Italy Hosts Key Conference to Rebuild War-Torn Ukraine

Rome, Jul 10 (AP) Italy is taking center stage in hosting the fourth annual conference dedicated to the rebuilding of Ukraine, amid intensified assaults by Russia. The event is attracting a mix of political and business leaders to Rome with the aim of fostering public-private initiatives in key sectors like defense, mining, and energy. This takes place at a time when the United States’ commitment to supporting Kyiv's defense is in doubt.

The conference, inaugurated by Premier Giorgia Meloni and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, comes as Russia ramped up its offensive, launching a record number of drones across 10 Ukrainian regions in the past week. Italian organizers reported that 100 official delegations and 40 international organizations, in addition to development banks, are in attendance. Furthermore, the event has attracted 2,000 representatives from businesses, civil society, and local Ukrainian governments who are set to participate in a trade fair at Rome's unique "Cloud" conference center in the historic Fascist-era EUR neighborhood.

The main goal is pairing international investors with Ukrainians to build partnerships aimed not only at reconstructing the country but also modernizing it to meet the criteria for European Union membership. A significant step was announced on the eve of the meeting: Italy's justice ministry is set to sign a memorandum focusing on penitentiary cooperation with Kyiv, and the foreign ministry has committed to constructing a new pavilion for the Odesa children's hospital with a 30-million-euro credit line for medical equipment.

Eleonora Tafuro Ambrosetti of the ISPI remarked on the timing, saying, "It might seem odd to discuss reconstruction during an ongoing war with almost daily attacks against civilians, but it's indeed a pressing matter." This marks the fourth such recovery conference, following past events in Lugano (2022) and London (2023), with the previous Berlin event laying down four crucial areas of focus: business, human capital, regional issues, and reforms necessary for EU accession.

Alexander Temerko, a Ukrainian-British businessman, noted that the Rome conference diverged from past conferences by addressing explicit industrial concerns and projects, especially in the energy, mining, metallurgy, infrastructure, and transport sectors. Workshops on de-risking investment and panels on essential Ukrainian industries such as rare earth minerals and pharmaceuticals are part of the agenda.

Kurt Volker, the ex-special envoy for Ukraine negotiations, indicated that the conference's success could be cemented if Meloni advocates for a coordinating entity ensuring "focused political leadership" for Ukraine's recovery. He anticipated that a permanent ceasefire could propel Ukraine into double-digit economic growth, though the current focus on economic development remains insufficient.

In addition to Meloni and Zelenskyy, notable leaders including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and European Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen are expected in Rome. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron stays in Britain with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, with both participating via a videoconference of the "coalition of the willing," ready to send troops to Ukraine if a peace agreement with Russia emerges.

However, the coalition's effectiveness is tethered to the U.S. providing airpower or military support, which remains uncertain as the Trump administration has not pledged such support. Despite Trump's recent statement about potentially sending more weapons to Ukraine, recent halts in crucial U.S. military deliveries to Kyiv have incited doubts about this commitment.

Trump expressed his unhappiness with the Pentagon's pause on some deliveries, feeling it was not well-coordinated with the White House according to knowledgeable sources. AP GRS GRS

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