The Ukraine Recovery Conference held in Gdańsk on 25–26 June became one of the most important international gatherings devoted to Ukraine’s reconstruction since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine, the event brought together government representatives, international financial institutions, business leaders, local authorities and civil society organisations to discuss not only how to rebuild what has been destroyed, but also how to shape Ukraine’s long-term economic, social and institutional future.
The choice of Gdańsk was highly symbolic. A city rebuilt after wartime destruction and known as the birthplace of the Solidarity movement, Gdańsk offered a powerful backdrop for discussions about resilience, freedom and reconstruction. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk underlined this symbolism in his opening remarks, presenting Gdańsk as an example of a city that was not only physically rebuilt, but also restored as a civic and democratic community. This message framed the conference: Ukraine’s recovery is not merely a technical or financial challenge, but a civilisational project linked to Europe’s future.
The conference produced concrete results. Ukrainian Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko, who led the Ukrainian delegation, announced that more than 160 agreements worth over €10 billion had been signed or prepared during the event. These agreements covered areas such as energy, infrastructure, transport, housing, investment, defence cooperation and support for Ukrainian businesses. The scale of the commitments showed that Ukraine’s reconstruction is increasingly moving from declarations of solidarity toward practical mechanisms, financial instruments and investment-ready projects.
A central theme of the Gdańsk conference was the need to mobilise private capital. Public funding remains essential, especially while the war continues, but speakers repeatedly stressed that Ukraine’s recovery cannot be financed by governments alone. This is why risk-sharing tools, political and war-risk insurance, guarantees and blended finance were among the most important topics discussed. A notable development was the agreement between the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and the World Bank’s MIGA to create a political risk insurance framework for investments linked to Ukraine’s reconstruction. Such mechanisms are designed to give investors greater confidence in operating in a country still facing direct military threats.
The European Union also used the Gdańsk conference to underline its long-term commitment to Ukraine. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the transfer of the first €3.2 billion tranche under a wider €90 billion support loan. The money is intended to help Ukraine maintain financial stability, strengthen resilience and support defence and recovery needs. The announcement reinforced the message that Ukraine’s reconstruction is inseparable from its European path. Recovery, reforms and EU integration were treated not as separate processes, but as parts of the same strategic transformation.
Another important feature of this year’s conference was the stronger emphasis on security and defence. Poland proposed adding a new Security and Defence dimension to the Ukraine Recovery Conference format, reflecting the reality that reconstruction cannot be separated from protection. Ukraine’s energy grid, transport infrastructure, cities and industrial capacity remain targets of Russian attacks. For that reason, rebuilding Ukraine also means strengthening its ability to defend itself, secure critical infrastructure and develop closer defence-industrial cooperation with European partners.
The local and regional dimension was also strongly present. Mayors, regional leaders and municipal representatives argued that Ukrainian communities have been at the heart of the country’s resilience since the first days of the invasion. Local authorities are responsible for many essential services: heating, electricity, housing, transport, schools, hospitals and emergency support. The Gdańsk discussions therefore highlighted the importance of decentralisation, city-to-city partnerships and direct cooperation between Ukrainian municipalities and their European counterparts. Reconstruction will happen not only in Kyiv or through national ministries, but in thousands of communities across the country.
The conference was not free from political tension. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not attend, amid a difficult moment in Polish-Ukrainian relations linked to historical disputes. Yet the fact that the conference went ahead with strong Ukrainian, Polish, European and international participation showed that strategic cooperation remains stronger than bilateral disagreements. The war has made clear that Poland and Ukraine are bound by security, geography, economics and shared European interests.
The Gdańsk conference therefore marked a transition in the international approach to Ukraine’s recovery. The discussion is no longer only about emergency aid or post-war reconstruction in some distant future. It is about rebuilding while the war is still ongoing, protecting infrastructure while it is being repaired, creating jobs while millions of Ukrainians remain displaced, and attracting investment despite enormous risks.
Ukraine’s reconstruction will require many years, vast financial resources and difficult reforms. But the Gdańsk conference demonstrated that the architecture of recovery is gradually taking shape. It will combine European integration, private investment, local partnerships, security cooperation and institutional reform. Above all, it confirmed that Ukraine’s recovery is not only a Ukrainian task. It is a European responsibility and a test of whether solidarity can be turned into lasting development.
