For the third year in a row, Ukraine has been living in a major war, but life does not stop. On the contrary, it needs to be restarted, restored, and acted upon. That's why Recovery Construction Forum Ukraine 2.0, held on April 16 in Kyiv, became more than just an industry event - it was a kind of manifesto of faith in the future.
A platform for solutions, not just discussions
The event brought together more than 500 participants - representatives of central and local authorities, international financial institutions, developers, architects, material producers and civil society.
The event was organized by the Confederation of Builders of Ukraine and Premier Expo with the support of FIEC, the European Federation of the Construction Industry.
The topics were not only professional but also extremely sensitive:
- How to quickly and efficiently restore destroyed housing?
- Who should be the main actor in the reconstruction process - communities or the state?
- Where to find resources for critical infrastructure?
The panels were held in the format of lively discussions, with the exchange of practices, specific cases and proposals. This time there was less pathos and more pragmatism.
Positive aspects of the forum
1. Consolidation of the sector - all the key players in the industry are in one place: this allows us to see not only problems but also points of contact.
2. International presence - the participation of representatives of European institutions and financial partners strengthened confidence in the idea of recovery as a real process.
3. Public focus - unlike similar events in the past, the voices of representatives of territorial communities who deal with the consequences of the war on a daily basis were actively heard.
And the disadvantages that should not be ignored
- Lack of implementation mechanisms - a lot of ideas, but little clarity: who will implement what has been said, when and how?
- Insufficient representation of the affected regions - Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kherson regions sounded more like topics than subjects.
- The financial issue - despite the nice words about support, it is not yet clear what specific resources and guarantees will be available to communities.
Lesson for the future
The Recovery Forum is a step in the right direction. It demonstrates that despite the shelling, economic challenges and fatigue, Ukraine is not waiting for mercy from anyone, but is planning, preparing and building.
But this is not enough. Because recovery is not just about concrete, windows and bricks. It is about trust, transparency, inclusion of people and a long-term vision. If these principles become the basis, then the Recovery Forum will truly be the beginning of a new country - renewed, sustainable, and dignified.