MORE than two years on, the battles in Ukraine rage as Russia continues its bloody onslaught.
Today Yulia Tymoshenko, the former Ukrainian prime minister, was in Killarney, Co Kerry, to address the Global Economic Summit.
She delivered a strong speech to a group of global delegates, calling for financial support to rebuild the nation in the post-war period.
Ms Tymoshenko hailed Ireland’s response to the conflict.
And she also estimated the amount needed to rebuild the country after the war is approaching one trillion dollars.
Here is her rallying call to Ireland and the EU to help rebuild the shattered nation.
I WOULD like to thank you for your support, Irish people!
Thank you for taking in more than a hundred thousand Ukrainian refugees — our women and children!
Thank you for Ireland being with Ukraine in these difficult times! The last time I was in Ireland was ten years ago — in March 2014. I didn’t see any Ukrainian flags then.
When I arrived at my hotel at 3am yesterday after a twenty-two hour journey from Kyiv, I saw the Ukrainian flag in front of the entrance.
I had a very warm feeling — as if I were at home.
Only without war . . .
I have several Irish friends. Among them, I would like to mention former Taoiseach Enda Kenny and ex-President of the European Parliament Pat Cox — who helped me in difficult times, and are now helping the whole of Ukraine.
Ukrainians and the Irish have much in common.
Our nations have gone through the terrible tragedy of famine, defended the right to our own language and heroically fought for our own identity and independence.
That’s why I say the resilience of nations cannot come out of nothing. The resilience of the Ukrainians and the Irish has its strong roots.
The war has been going on for two years and three months. For us, Ukrainians, it is to be or not be.
Ukrainians have chosen independence and freedom.
Putin’s Russia wants to take it away and return it to what I call the “International of Dictators”. I want you to know we will not surrender! WE WILL FIGHT! We must remember that, in fact, the war against my country began almost a decade ago in 2014 with the annexation of Crimea and the occupation of part of Donbas in Eastern Ukraine.
Before the invasion on February 24, 2022, Russia had occupied seven per cent of Ukraine’s territory. Today it has seized 26 per cent.
Since 2014, almost 157,000 sq km have been occupied. It’s more than TWO Irelands! It’s the equivalent of four Switzerlands or five Belgiums.
Some may say: yes, it’s all terrible, but very far from us. In fact, the distance from where I am — from Killarney to the front line — to Kharkiv, Odesa and Mariupol, is almost 4,000km.
The war is next door. And if all the countries of the free world would not do what is needed, the war will come here. War has many faces. Not only tanks, missiles and bombs . . .
To win the war, we need weapons, strong sanctions against Russia and unity. And we also need courage.
The question arises: Is it possible to build resilience in the midst of this death and destruction? It is extremely difficult, but not impossible.
The Ukrainian people continue to fight, and, thanks to their courage and ingenuity, they are making progress.
We have restored the maritime “grain corridor” and are finding new logistics routes.
Ukrainian businesses have been adapting to the situation since the first days of the war and many have been forced to move their operations online.
The IT sector expanded rapidly and became our second largest source of exports.
New businesses are also opening. In 2023, more than 300,000 new entrepreneurs and more than 37,000 new businesses were registered, which is more than in 2021.
I’m proud more than half of these were started by women.
After Russia’s invasion Ukraine’s economy was in freefall, with GDP falling by a third.
But two years later, the picture has changed dramatically.
Despite Putin’s reckless war, senseless killing and destruction, the economy grew by five per cent last year. Inflation is under control.
International businesses have demonstrated their resolve by continuing to operate in Ukraine despite the war. European Union member states began negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU.
The Ukrainian people have united to rebuild and reform. Ukraine has not fallen.
Putin miscalculated. Instead of capturing Kyiv in three days, the Kremlin received sanctions, lost European markets and access to modern technologies, while Ukraine has stabilized, received the support of the civilized world and is moving towards integration into the EU.
If this is possible with missiles falling on our cities, just imagine what Ukraine will be like when the war is over and reconstruction begins.
It is not enough to win the war, we also need to win the peace. As of today, the cost of restoring Ukraine’s economy (according to World Bank estimates) is about $500billion.
In fact, this figure is already approaching one trillion.
It is clear that the post-war recovery will require not only funds from other states and international institutions, but private foreign investment.
I would also like to remind you of more than $370billion in frozen assets of Russia. As of today, the total amount of aid intentions is a little over $80billion out of the required minimum of $500billion.
The reason is obvious, there is still a war going on.
General Douglas MacArthur said in 1940: “The history of failures in war can almost always be summarised in two words: IT’S TOO LATE.”
In order to win this war and peace we need to act quickly, on time and proactively.
We need to prepare now, before the war ends, for a major post-war reconstruction and modernisation of Ukraine, which will continue its movement towards the EU.
Ireland is a success story. Ukraine is interested in adding another success story.
Ukraine will benefit from this, Ireland will benefit, Europe will benefit.
Ukraine’s resilience is an indispensable prerequisite for the post-war recovery, reconstruction and modernisation.
