As a result of continued Russian attacks on the country’s power networks, Kyiv citizens spent the night without power before the president’s statements.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy asserts that Ukraine has received “not a single cent” toward its $17 billion rapid recovery plan.
He disclosed through a video link to a Berlin conference on Ukraine’s reconstruction that Russian rockets and Iranian drones have devastated more than one-third of his country’s energy industry.
“Russia destroys everything to make it more difficult for us to survive this winter so that Ukraine cannot recover from this war for as long as possible and we cannot combine the Ukrainian and European economic potentials for as long as possible.”
His comments came after Kyiv residents endured a night without electricity due to ongoing Russian attacks on the country’s electrical networks.
On Tuesday, national leaders, business leaders, and others convened in the German capital to discuss rebuilding Ukraine following the invasion.
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, who co-hosted the meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, stated, “Time is of the essence. “The magnitude of the destruction is astonishing.”
She stated that the World Bank estimates that the damage to Ukraine to date has cost 350 billion euros (£305 billion).
President Zelenskyy informed the conference that Ukraine had a $17 billion (£15 billion) “rapid recovery” plan to address, among other things, damage to hospitals, schools, transportation, and energy infrastructure.
However, he added, “We have not yet received a single cent for the implementation of the rapid recovery plan.”
He requested increased military and financial aid to help Ukraine survive the winter and rebuild following the war.
“Let the adversary know that his objective is impossible to attain,” he stated.
In its efforts to reject Russia, Ukraine is fighting for Europe’s security, according to him.
“With our assistance, the EU will be able to totally and reliably replace filthy Russian energy supplies,” he added.
It follows the World Bank’s announcement on Monday that it had transferred an additional $500 million (£443 million) to assist Ukraine with its immediate budgetary needs.
David Malpass, president of the World Bank Group, stated: “The Russian invasion continues to cause huge harm to Ukraine’s infrastructure, including water, sewage, and electrical networks, precisely as winter approaches, further jeopardizing the Ukrainian people.”
“The newly disbursed share of funding will be used to maintain key government services. We stand completely behind the Ukrainian people during this unprecedented situation.”
