Stenbock House, 27 May 2024 – Prime Minister Kaja Kallas has emphasized the urgent need to begin the reconstruction of Ukraine, as it provides hope to the Ukrainians who have been resisting Russia’s genocidal war for three years. She made these remarks at the “Investing and Rebuilding Ukraine’s Future” conference held today in Tallinn.
“Russia is deliberately targeting Ukraine’s economy and perspectives of the Ukrainian future. The direct damage in Ukraine has now reached nearly €140 billion,” Kallas stated. “It is our role and duty not only to continue but increase our support to Ukraine on all fronts,” she added.
Kallas highlighted Estonia’s ongoing contributions to Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts. “We have already started to carry out concrete reconstruction projects. In our focus region Zhytomyr, Estonia has built a kindergarten and contributed to rebuilding a bridge. We have partnered with the Olena Zelenska Foundation to build foster family homes for orphans,” she said. “Estonian reconstruction projects are locally visible and much appreciated. It is a model that we are eager to share with others.”
The prime minister also stressed the necessity for Russia to bear the costs of its actions. “It will ultimately need to be Russia who pays for the damages they caused,” Kallas asserted. “This is why we are working to use Russia’s frozen assets for Ukraine.”
Commending the resilience of the Ukrainian people, Kallas noted their progress in making significant reforms amidst the conflict, which has earned Ukraine candidate status for EU membership. “Estonia has been assisting Ukraine on its path towards the European Union and we will continue to provide assistance with implementing reforms,” she said. According to Kallas, these reforms will also bolster Ukraine’s economy and enhance its attractiveness to investors.
The estimated cost for Ukraine’s reconstruction over the next decade exceeds €450 billion. Estonia has pledged more than €1.2 billion to support Ukraine from February 2022 until 2027, with €900 million allocated for military assistance and €316 million for civilian aid.
