Gdańsk will become one of the most important diplomatic and economic meeting points in Europe this week as Poland and Ukraine co-host the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026. The two-day event, scheduled for June 25–26, is expected to bring together government leaders, international institutions, investors, local authorities, businesses and civil society organisations to discuss the future reconstruction of Ukraine.
The conference comes at a crucial moment. More than four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion, Ukraine’s recovery is no longer seen only as a post-war task. It has become part of the country’s current struggle for survival, resilience and European integration. Rebuilding energy systems, restoring damaged infrastructure, supporting local communities and attracting private investment are now directly linked to Ukraine’s ability to resist Russian aggression and maintain the functioning of the state.
This year’s conference will focus on several of the sectors most heavily affected by the war, including energy, critical infrastructure and logistics. A major emphasis will also be placed on security and defence, reflecting Poland’s view that Ukraine’s reconstruction cannot be separated from its ability to defend itself. In this sense, Gdańsk will host not only a recovery forum, but also a debate about the long-term security architecture of Europe.
The business dimension of the conference is expected to be particularly important. Ukraine needs not only emergency aid, but also investment, insurance mechanisms, public-private partnerships and bankable reconstruction projects. For international companies, including Polish firms, Ukraine’s recovery may become one of the largest economic undertakings in Europe in the coming decades. For Kyiv, however, the key challenge is to ensure that investment supports a modern, transparent and EU-oriented economy.
Local and regional reconstruction will also be high on the agenda. Ukrainian municipalities have been at the frontline of the war’s consequences, dealing with destroyed housing, damaged public services, displaced people and pressure on local budgets. The conference is expected to strengthen cooperation between Ukrainian communities and their international partners, including Polish local governments, which can share their experience of decentralisation, EU-funded development and institutional transformation.
The human dimension of recovery will be equally significant. Ukraine faces enormous social challenges: the reintegration of veterans, support for internally displaced people, mental health care, rehabilitation, education and the rebuilding of human capital. Reconstruction will therefore not be limited to roads, bridges and power plants. It will also require rebuilding trust, social cohesion and a sense of future among Ukrainian citizens.
The Gdańsk conference will also take place against the backdrop of political tensions between Warsaw and Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is not expected to attend, with Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko leading the Ukrainian delegation instead. The decision follows a diplomatic dispute over historical memory, but both sides appear aware that the strategic importance of cooperation is too great to be overshadowed by political disagreements.
For Poland, hosting the conference is both a diplomatic opportunity and a responsibility. Poland has been one of Ukraine’s most important partners since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, providing military, humanitarian and logistical support, while also serving as a crucial gateway for Western assistance. By hosting the recovery conference in Gdańsk, Poland is positioning itself as a central actor in Ukraine’s future reconstruction.
The choice of Gdańsk also carries symbolic weight. The city is strongly associated with freedom, solidarity and the struggle against authoritarianism. Holding the conference there underlines the broader meaning of Ukraine’s recovery: it is not only about rebuilding a country devastated by war, but also about defending the political and moral foundations of democratic Europe.
The success of the conference will ultimately depend on whether declarations are transformed into concrete agreements, investments and long-term commitments. Ukraine does not need sympathy alone. It needs functioning mechanisms, financial tools, political guarantees and partnerships capable of lasting for years.
In Gdańsk, the reconstruction of Ukraine will be discussed not as a distant future scenario, but as an urgent European project. Its outcome will shape not only Ukraine’s post-war recovery, but also the future security, economy and political unity of the continent.
