Ukraine’s recovery efforts bolstered by new funding As population plummets

An agreement has been reached between Ukraine and France to establish a €200 million grant aimed at restoring and modernizing Ukraine's infrastructure.

This announcement was made by Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Yulia Svyrydenko, who stated that this initiative will facilitate the implementation of infrastructure projects in collaboration with both Ukrainian and French companies, Caliber.Az reports. 

In addition, during a plenary session held in Strasbourg, the European Parliament approved an initiative from the European Commission to provide Kyiv with a €35 billion loan.

The repayment of this loan will be sourced from revenues generated by frozen assets belonging to the Russian Federation. A total of 518 Members of the European Parliament voted in favour, while 56 voted against, and 61 abstained. EP President Roberta Metsola highlighted that this decision sends a strong message that the revenues from frozen Russian assets will be used to support Ukraine.

Once the European Parliament approves the funding, the next step is for the EU Council to consider the allocation of €35 billion to Ukraine, which is expected to occur by the end of this week. Didier Reynders, the European Commissioner for Justice, emphasized that Ukraine will only receive the loan if it meets specific political conditions outlined by the EU, which will be documented in a separate memorandum.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's population has plummeted by 10 million, approximately a quarter of its previous size, since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion. This decline is attributed to a combination of refugee outflows, decreased birth rates, and casualties from the conflict.

Florence Bauer, the head of the UN Population Fund’s Eastern Europe division, addressed this issue during a press conference in Geneva, describing how the war has exacerbated an already challenging demographic situation. She noted that the current birth rate in Ukraine has dropped to about one child per woman, making it one of the lowest rates globally.

To maintain a stable population, a birth rate of 2.1 children per woman is required. Bauer explained that a comprehensive assessment of the war's impact on the population will have to wait until the conflict concludes, which will enable a complete census. She pointed out that the most affected regions have seen significant depopulation, leaving villages with only elderly residents and couples who are unable to start families.

The largest share of Ukraine’s population decline is attributed to the 6.7 million refugees currently residing abroad, mainly in Europe. Additionally, military casualties have played a significant role in this demographic shift. "It's challenging to provide precise figures, but estimates indicate that casualties are in the tens of thousands," Bauer stated.

By Tamilla Hasanova