On March 5, 2025, Milan welcomed around 500 guests at the majestic Palazzo Lombardia — representatives of businesses, governments, and organizations from Italy, Ukraine, and other countries. The event hosted the preparatory business forum for the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC) 2025, set to take place in Rome. The day sent a powerful message: Ukraine is not alone on its path to reconstruction and EU accession. Participants came together to find answers to a key question — how to restore Ukraine’s strength, stability, and prosperity.
The forum opened with speeches that set the tone for all discussions. Antonio Tajani, Italy’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, emphasized: “Our support for Ukraine is not just words — it’s real action for its future.” Discussions were organized into four key themes: business, people, regions, and reforms for EU integration.
At the heart of the conversations was Ukraine’s energy system — which must become not just rebuilt, but modern and green. Yurii Maslov, President of the Association of Local Governments “EU Strategy for the Danube Region,”stressed: “Energy-efficient prefab technologies are our key to speed and efficiency. Modular construction reduces timelines, optimizes costs, and ensures operational stability. We also talked about donor resources, youth housing programs, and port decarbonization.”
How can Ukraine transform from a raw material exporter into a producer of high-value products? This panel was filled with ideas — from developing processing industries to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). “Small businesses are the heart of the economy, and we must help them beat stronger,” one participant noted.
Ukraine is rich in critical raw materials needed by the global economy. Extracting and utilizing these resources could become a driver of economic growth.
The forum ended on a high note with the presentation of Mykolaiv’s recovery plan, developed with UN support. Participants also learned about the partnership between Lombardy and Zaporizhzhia region — clear evidence that international cooperation is moving from promises to tangible action.
The Milan Business Forum brought not only new ideas but also a strong sense of unity. Businesses and governments made it clear: they are ready to invest in Ukraine — its people, cities, and economy.
“There is a long road ahead, but the support we saw here is a solid foundation,” summed up Yurii Maslov. “The Association “EU Strategy for the Danube Region” will work with partners to turn every plan into reality at URC 2025 in Rome.”
