STORY: The reconstruction of Ukraine, which has been severely damaged by ongoing Russian attacks, is also intended to modernize the country. Chancellor Olaf Scholz and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced this on Tuesday at a reconstruction conference in Berlin. Scholz announced that one would not only take care of the reconstruction, but also of investments in new areas. For example, Ukraine should become a supplier of green energy for the EU in the future. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was connected via video from Kyiv, explained that his country could in future replace Russia’s energy supplies to the EU and also supply electricity. Scholz spoke of immeasurable destruction and suffering in Ukraine. The damage is estimated to be in the region of many 100 billion euros. “In the medium term, however, it will be about reconstruction. The destroyed houses and roads have to be restored, industrial plants repaired. That’s a task for generations. And that’s why I want to see it prepared and thought out intelligently. It’s about nothing less than a Marshall Plan for Ukraine. Our common goal is to support our Ukrainian friends on their way to a peaceful and democratic future in prosperity. Active and reliable. And this future lies in Europe.” Scholz and von der Leyen again sharply criticized Russia. “We see that President Putin is targeting civilian infrastructure to paralyze Ukraine, to terrorize the people of Ukraine. We will not let that happen.” Von der Leyen estimates Ukraine’s monthly financial requirements at around three to four billion euros. She is working with the EU states to ensure that the European Union will provide 1.5 billion euros.