President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held an online meeting of the International Advisory Group on Investment Attraction and Economic Development of Ukraine, during which participants discussed the comprehensive economic transformation strategy for Ukraine, “Economy of the Future.”
The strategy is aimed at delivering two key objectives: ensuring budget self-sufficiency and driving Ukraine’s economic growth through attracting private capital into key sectors. The Head of State, Prime Minister of Ukraine Yuliia Svyrydenko, government officials, Head of the Presidential Office Kyrylo Budanov, and other members of the International Advisory Group on Investment Attraction and Economic Development discussed priority areas for supporting Ukraine already now.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked business representatives for supporting our country, briefed them on Ukraine’s responses to constant Russian attacks, and called on partners to strengthen Ukraine’s anti-ballistic capabilities and air defense.
“I think it's a big progress that we began to work on our internal Ukrainian air defense. But it's difficult to do it without other partners as quickly as we need it. And I think that anti-ballistic is the priority number one. So, now we will try to focus this year, and I hope that we will have a successful result in our joint – with other European partners – our joint anti-ballistic system,” the President noted.
The Head of State stressed that this, together with stronger sanctions, would bring Russia closer to ending the war. That is why it is important not to ease pressure on the aggressor state, but only to increase it.
Another important priority, according to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is Ukraine’s reconstruction. That is why our country expects the Ukraine Recovery Conference, which will take place in Gdańsk, to deliver concrete projects, primarily aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s energy system ahead of winter.
The Head of State also stressed the need to work toward a decision that would make it possible to introduce an airport ceasefire.
The President separately thanked the European Union for the €90 billion program that is expected to provide substantial support to Ukraine’s economy. It is important to build on this result with new political steps to bring Ukraine’s EU membership closer.
“Our focus now is on opening clusters. It also gives a signal to the economy and to business that we are moving forward. On our side, everything necessary has been done to open all six clusters,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized.
Prime Minister of Ukraine Yuliia Svyrydenko reported that the draft economic strategy for Ukraine had been developed with analytical support from the World Bank and with the personal involvement of President Ajay Banga. According to Yuliia Svyrydenko, it is important to move toward the practical implementation of the strategy, which brings together all government programs and international commitments into a single platform for attracting investment.
Head of the Presidential Office Kyrylo Budanov called for support in accelerating Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, especially given the realities of war.
“No country has gone through anything like this on its way to the European Union. And, if I may say so, you need to accept, let’s say, Ukraine’s exclusivity in this case. And again – by developing Ukraine’s economy, in the end, you will be making a very good investment for yourselves,” Kyrylo Budanov stressed.
All participants supported the view expressed by the Senior Advisor to Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, and Anthropic, and former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Rishi Sunak, who stressed that the investment projects proposed by partners must be understandable to the Ukrainian people.
“We need to demonstrate that this plan is going to work for the people of Ukraine. What is it going to mean for their jobs, their prosperity, their security. And so when we put this document together, hopefully, we just give it that extra cut and read-through as well to make sure that it's appealing to the domestic population,” Rishi Sunak emphasized.
Also taking part in the meeting were: Advisor to the President on Rebuilding and Investments Oksana Markarova, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, Chairman of the Munich Security Conference Wolfgang Ischinger, First Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Sergiy Kyslytsya, Deputy Heads of the Presidential Office Ihor Zhovkva and Iryna Mudra, Advisor to the Presidential Office Victoria Strakhova, Director General of the Directorate for Socio-Economic Policy Larysa Yaremchuk, and heads and representatives of the International Finance Corporation, Bank of America, BlackRock, Citibank, the EIB, Fortescue, General Atlantic, McKinsey & Company, Siemens Energy, Deutsche Bank, Vestas Wind Systems, Citigroup, Investor AB, Lazard, ArcelorMittal, State Street Corporation, the World Bank, and others.
The meeting was moderated by Advisor to the President on Economic Development Chrystia Freeland.