The Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026 (URC), which will take place on June 25–26 in Gdańsk, Poland, is expected to serve as a platform for concrete decisions that will help Ukraine rebuild its economy faster, attract investment, and develop the private sector. This kind of practical preparation for URC was the focus of a meeting between Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine Denys Bashlyk and World Bank Regional Director for Eastern Europe Bob Saum.
The parties discussed the World Bank’s participation in URC 2026 and the outcomes that Ukraine and its international partners could present during the conference. The Bank is currently working on ensuring broad, high-level participation of its representatives in URC events. For Ukraine, this is particularly important, as the World Bank is one of its key partners in financing recovery, supporting reforms, and creating mechanisms to attract private investment even during wartime.
Special attention was given to the business dimension of URC — one of the central tracks of the conference focused on investment, private sector development, and business participation in Ukraine’s recovery.
“URC 2026 should become a platform for political dialogue and a space for concrete decisions. For Ukraine, it is important that the conference results in practical tools: for investment, business development, energy modernization, support for human capital, and the restoration of critical infrastructure. The World Bank is one of Ukraine’s key partners in this work, and we count on your team’s active participation in Gdańsk,” said Denys Bashlyk.
In addition to the business track, the parties discussed the World Bank’s participation in other parts of the URC 2026 programme, including education, youth, and human capital development. The Deputy Minister emphasized that rebuilding the country is also about jobs, entrepreneurship, education, and the ability of the economy to grow even during the war. That is why it is important to prepare solutions for URC that will deliver practical benefits for citizens, businesses, and the state.
The parties agreed to continue coordinating preparations for URC 2026, particularly regarding the World Bank’s participation in panel discussions, workshops, and the development of solutions that could receive further financial backing and be turned into concrete recovery projects.
