The reconstruction of Ukraine starts from Italy, from Rome, where today the institutional and business leaders of the two countries were meeting, now united by a solid relationship of collaboration, military and economic support; and, in perspective, from future aid to restart after the disasters of the Russian invasion. About a thousand Italian and Ukrainian companies gathered at the Palazzo dei Congressi dell'Eur to sign memoranda, fix the points of strategic interventions in the economic, financial, infrastructural, construction, trade, health, even space.

Alongside the elite of Italian industry, consortia and trade associations, the institutional parterre: the deputy prime ministers Tajani and Salvini, the Minister of Economy Giancarlo Giorgetti, that of Companies and Made in Italy Adolfo Urso, on the Italian side. From the Ukrainian one, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Kiev Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal – who in the morning had been received by President Mattarella at the Quirinale and who met with Prime Minister Meloni before attending the plenary. Above all, the intervention of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stands out, connected by video. The head of state of Kiev thanks "dear Italy" for the support shown so far, recalling that Ukraine "will not forget this".

Volodymyr Zelensky begins: "I know that the representatives of many Italian companies listen to me and I would like to speak to them not only as business representatives but as parents, daughters, daughters. We are all together in the desire for freedom, security, well-being for our parents, for our children, for our cities, for our countries. I propose you talk about these and how to give more freedom and security to children, to the people, to Ukrainian cities". Thanking "personally Giorgia Meloni for her support", the Ukrainian head of state recalls that "Ukraine will never cede its territory to the enemy. Although hundreds of our villages have been burned by missile attacks, we are ready to revive them, we will never leave these wounds on our territory." Zelensky makes it clear that "we want to rebuild but with modern standards, so that our population can live like millions of others, safely. So that every father and every mother can be sure that no terrorist organization can target their children. And we invite your companies to build this future for everyone," Zelensky added.

The morning of work began with the intervention of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Vice President of the Council, Antonio Tajani, who had made it clear that "Russia will pay for the damage caused by the invasion", that "reconstruction is a fundamental part of the action of closeness that we Italians, we Europeans, want to concretely demonstrate to Ukraine. It is an important step because Ukraine will be an important part of the EU and the single market. It is therefore right that we should start working. The reconstruction begins now and we want to be in the front row, laying the foundations".

The Minister of Foreign Affairs also recalled that "we make available the best of the Italian system in its supply chains of excellence. The know-how of four million small and medium-sized enterprises available to our Ukrainian friends. A demonstration that Italy knows how to be supportive", adding then that "infrastructure, finance, are key sectors in which we want to be protagonists, with a view to consolidating a virtuous partnership" and underlining that it is necessary to "put resources and projects into a system", "private capital and public capital".

Antonio Tajani, finally, underlined that "we are putting in place initiatives for the protection of cultural heritage, we have already supported the city of Odessa to be declared a World Heritage Site and we hope for every possible synergy with Odessa for Rome's candidacy for Expo 2030".

Rainews

Matteo Salvini's speech

In his speech, the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, and Deputy Prime Minister, Matteo Salvini had emphasized that "Italy can and must represent an added value for the reconstruction of Ukraine, for my sector, that of infrastructure and transport and public works I believe that the added value of Italy is attributable to at least three types of factors". And he lists them, Salvini, point by point: "The first is represented by the extraordinary ability to make our companies, in the field of construction".

The leader of the League mentions the agreements signed by Webuild and Mermec, highlighting the presence of the CEO of Ferrovie, Luigi Ferraris. "Italian companies can be a support for the reconstruction of Ukraine of absolute excellence", also for the opportunities in Italy now linked to the PNRR. "The second decisive factor is represented by logistics", adds the Vice-President of the Council, focusing on the "completion of the TEN-T networks at European level", to ports, "I think of Trieste, I think of Venice and I think of Ravenna".

The "third strand is that relating to the regulatory and regulatory framework", Salvini finally adds, citing "the experience gained in Italy, in public awards and contracts thanks to the new procurement code, which will come into force next month. We are willing to immediately start forms of cooperation for the definition of technical standards that will be fundamental for the realization of infrastructure works, especially in the railway and urban planning sectors".