Zbigniew Rau made the statement during the Ukraine Recovery Conference in London on Wednesday, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
The London conference, which runs until Thursday, has brought together more than 1,000 public and private sector decision makers, representing 61 national governments, 33 international organisations, over 400 businesses and 130 civil society organisations, according to officials.
Poland’s top diplomat attended the Ukraine Recovery Conference in place of Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, the Polish foreign ministry said.
Poland can 'play a leading role' in Ukraine’s postwar reconstruction
Rau told the London gathering: “Poland has already proved its commitment to helping Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. We can also play a leading role in the postwar reconstruction of Ukraine.”
The Polish foreign minister elaborated: “Transport and logistics should be the key areas of our cooperation with Kyiv. They are the most important because, as a neighbouring country, we have a long border with Ukraine and an extensive infrastructure of border crossings. Our vast experience on the Ukrainian market is another of Poland’s assets.”
Rau told the Ukraine Recovery Conference that more than 2,000 Polish companies had declared a readiness to participate in the reconstruction of Ukraine.
He stressed the “significant role” of loans offered by Poland’s state-owned bank PKO BP to Ukraine’s small and medium-sized companies, the PAP news agency reported.
Poland’s top diplomat said that the central aim of the Ukraine Recovery Conference was to “prepare the political, legal and financial framework for the provision of comprehensive support to Ukraine’s postwar recovery."
Rau noted that war-ravaged Ukraine recently suffered "another devastating blow with the destruction of the Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro river by Russian forces."
He said that “the scale of the disaster is crushing” and added that Russia “should be held financially accountable for its crimes” by compensating Ukraine for the damage inflicted on the country.
Rau stated: “The success of Ukraine’s reconstruction is in the interests of the entire Europe. Poland believes that Ukraine should become a member of the European Union as soon as possible. We see that even amid the war, the government in Kyiv is fulfilling the conditions for the start of EU membership negotiations.”
The Polish foreign minister declared: “It is our hope that at the end of 2023, EU member states will make a positive decision on this issue and EU membership talks with Ukraine will become reality.”
War risk insurance for foreign investors in Ukraine
During the first day of the Ukraine Recovery Conference, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a new framework for war risk insurance to help businesses invest in Ukraine, the Reuters news agency reported.
Sunak told the gathering: "This is a huge step forward towards helping insurers to underwrite investments into Ukraine, removing one of the biggest barriers and giving investors the confidence they need to act."
The new framework is backed by the Group of Seven most advanced economies and liberal democracies, news outlets reported.
Sunak also said that more than 400 businesses from 38 countries with a combined market value of USD 4.9 trillion have signed up to the Ukraine Business Compact and encouraged investors to tap the City of London’s “deep and liquid capital markets and world-class finance expertise,” according to reports.
UK pledges $305m in aid, $3.8 bn in loan guarantees for Ukraine
Britain pledged USD 305 million in aid and USD 3.8 billion in World Bank loan guarantees for Ukraine, the Associated Press news agency reported.
US announces $1.3 bn in new aid to Ukraine
Meanwhile, the United States announced an additional USD 1.3 billion in assistance to help Ukraine overhaul its energy grid and modernise its ports, railways and other infrastructure, Reuters reported.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the Ukraine Recovery Conference in London: "Recovery is about laying the foundation for Ukraine to thrive as a secure, independent country, fully intergrated with Europe, connected to markets around the world."
He announced: "With the support of the US Congress, we will provide more than USD 1.3 billion in additional aid to help Ukraine toward that goal."
EU’s von der Leyen proposes €50 bn for Ukraine until 2027
Meanwhile, the president of the European Union’s executive Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said that the European bloc had “a special responsibility” towards Ukraine.
Von der Leyen told the London conference: “I believe the European Union has a special responsibility. The reason is simple: When Ukrainians imagine their future, they see Europe's flag flying over their cities. And I have no doubt that Ukraine will be part of our Union.”
The European Commission chief also proposed “constant financial support” for Ukraine until 2027, totalling EUR 50 million, to help close the country’s fiscal gap and fund fast recovery, according to officials.
Zelensky calls for ‘real projects’ for Ukraine’s reconstruction
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video address to the London conference that his country needed action, not just pledges, the AP reported.
“We must move from vision to agreements and from agreements to real projects,” he stated.
Zelensky urged Western leaders to have the “courage” to acknowledge that Ukraine was already part of their economic and defence alliances as he pushes for his country’s accession to NATO and the European Union, according to the AP.
“We are only waiting for the courage of the alliance leaders to recognize this reality, politically,” he said.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.
Wednesday is day 483 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, gov.pl, BBC, CNN, The Guardian, Yahoo! News, ec.europa.eu, AP
Click on the audio player above to listen to a report by Radio Poland's Agnieszka Bielawska.