from over 100 countries, including heads of state, members of parliament, civil society organizations, business communities, municipalities, financial institutions, and experts in national cooperation. It provided a platform for shaping a forward-looking plan to strengthen the potential of Ukrainian society. The conference focused on Ukraine’s recovery, particularly on identifying effective approaches to rebuilding the system of public administration.
URC 2025 became part of the annual cycle of high-level political events dedicated to the reintegration and reconstruction of Ukraine amid the brutal hybrid war with Russia. It was grounded in the principles of the inaugural Ukraine Recovery Conference held in Lugano, which endorsed a “whole-of-society” approach to strengthening national resilience through open and substantive dialogue among a broad range of stakeholders.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy opened the forum in Rome against the backdrop of yet another massive missile and drone attack by Moscow on the Ukrainian capital — one of the most intense since the full-scale war began more than three years ago.
The main goal of URC 2025 was to showcase Ukraine’s latest achievements in implementing an integrated reform agenda, particularly in areas related to the country’s economic resilience and capacity.
The conference placed a strong emphasis on securing resources for emergency assistance to meet the urgent needs of citizens, implementing comprehensive recovery programs, and fostering a favorable business environment that would serve as a universal platform for attracting private sector investment. It also focused on boosting mechanisms for international support and financing, encouraging the active involvement of local communities and civil society actors in Ukraine’s reconstruction. In addition, URC 2025 aimed to strengthen its partnership with the Ukraine Donor Coordination Platform and its Business Advisory Council to ensure productive future cooperation.
🎯 URC 2025 was structured around four thematic pillars — the so-called “Berlin Dimensions” — which form the reinforced socio-economic framework supporting the entire state structure:
- Business Dimension – Mobilizing the private sector for reconstruction and economic growth
- Human Dimension – Social recovery and human capital for Ukraine’s future
- Local and Regional Dimension – Recovery of communities and regions
- EU Dimension – EU accession and related reforms
“URC 2025 became a platform for presenting concrete recovery results, ensuring effective investment management, launching new public-private partnership tools, and strengthening trust in Ukraine as a reliable partner. We received a clear message from Ukraine’s friends and partners: they are ready to invest in our recovery. A testament to this is the initiative to establish the ‘Recovery Coalition,’ the European Flagship Fund for Ukraine’s Reconstruction, as well as the signing of a number of specific agreements, memorandums, and joint declarations totaling over €3.5 billion.”
🔴 Following the URC 2025, the total volume of financial support pledged by the partner coalition exceeded €10 billion. More than 200 bilateral international agreements, memorandums, and declarations were signed, covering strategically important areas such as the economy, energy, infrastructure, education, defense, and social protection. Additionally, around 20 interregional and intermunicipal partnerships were established between Ukrainian communities and international cities or regions.
- The Ministry of Finance of Ukraine secured €1 billion under the G7 Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) initiative, which envisions €50 billion in support for Ukraine using proceeds from frozen Russian assets.
- The European Commission announced a proposal for a fourth tranche under the Ukraine Facility — the Ukraine Plan — expected in August, amounting to up to €3.05 billion.
- Ukraine and Italy signed a Memorandum of Understanding granting Ukraine access to specific Italian financial mechanisms. The document includes up to €1.5 billion in export credit insurance coverage (up to 100%), opportunities for blended financing of community-level projects, and facilitation of procurement of Italian goods and services for Ukraine’s recovery.
- A Framework Loan Agreement was signed between Ukraine and the Council of Europe Development Bank for €100 million, to fund the housing certificate compensation scheme under the eVidnovlennia program (the HOME: Compensation for Destroyed Housing project).
- A Financial Agreement between Ukraine and the European Investment Bank (EIB) was signed for €134 million to support the Transport Network Recovery Project, aimed at restoring critical infrastructure, especially facilities ensuring access to essential medical, humanitarian, and administrative services.
- The French Development Agency (AFD) allocated €5 million to Lviv for reconstruction of part of Mykolaychuk Street near the UNBROKEN center and preparatory works for a future tram line.
- Ukraine and Switzerland signed an agreement on long-term cooperation for rapid recovery of critical infrastructure, providing CHF 5 billion (approx.) in non-repayable financial aid by 2036.
- Grant agreements between Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia) and the EBRD totaling €54 million, supported by the EU, will support accessibility measures at railway enterprises, veteran reintegration, and development of internal power generation capacity.
Additionally, under the Road Sector Pipeline Development Initiative, the EBRD launched several projects totaling €300,000 to restore damaged roads. - Ukraine and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) signed a grant agreement for $50 million under the ARISE Project to support small farms affected by Russian aggression.
- The Ministry for Restoration, the Recovery Agency, and NPLUS SRL (Italy) signed a memorandum to pilot a bridge monitoring project (towards Boryspil) with a proposed investment of approximately €2 million.
- UkSATSE (Ukrainian State Air Traffic Services Enterprise) and Leonardo S.p.A. and ENAV S.p.A. (Republic of Italy) signed a Memorandum on the implementation of the UARRP — Ukraine Airspace Restoration Roadmap.
They also concluded two agreements for the donation of five primary radar systems and related equipment to restore UkSATSE’s basic surveillance infrastructure, with potential funding of €7 million. - The European Investment Bank Group (EIB) and the European Commission announced a new €600 million support package for Ukraine. Most funding will be provided as EIB loans under EU guarantees and will target the restoration of critical energy and transport infrastructure, SME recovery, and private sector development.
- Finland unveiled an updated partnership program with Ukraine for 2025–2028, which includes at least €320 million in humanitarian aid, modernization, and development assistance.
- The EIB and Germany agreed to support Ukrainian regions economically dependent on coal under the JTR-U component of the IKI Fund, with the German government allocating an additional €19.6 million.
- Ukraine and the EU signed financial agreements worth €2.3 billion under the Ukraine Investment Framework, a component of the Ukraine Facility program. This includes €1.8 billion in credit guarantees and €580 million in grants and blended financing to support the recovery of key economic sectors.
- The European Investment Bank (EIB), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and European Commission (EC) announced the launch of the Ukraine FIRST (Ukraine Facility for Infrastructure Reconstruction) fund — a new €30 million program aimed at preparing infrastructure projects.
In addition, the EIB announced the expansion of its grant programs to enhance energy resilience in communities, with total funding of approximately €40 million. - The Government of Ukraine and representatives of the World Bank signed an agreement to launch PREPARE Ukraine, a five-year, $200 million program for preparing public and municipal reconstruction projects aligned with international investor standards.
An initial grant of $44.3 million from the Ukraine Relief, Recovery, Reconstruction and Reform Trust Fund (URTF) will be used to build a portfolio of public investments and strengthen institutional capacity under the leadership of the Public-Private Partnership Agency (PPP Agency) and the Ministry of Economy. - The European Commission announced the creation of a European Flagship Fund for Ukraine’s Reconstruction with an initial capital of €220 million, aiming to mobilize €500 million by 2026 for investments across sectors such as energy, infrastructure, digital transformation, industry, and dual-use goods manufacturing.
- France launched a €200 million fund to finance projects in Ukraine focused on reconstruction and integration with the European market.
- A Grant Agreement was signed between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the Italian Republic for €32.5 million under the program “Restoration and Preservation of the Cultural Heritage of the Odesa Region.”
- The Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine, the Recovery Agency, and the Polish Industrial Development Agency signed a Memorandum on potential joint projects worth €200 million. These projects include the development and repair of the Yahodyn border crossing point and the repair of two roads: the Lviv bypass and the Krakivets–Lviv–Shehyni road.
- The Ministry of Economy of Ukraine and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) signed an agreement for the implementation of a €188 million project aimed at technology transfer and the creation of joint production facilities with Japanese companies.
- The Ministries of Economy of Ukraine and Germany (BMZ), the European Commission, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway, and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) signed a five-party declaration launching a new phase of the Step in 2 EU program, aimed at supporting Ukraine’s economic development. The initiative provides an additional €25 million in funding and is a continuation of the EU4Business and ReACT4UA programs. Its goal is to practically prepare Ukrainian businesses for integration into the European market.
- Ukraine’s Ministry of Economy and three key Italian financial institutions – CDP, SACE, and SIMEST – signed a Memorandum on attracting export credit financing in the fields of industry, energy, transport, and construction.
- Ukraine and Italy concluded two major agreements to support the agricultural sector of the Odesa region. The first concerns the launch of the Pro.UKR project aimed at developing cooperatives and modernizing farming equipment. The second involves the restoration of irrigation systems in Tatarbunary and Kiliia to improve crop yields and climate resilience.
- The Entrepreneurship Development Fund and the German development bank KfW signed a €40.5 million grant agreement to support Ukrainian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
- The Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority (USPA) and the Ukrainian Reconstruction Consortium signed a Memorandum on the development of port infrastructure. The agreement provides for the involvement of European companies in reconstruction, integration into the TEN-T transport network, and the introduction of innovative, smart, and environmentally friendly technologies.
- Ukraine and Belgium signed a Letter of Intent on a €5 million investment between the company BIO Invest and Bank Lviv to support Ukrainian SMEs.
- U.S. company White Star Real Estate is launching a new investment project worth €200 million in the Bucha community to create an industrial and logistics hub covering 41 hectares within the Bucha Techno Garden.
- Vodafone Ukraine, Nokia, and the Finnish agency Finnvera signed a Memorandum on the modernization of telecommunications channels, with planned investments of up to €30 million to expand 4G and GPON coverage and enhance network resilience.
- The Ministry of Economy, the National Bank of Ukraine, and the EBRD signed a Memorandum to create a new platform for supporting women entrepreneurs. The initiative aims to expand access to financing, overcome gender barriers in lending, and align Ukraine with the international WE Finance Code.
- The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), together with the Government of Norway, announced the launch of a $200 million initiative for the “green” recovery of Ukraine’s energy sector.
- The Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine (GTSOU) and the Italian company Snam S.p.A. signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to strengthen Europe’s energy security. The agreement includes the assessment of LNG and pipeline gas transportation capabilities and the development of a platform for the transmission of renewable gases, including biomethane and hydrogen.
- Westinghouse Electric and the National Nuclear Energy Generating Company “Energoatom” signed agreements to launch the production of nuclear fuel components in Ukraine, compatible with Westinghouse technologies.
- The Energy Community Secretariat and Ukrenergo signed a Memorandum on the development of a risk-reduction mechanism for participants in ancillary services auctions. The goal is to encourage investment in the resilience and decentralization of Ukraine’s energy system.
- Norway officially announced a €42 million contribution to the Energy Support Fund, which will be allocated for the restoration and protection of energy infrastructure.
- The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is mobilizing €300 million to support Ukraine’s energy sector. The funds will be used to restore damaged energy facilities, modernize infrastructure, and develop decentralized energy generation.
- Amendment No. 3 to the Grant Agreement between Ukraine, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), and the International Development Association (IDA) under the “RePower” project has been published. The amendment involves launching new projects to restore electricity and heat supply for social and critical infrastructure in seven cities severely damaged by the aggressive actions of the invading country: Mykolaiv, Kryvyi Rih, Kremenchuk, Slavuta, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, and Sumy.
- Grant and loan agreements totaling €29 million have been signed for the implementation of the second phase of the wastewater treatment facilities reconstruction project in Lviv. Of this amount, €22.2 million is non-repayable assistance from international partners.
🟧 Medicine and Healthcare
- An agreement was reached to create a special financial mechanism to support priority projects of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.
- The European Union, the Belgian development agency Enabel, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Ministry of Health of Ukraine agreed to launch a new joint project titled “Healthier Ukraine.” The initiative has a budget of €11.5 million and aims to support the rapid recovery and long-term transformation of Ukraine’s healthcare system. Additionally, the Belgian side expressed readiness to provide Ukraine with 212 generators for schools, kindergartens, and municipal enterprises, as well as 40 mobile and 14 modular boiler houses for municipal utilities in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, and Sumy regions. The total amount of technical assistance from Belgium is expected to reach €150 million.
- The Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Netherlands announced grant funding of €35 million for the construction of a municipal hospital in Zhytomyr.
- The Lviv City Council and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania signed a Memorandum on a new phase of cooperation within the development of the UNBROKEN Rehabilitation Center in Bryukhovychi. €620,000 will be allocated for the project.
- The Government of Italy announced €30 million in concessional financing for the construction of a new regional children’s hospital in Odesa Oblast.
- The Italian Steering Committee approved a €30 million loan for the reconstruction of the Odesa Children’s Hospital and €2.5 million in technical assistance for the purchase of medical equipment.
- A Joint Statement was signed between the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) expressing intentions to deepen cooperation in the healthcare sector.
- An investment agreement was signed for the localization of pharmaceutical and biotechnological production in Ukraine.
- Ukraine and the French company Ellipse Projects SAS signed a Memorandum of Cooperation for the restoration, modernization, and development of medical infrastructure.
- Finland announced plans to assist Ukraine in constructing 10,000 civil protection shelters.
🟧 Education, Training, and Youth
- Ukraine and Switzerland signed a Memorandum launching the second phase of the “Decentralization for the Development of Democratic Education” (DECIDE) project, with total funding of approximately €20 million. The project focuses on implementing education reform at the local level and actively engaging youth in community development processes.
- Lithuania allocated €21 million for projects aimed at restoring educational infrastructure, improving the quality of education, and modernizing educational services for children and youth in Ukraine.
- Ukraine and Lithuania signed a Memorandum to expand the “Create Ukraine” program. With a total budget of €1 million, the program is designed to encourage talented young people to return from abroad and take up work in Ukrainian public institutions.
- As part of the First Steps Forward initiative, a Global Alliance to support early childhood education in Ukraine has been established. Over 20 international partners have joined the project, including the World Bank, which made an initial contribution of $30 million.
- A International Coalition for the Support of Science, Research, and Innovation in Ukraine has been announced. The participants signed the Rome Declaration, which provides for the coordination of international efforts to strengthen and develop Ukraine’s scientific system.
🟧 European Integration, and the Enrichment of Cultural and Social Capital
- The European Union is providing an additional €2 million in funding under the Creative Europe program to support Ukrainian artists and cultural organizations/institutions. This assistance is part of the broader Team Europe initiative aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s cultural sector and supporting its European integration.
- Ukraine and Belgium signed a Memorandum of Cooperation within the BE-Relieve Ukraine program, aimed at modernizing the labor market and increasing employment opportunities, especially for youth. The initiative will introduce European best practices in partnership with the Belgian development agency Enabel.
- Ukraine and the EU announced a grant competition worth €1.5 million under the Ukraine2EU initiative to engage civil society representatives in the European integration process. Project concept submissions are open until September 1, 2025.
- The Charter on Human Capital Resilience has been adopted — a joint initiative by the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, the Ministry for Veterans Affairs, the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU), and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The document is designed to support veterans, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and workers during martial law, promote inclusive labor market policies, and foster modern HR standards. It will serve as a key tool for helping businesses adapt to new challenges and strengthening human capital as a core pillar of Ukraine’s successful recovery.
- Ukraine signed a loan agreement with the United Kingdom totaling nearly £1.7 billion (approximately $2.3 billion) to implement a project aimed at strengthening the country’s air defense system. The financing is provided under UK Export Finance (UKEF) guarantees for a period of 19 years, including a 6.5-year grace period.
- As part of international military support, Germany will purchase two Patriot air defense systems from the United States and transfer them to Ukraine, while Norway will provide an additional system.
- Ukraine and the European Union are launching the BraveTech EU initiative with a total budget of €100 million. The program will support defense startups, host technology hackathons, and develop innovative game-changers to enhance Ukraine’s defense capabilities. This marks the first large-scale tech alliance between Ukraine and the EU.
- By the end of 2025, Norway plans to allocate over UAH 100 million to projects aimed at enhancing the cyber resilience of Ukraine’s civil and critical infrastructure.
Special attention should be given to the initiatives proposed by representatives of Ukrainian communities and regional administrations, particularly members of the Mayors’ Club, who successfully concluded a series of partnership agreements with European companies, regions, and organizations. These agreements lay the groundwork for further investment engagement. The total value of the signed documents and arrangements at the local level amounts to nearly $200 million.
🟠 Artsyz Community – Artsyz Mayor and member of the Mayors’ Club, Serhii Parpulanskyi, together with the Ukrainian Consortium for Reconstruction and TK MEGAWATT LLC, signed a grant agreement worth €200,000. The funds will be used to modernize the water supply system and install new boiler facilities.
🟠 Dobroslav Community – Dobroslav Settlement Head and member of the Mayors’ Club, Liudmyla Prokopechko, signed a €150,000 agreement with the same consortium to establish a network of modern drinking water access points.
🟠 Nizhyn Community – Nizhyn Mayor and member of the Mayors’ Club, Oleksandr Kodola, signed a cooperation agreement with Trapani, Italy, as well as additional agreements aimed at strengthening critical infrastructure, primarily water supply facilities.
🟠 Novhorod-Siverskyi Community – Novhorod-Siverskyi Mayor and member of the Mayors’ Club, Liudmyla Tkachenko, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy.
🟠 Bila Tserkva – A general contractor agreement was signed between the management company of the Bila Tserkva Industrial Park (Astrobild LLC) and Gualapack Ukraine LLC (60% owned by Italy’s Gualapack Group) for the construction of the first phase of a new plant. The investment totals €13 million, including site preparation and utility infrastructure.
🟠 Kropyvnytskyi – The City Council and the Italian company 3TI Progetti Italia Ingegneria Integrata S.p.A. signed a Memorandum for the reconstruction of the municipal children’s hospital. The project envisions the creation of an energy-efficient, inclusive medical facility with a barrier-free environment. The estimated cost is €5.2 million.
🟠 Odesa Region – The Odesa Regional Military Administration and the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region (Italy) signed an interterritorial partnership agreement. Funding of €200,000 will be directed toward civil protection projects.
URC 2025 vividly demonstrated that Ukraine’s recovery is not only about strategic plans for the future, but also about concrete actions supported by partnership agreements, real investments, and the results of large-scale international mobilization. It is all about shaping a new Ukraine — European, resilient, secure, innovative, and socially just.
Today, the EU reaffirms its role as Ukraine’s strongest partner — not only as its largest donor, but as a key investor in its future. We have signed agreements worth €2.3 billion to unlock up to €10 billion in investments for rebuilding housing, opening hospitals, restoring businesses, and strengthening energy security. This is solidarity in action. Every day, Ukraine is coming closer to the EU — in energy, education, roaming, and culture. Europe stands with Ukraine — today and in the future
I believe we should be proud of the results we have achieved together today — countries, international organizations, financial institutions, local authorities, businesses, and civil society