Cassis (centre) attended the Expert Conference on the Reconstruction of Ukraine with dignitaries such as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Keystone / Clemens Bilan
The global community should formulate concrete steps to help Ukraine recover from its invasion by Russia, said Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis.
Cassis, who holds the rotating Swiss presidency this year, advocates action similar to the US Marshall Plan that was set up to rebuild Europe following the Second World War.
Cassis was speaking in Berlin at an international conference on Ukraine set up by the European Union and Germany’s presidency of the G7 nations.
Cassis paid a surprise visit to Ukraine last week where he spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other officials.
More
More
Swiss conference sets principles for Ukraine reconstruction
This content was published on
An international conference to support Ukraine has agreed to a series of principles to oversee the reconstruction of the war-torn country.
“I was in Kyiv last week where I met many very brave people. We all owe them our deepest respect. For months they have been working day and night to defend themselves against Russia’s aggression and to regain the territorial integrity of their country,” Cassis said on Tuesday.
“I was extremely impressed and moved by the resolve and strength of the people, despite the man-made humanitarian disaster that is unfolding here in Europe before our very eyes… in the 21st century, and with winter fast approaching.”
“Even if we are unfortunately unable to predict when the war will end, it would be unforgivable not to move forward resolutely with the political process of reconstruction. The people of Ukraine, just like the many refugees from Ukraine, deserve a perspective that offers hope.”
Lugano Conference
Switzerland hosted the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Lugano on July 5, attended by representatives of some 40 states and 15 international organisations.
Cassis now wants to build on the ‘Lugano Principles’ to rebuild Ukraine by defining the extent of humanitarian assistance and political support to help Ukraine after it emerges from the conflict.
The International Expert Conference on the Recovery of Ukraine was attended by EU countries and representatives of international bodies such as the World Bank and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.
External Content
Popular Stories
More
Life & Aging
Zurich: how the world capital of housing shortages is tackling the problem
In Switzerland more people are being referred to electrical therapies or psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Are there similar approaches where you live?
Is your place of origin, your Heimatort, important to you?
Every Swiss citizen has a Heimatort, a place of origin, but many have never visited theirs. What’s your relationship with your Heimatort? What does it mean to you?
Ex-sect member sentenced in Zurich for sexual abuse
This content was published on
Zurich District Court has sentenced a former member of the globally active sect "Children of God" to a partial prison sentence.
SNB chairman does not rule out slowdown in Swiss growth
This content was published on
Martin Schlegel, chairman of the Swiss National Bank (SNB), does not rule out a weakening of the Swiss economy in light of the tariff dispute.
Swiss NGOs abroad to receive 10% less federal funding
This content was published on
In 2025 and 2026, Swiss NGOs will have 10% less federal funding available for international cooperation than in the previous two-year period.
Swiss parties spent less than CHF1 million on February green vote
This content was published on
Swiss political parties spent CHF 700,000 ($840,000) on campaigns in the run-up to the overwhelmingly defeated vote on February 9, according to the Swiss Federal Audit Office.
This content was published on
Swisswool, the largest Swiss wool processor, is not accepting any wool for the first time this spring. For many sheep farmers, the only option is to get rid of the wool.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Lugano summit seeks deal to rebuild war-torn Ukraine
This content was published on
The Swiss city of Lugano is hosting a two-day meeting to plan the reconstruction of Ukraine. How can states help the war-ravaged country?
‘Kyiv already feels cold’, says Swiss president on visit
This content was published on
Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, who also holds the rotating Swiss presidency this year, arrived in Ukraine on Thursday morning.
This content was published on
Swiss President Ignazio Cassis thanked his Moldovan counterpart Maia Sandu for her country’s solidarity with Ukraine at a meeting in Chisinau.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.