Status: 05/05/2022 4:34 p.m
More than six billion euros were raised at an international donor conference for Ukraine. President Zelenskyy called for a modern version of the Marshall Plan for his country’s reconstruction.
The international donor conference for Ukraine in Warsaw brought in pledges in the billions. In total, more than 6.5 billion dollars were raised, said Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in his closing speech. That’s the equivalent of more than 6.17 billion euros. “Today has shown that our support for Ukraine continues and that there is no selfishness among us,” Morawiecki said.
The donors’ conference, jointly organized by Poland and Sweden, was set to raise money for humanitarian aid to Ukraine, which is under Russian attack. Partners of the conference are the Presidents of the European Commission and the European Council. The United Nations is also involved.
Poland invites to the international donor conference for Ukraine
Olaf Bock, ARD Warsaw, daily news at 5:00 p.m., May 5, 2022
EU announces further aid
The European Union announced a new aid package worth 200 million euros. It is intended to benefit the several million displaced people in the country. “We have come together here with the clear goal of helping the courageous people of Ukraine,” said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The people fight an aggressor and stand up for their freedom.
Von der Leyen said the EU had mobilized a total of four billion euros for Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion. She will later also help finance the reconstruction of Ukraine. The support will also “pave the way for the country into the European Union,” she promised.
Another 265 million euros from Germany
Germany is supporting Ukraine with a further 265 million euros. Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced this in a video message for the donor conference. 140 million euros in development aid and 125 million euros in humanitarian aid would be made available to help strengthen Ukrainian resistance to the Russian attack.
Scholz pointed out that Germany has now granted Ukraine 300 million euros in untied loans. Just a month ago, 495 million euros were also provided in aid – as well as another 430 million to combat global food supply problems as a result of the war.
Zelenskyj calls for a new Marshall Plan
According to the EU Commission, since the start of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, around eight million people have left their home towns to seek protection elsewhere. In addition, more than 5.3 million people have left Ukraine to seek refuge in the EU and neighboring countries.
According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine needs a modern version of the Marshall Plan. In order to return to a safe life, his country will need money, technology, specialists and growth prospects, Zelenskyy told the conference participants via video link. “This will be an investment in the stability of all of Central and Eastern Europe.”
UN: 12 million people need help
Morawiecki said Ukraine needs 12,000 tons of humanitarian aid every day. At the moment you only get about a quarter of that. “We will demonstrate together that European values are not empty words.”
The United Nations estimates that more than 12 million people in Ukraine are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, including food, medical care and shelter. Before the beginning of the Russian war of aggression on February 24, 44 million people lived in the country.