Italy Hosts Ukraine Reconstruction Conference with 100 Delegations, 40 Organizations

Italy is hosting the fourth annual international conference in Rome focused on the reconstruction and modernization of Ukraine amid ongoing Russian aggression and uncertainties about U.S. military support. The event gathers 100 official delegations, 40 international organizations, and over 2,000 businesses alongside political leaders including Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and other European heads of state. The conference aims to foster public-private partnerships across key sectors such as defense, energy, mining, agriculture, health, and infrastructure to support Ukraine's defense capabilities and post-war recovery, while also advancing reforms necessary for European Union membership. Italy announced specific initiatives including a memorandum on penitentiary cooperation with Kyiv and funding for a new pavilion and medical equipment at Odesa's children's hospital. The gathering also features a trade fair to facilitate direct connections between international investors and Ukrainian local governments and businesses, emphasizing the urgency of reconstruction despite the ongoing war. Experts underscore the importance of these efforts as a springboard for peace and economic investment to ensure Ukraine's sustainable recovery and integration into the EU.