Tusk: We will jointly rebuild the destroyed Ukrainian cities after the war 06.25.2026 13:24 Ukrinform Europeans, together with Ukrainians, will rebuild the destroyed Ukrainian cities. In addition to infrastructure, a shared past, which should not be forgotten, is also important.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated this during the opening of the International Conference on the Reconstruction of Ukraine (Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026), as reported by a Ukrinform correspondent.
He expressed gratitude that thousands of politicians, government officials, and entrepreneurs arrived in Gdansk to prepare a large project for the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine over two days.
Tusk noted that he proposed Gdansk as the venue for the conference due to the deep symbolic significance of this place.
The Prime Minister of Poland recalled that the historical center of Gdansk was almost completely destroyed during World War II. He emphasized that “the miracle of reconstruction happens when people strongly desire it, when they are able to achieve peace, and when they are determined to do good deeds.”
The Polish Prime Minister stressed that Gdansk was completely rebuilt after the war and became the best example of global-level reconstruction, not only architecturally.
“And these significant efforts also await Ukraine. We all here, in Ukraine and Europe, believe that Ukraine will repel Russian aggression and that our plans for Ukraine’s reconstruction are not a mirage. When we say that we will jointly rebuild the destroyed Ukrainian cities after the war, we say it because we believe it will happen after the war and it will happen thanks to our solidarity,” Tusk emphasized.
He also stressed that reconstruction is not just about buildings, power plants, schools, and infrastructure.
“Reconstruction is also about what is within us. Ukraine, rightly so, wants to be part of a united Europe. The condition for unity has always been understanding one’s own history and a genuine ability and willingness for reconciliation,” Tusk pointed out.
He emphasized that World War II began in Gdansk, which seemed to have forever divided nations. However, after the war, Germans, French, Poles, and other nations were able to find common ground and build a future together.
“We must speak honestly about the past so that the future looks completely different… Let’s remember this: my compatriots in Poland, yours, Yulia (addressing Yulia Svyrydenko – ed.), in Ukraine, and everyone in Europe, that we can only build the future on truth and mutual respect,” Tusk stated.
As Ukrinform reported, the two-day International Conference on the Reconstruction of Ukraine (Ukraine Recovery Conference, URC 2026) began in Gdansk, Poland, on Thursday, June 25.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced in Gdansk that the European Union would transfer the first tranche of macro-financial assistance to Ukraine today as part of a loan to support Ukraine for 2026-2027.
The conference in Gdansk is taking place against the backdrop of deteriorating Ukrainian-Polish relations. It was previously reported that the participation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in URC 2026 was planned.
On June 19, Polish President Andrzej Duda decided to strip Volodymyr Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle. On June 20, Volodymyr Zelensky announced that he had sent the Order of the White Eagle to the President of Poland by mail. He assured that Ukraine remains open to all meaningful formats of interaction with partners.
Photo: Chancellery of the Prime Minister
Tusk Ukraine Reconstruction
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