Translated using ChatGPT service.
Support for Ukraine remains a priority for Latvia, and assistance in Ukraine's reconstruction is a crucial element in its fight for victory in the war. It is important to consider that the current urgent support for Ukraine's reconstruction will determine the future course of this country's recovery. Therefore, it is essential not to separate the provision of immediate needs from the long-term goals of Ukraine's reconstruction, said Latvian Minister of Economics Viktors Valainis in his address at the international high-level conference "Ukraine's Reconstruction 2024" held in Berlin, expressing Latvia's national stance.
V. Valainis informed the conference participants about Latvia's overall support for Ukraine to date, noting that annually it amounts to about 1% of the country's gross domestic product, including both government and societal support, as well as both military and non-military aid.
Since the beginning of the war, Latvia has taken in more than 55,000 Ukrainian refugees. The Latvian Minister of Economics emphasized Ukraine's current urgent need for material and technical support in maintaining energy infrastructure, which is constantly targeted by Russian attacks, calling on other countries to increase their contributions in this sector.
V. Valainis also urged leaders of countries, companies, and organizations to look at the reconstruction process of Ukraine from a long-term perspective, once the war is over.
"At that point, Ukraine will become one of the largest construction sites in the world, so it is very important that events like this Ukraine Reconstruction Conference are organized, which provide us with an opportunity to share experiences and better prepare for future challenges."
"The Ukrainian society has proven to be determined and resilient, and the least the civilized world can do is to continue to stand with Ukraine and provide it with all possible means to end the war with victory as soon as possible," emphasized the Latvian Minister of Economics.
The annual conference dedicated to Ukraine's reconstruction aims to mobilize international non-military, financial, and political support for Ukraine, focusing on Ukraine's recovery, internal reforms, modernization, and integration into the European Union. The conference is attended by leaders and representatives from many Western governments and regions, heads of non-governmental organizations and financial institutions, companies, as well as a large Ukrainian delegation led by President Volodymyr Zelensky.