Minister Sabutis Puts Forward a Ukraine Transport Support Fund

Lithuanian Minister of Transport and Communications Eugenijus Sabutis, at the International Transport Forum (ITF) Summit in Leipzig, Germany, emphasized the need to enhance transport resilience and support for Ukraine. Discussions on assisting Ukraine in rebuilding its transport infrastructure led to the proposal to establish the ITF Ukraine Transport Support Fund.

 “The fund’s activities would not only help secure increased financial contributions from international donors, promoting the recovery of Ukraine’s critical transport infrastructure, but also enable more active participation in its restoration projects. A strong Ukraine, integrated into international transport corridors, is essential for the security and resilience of our region and Europe,” said Lithuanian Minister of Transport and Communications Eugenijus Sabutis.

Last year, during Lithuania’s presidency of the ITF, a special cooperation platform called CIG4U (Common Interest Group for Transport in Ukraine) was established in partnership with Canada, Sweden, and Ukraine. It helps countries mobilize international support, facilitates faster and more efficient information exchange, and thereby contributes to Ukraine’s transport restoration projects.

“The restoration of Ukraine will take more than a year. The international community and Ukraine itself have many plans for reconstruction, but we must act as swiftly as possible without waiting for the war to end,” Minister Sabutis noted.

The damage to Ukraine’s transport infrastructure is estimated to have already exceeded $38 billion. The shipping sector, seaports, civil aviation infrastructure, railways, and roads have all suffered particularly severe losses.

The ITF Summit, held every May in Leipzig, is the largest international transport policy event, bringing together ministers with responsibility for transport, heads of international organisations, parliamentarians and policy makers, representatives of business associations and leading researchers.

The ITF currently has 69 member countries. This year, the forum is chaired by Chile, having taken over the presidency from Lithuania last year.