Odile Renaud-Basso, the President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), urged Japan to assume an active role in rebuilding Ukraine’s critical infrastructure. In an interview with Nikkei Asia, she emphasized that Japanese firms should be keen to participate in the restoration effort and explore investment opportunities in Ukraine. The EBRD has positioned itself as a facilitator, ready to help structure deals and connect Japanese investors with viable projects that support Ukraine’s recovery and long-term resilience.
As part of its current assistance, the EBRD announced allocations exceeding $1 billion to support Ukraine this year. More than half of that total is directed specifically toward initiatives under Ukrenergo, the Ukrainian electricity transmission operator, underscoring the central role of energy security in the country’s stabilization. This demonstrates a multi-year, coordinated effort to restore and modernize Ukraine’s power grid, reduce outage risk, and bolster the resilience of essential services. The bank also made clear that fulfilling these ambitious goals will require continued and broad-based engagement from all partners involved in Ukraine’s recovery. [Citation: EBRD official statements and press releases]
Earlier, the EBRD approved a financing package of $384 million (€372 million) to support Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. The loan is earmarked for critical repairs and upgrades to the country’s electricity networks and generation capacity, actions designed to withstand ongoing hostilities and ensure more reliable energy supplies for households and businesses. The aim is to accelerate rebuilding while aligning infrastructure with modern safety and efficiency standards. [Citation: EBRD project summaries]
In a related development, discussions between Austrian Finance Minister Magnus Brunner and EBRD leadership included a commitment to provide Ukraine with an additional €10 million to bolster the country’s digital infrastructure. This investment complements physical restoration by expanding the connectivity essential for governance, commerce, and services in a post-crisis environment. Austria has already taken tangible steps, delivering the first batch of 140 laptops to Ukraine to support education and administrative continuity. [Citation: Austrian government releases]