Zelensky says reconstruction of Ukraine is ‘the greatest contribution to world peace’

About 1,000 officials from Ukraine’s allied countries are meeting to chart the country’s future.

The reconstruction of Ukraine is “the greatest contribution to world peace”, said this Monday (4) the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyat the opening of a conference on the topic taking place in Lugano, Switzerland.

“The reconstruction of Ukraine is the common task of the entire democratic world and the greatest contribution to world peace,” he said in the speech shown by videoconference and officials from Ukraine’s allied countries and international institutions.

About 1,000 officials from Ukraine’s allied countries, international institutions and members of the private sector are gathered in Lugano on Monday and Tuesday to outline the lines of Ukraine’s future reconstruction.

Zelensky did not attend, but sent his Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament Ruslan Stefanchuk and a delegation of approximately 100 people.

Swiss President Ignazio Cassis, who is organizing a conference with his Ukrainian counterpart, said that reconstruction and reform “are not in competition”.

“They reinforce each other,” said Cassis, who called for efforts against corruption to continue and for the judiciary to function despite the war.

The Lugano meeting should lead to “an effective political process”, added the Swiss president.

the president of European Commission, Ursula von der Leyenended a speech with an energetic “Slava Ukraini” (“Glory to Ukraine”), insisting on rebuilding a better Ukraine than the one that existed before the war.

“Ukraine can emerge from all this as a stronger and more modern country, with a stronger judiciary and institutions, with successes in the fight against corruption, but also with a greener, more digital and more robust economy,” he said.

“We know that their struggle [a dos ucranianos] it is also ours and that is why we are helping Ukraine to win this war. We also have to ensure that Ukraine wins the peace that will surely come,” she emphasized.

Source: AFP