The President of International Chamber of Commerce of Ukraine, Volodymyr Shchelkunov, has called on international partners to create a permanent coordination mechanism to support Ukraine’s railway infrastructure, modeled on the 'Ramstein' defence format.
In his view, such a platform would help respond more effectively to wartime challenges and ensure the stable functioning of critical logistics infrastructure.
Shchelkunov noted that over the course of the full-scale war, Ukraine’s railway system has become a key transport artery of the country. It provides civilian evacuation, military and humanitarian transport, supports businesses, enables exports and imports, and helps maintain overall economic stability.
“Today, transport infrastructure is no longer just part of the economy, but one of the key elements of national security and resilience. Any strikes on railway infrastructure affect not only individual regions but the functioning of the entire country,” he said.
According to the ICC Ukraine president, the proposed international mechanism should bring together partner governments, international financial institutions, development banks, transport companies, and equipment manufacturers.
He stressed that support should include not only funding but also supplies of locomotives, railcars, energy equipment, transformers, signalling systems, repair machinery, and spare parts.
A separate priority, he said, should be the creation of an international reserve of critical equipment to enable rapid restoration of damaged facilities after missile strikes.
Shchelkunov emphasized that the speed of infrastructure recovery has become a key factor in state resilience. While reconstruction of individual facilities previously took months, today it must be measured in hours and days.
He also highlighted the need to develop international insurance mechanisms for transport and logistics risks. Due to wartime risks, many foreign companies face extremely high insurance costs or avoid operating in Ukraine altogether. International guarantees, he said, could help sustain cargo flows, investment, and foreign business participation in reconstruction.
Another important direction is the integration of Ukraine’s transport system into European logistics networks, including modernization of border infrastructure, increased capacity at crossings, digitalization of logistics, and harmonization with EU transport standards.
ICC Ukraine emphasized that supporting Ukrainian logistics is not only important for Ukraine itself. The stability of transport corridors affects exports of agricultural products, metallurgy, raw materials, and humanitarian cargo, influencing global food and economic security.
“International support must be strategic, not reactive. Long-term programs for modernization of Ukraine’s transport infrastructure should already be developed, taking into account future recovery and Ukraine’s integration into the European Union,” Shchelkunov concluded.
