Dear Primeminister, Dear Donald, 
Dear Primeminister Svyrydenko from Ukraine, 
Presidents and Prime Ministers,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Dear Friends of Ukraine!

Military and civilian support for Ukraine remains fundamentally important. From Lugano to London, Berlin, Rome and now and today Gdańsk, the Ukraine Recovery Conference has become the major international gathering on recovery for Ukraine. That is why I am pleased to be here with you today – as a sign of our unwavering commitment.

Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends: There is another dimension which makes this year’s Conference special for a German chancellor in specific: Donald, you reminded us: More than 87 years ago at this place - not far from here,a few minutes –World War II began.

Thirty-five years ago, Germany and Poland signed their Treaty of Good Neighbourship. This anniversary is a landmark of German-Polish relations. Dear Donald, for 35 years, Poles and Germans have proven: Even after the outrageous crimes Germans committed in Poland and to the Polish people between 1939 and 1945, peace, good neighbourhood and friendship are possible. I am deeply grateful to the Polish people for this. And today, the big picture is the following: As Europeans, we stand shoulder to shoulder not just to defend security or defend prosperity on our continent. We are standing shoulder to shoulder to defend freedom on our continent. And that is why we are standing shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine.

And dear friends and colleagues, in these days we are seeing a new dynamic. The G7 Summit, the European Council last week and the E5 meeting in Berlin yesterday have sent strong signals of European and transatlantic unity and support for Ukraine. Ukraine and its brave people will prevail as a strong and sovereign nation and as a future member of the European family!

At the beginning of this year, during one of the coldest winters in a long time, the Ukrainian energy sector faced particular pressure as Russia relentlessly attacked heating and power plants. To counter this, we intensified our efforts – including significant additional contributions to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund and the provision of combined heat and power units.

I’m saying this because we must act now to prepare Ukraine for next winter.

Ladies and gentlemen, friends and colleagues, 

Today, Germany is Ukraine’s biggest bilateral supporter. Since 2022, we have provided Kyiv with 41 billion Euros in bilateral civilian support. During our intergovernmental consultations in April, we elevated our relationship to a strategic partnership. 

Allow me to highlight four areas where we are making tangible progress together and where Europe is delivering for Ukraine.

First: security.

Security is the foundation of everything. Reconstruction, investment and sustainable development are only possible in the long term with security. I would like to commend Poland for giving security and defence a prominent place at this year’s Conference here in Gdansk.

That is why our military support to Ukraine remains strong: we are constantly delivering modern air defence systems which help to protect Ukraine’s cities and infrastructure from Russian attacks.

We are seeing new German-Ukrainian joint ventures appear which play a key role in remarkable und impressive innovative technologies and enhancing our common security. 

To strengthen Ukraine’s security is to strengthen Europe’s security.

Second: investment.

In Rome, we announced the idea of a European Flagship Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukraine. Today, here in Gdańsk, we are delivering on what we promised.

The Fund brings together Germany, Poland, Italy and France. We want to mobilise substantial private investment in strategic sectors of Ukraine’s economy: infrastructure, energy, industry, logistics.

The reason behind that is quite simple: Public funding alone will never be enough to rebuild a country that has suffered such massive destruction. With an initial public package of up to 220 million euros, we are creating the confidence and the risk-sharing mechanism that private investors need to engage now.

By investing now and committing long-term capital, Europe is sending a clear message: we believe in Ukraine’s future within the European family! 

Third: reforms.

Investments are crucial for recovery and they require confidence. And confidence depends on strong institutions.

That is why the reforms – undertaken in the context of Ukraine’s EU accession process – are so important. Continued progress in the fight against corruption and in strengthening the rule of law is essential for maintaining the trust of citizens, international partners and investors alike.

The strong German business presence at the URC 2026 here shows that Germany and its private sector are ready to contribute to recovery and prosperity.

Fourth and last: people.

Two years ago, at the URC in Berlin, we created the Skills Alliance for Ukraine – a unique multi-stakeholder platform dedicated to training Ukrainians. Since then, the Alliance has mobilised an impressive 1.2 billion euros for current and upcoming vocational training initiatives. 

This initiative reflects our conviction that reconstruction is not only about rebuilding what was destroyed, but also about investing in the people who will shape Ukraine’s future.

Now Ladies and gentlemen,

Security. Investment. Reforms. People. These are the building blocks for Ukraine’s recovery. Together with our partners, we stand ready to support Ukraine in all four areas.

Today’s meeting in Gdańsk marks a moment of hope. Ukraine is in a new position of strength.

It is beginning to dawn on Moscow: Russia will not win this war. Ladies and gentlemen, Europe’s support to Kyiv is unwavering. We are determined to increase pressure on Russia’s already strained economy. Since Évian - the G7 - there is a new sense of transatlantic unity. Today, we are conveying a clear message to Russia: Time has come to enter into negotiations, to freeze the frontline and to end the killing.

Thanks to the Polish Government again and to you in person, Donald, and to all the people here in this room for hosting this important conference.

And thanks to all of you for standing with Ukraine. Many thanks!