Ukrainian President Zelenskyyy asked the G7 leaders on Thursday to approve a “Marshall Plan” for Ukraine‘s reconstruction after the damage caused by Russia’s invasion. “We need a clear plan for the recovery of Ukraine. Similar to what the Marshall Plan was for Europe after the war,” he told the G7 according to a readout of his speech posted on the presidential website.
The Marshall Plan was a multi-billion dollar programme of economic aid delivered by the US to its European allies after the WWII, and is credited for revitalising those economies after the conflict’s devastation. The World Bank has estimated that rebuilding Ukraine will cost nearly $500 billion.
Zelenskyy also said that the recent lifting of curbs on use of Western weapons on targets inside Russia had given Ukraine added protection from air strikes. “However, we are still in search of additional Patriot (air defence systems),” he said.