Zelenskyy: Coalition for Ukraine’s recovery, use of frozen russian assets essential

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for the creation of a new international coalition to help rebuild Ukraine, urging allies to channel frozen russian assets directly into recovery efforts. His speech came at the opening of the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC2025), a two-day summit in Rome attended by government officials from Ukraine’s partner nations, international organizations, financial institutions, business leaders, regional authorities, and civil society representatives.

“We now need to build a coalition for recovery,” Zelenskyy said in his address. “Let this conference in Rome [ed.] be the moment we start it. We know what russia has destroyed and we know what it will take to rebuild Ukraine, the Ukrainian people, and our lives. A systematic approach is needed – a coalition with clear leadership. Countries and companies that can lead and bring others with them. And we also need a clear recovery plan.”

The president compared the envisioned effort to the Marshall Plan, which spurred Europe’s post-World War II recovery and long-term stability. “Think of the role the Marshall Plan played in rebuilding and transforming Europe. That’s why Europe has enjoyed peace and economic growth for so many decades,” he said.

Zelenskyy continued: “I ask you to support the recovery coalition and help define specific financing mechanisms. We must clearly agree that frozen russian assets should go towards Ukraine’s recovery. Not only the income from the assets but assets themselves must be used and much more actively than they are now, to help save lives.”

The head of state stressed that only true partners would be welcome in Ukraine’s joint recovery efforts, underscoring that Kyiv would not accept cooperation from those supporting or enabling russia’s war.

“Only friends are invited to be a part of Ukraine’s economic and technological recovery,” he stressed.

According to the president, more than 200 agreements are expected to be signed during the Rome conference, totaling over 10 billion euros in commitments.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to Ukraine’s partners for their continued support, emphasizing their attention to the country, the needs of its people, and the shared responsibility to do everything necessary to protect human lives. He also thanked them for backing the aviation coalition, which has enabled Ukraine to rapidly advance its modern air capabilities, and for their assistance in helping the country endure the winter amid full-scale war.

He also noted that russia had timed its attacks to coincide with the conference, launching over 400 russian-Iranian-made Shahed drones, significantly enhanced to evade air defenses and maximize destruction, most of them targeting Kyiv, on the eve of the summit.

The President continued: “This is exactly what putin wants, for our people to suffer, to flee Ukraine, and for home schools, life itself, to be destroyed everywhere, not just near the front lines. Remember, just a year ago, many people thought russia wanted real peace, real talks, and a ceasefire. Moscow was sending those signals, and it was all part of their propaganda, trying to say that Ukraine didn’t want peace. But we said back then that there must be pressure on russia, because it was not preparing for peace. And now everyone sees that putin has rejected every peace proposal and is escalating the violence.”

Zelenskyy concluded by urging continued pressure on russia and swift action on reconstruction as a path toward a just and lasting peace.

Read more: https://mediacenter.org.ua/news