Ukraine needs ‘Ramstein format’ meetings for demining territories, says economy minister
Demining of Ukrainian territories (Photo:dsns.gov.ua)
Ukraine needs to create an analogue of the Ramstein format (the Ukraine Defense Contact Group) to synchronize and coordinate efforts for demining the territories, given the scale of the problem, a Ukrainian minister said on March 4.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development and Trade Yulia Svyrydenko, during a meeting with Canadian MP Heather McPherson, said mine clearance in Ukraine would take 70 years with the resources currently available.
Therefore, Ukraine needs strong support of international partners, both financial, technological and organizational, to tackle this issue in the shortest possible time, Svyrydenko said.
Svyrydenko and McPherson also discussed the issue of war risk insurance for foreign companies that are ready to take part in the rapid recovery of Ukraine, and in particular that for Canadian businesses.
Svyrydenko said Ukraine was already working on this issue with the United States and the European Union. She also emphasized the importance of introducing investment insurance mechanisms in the context of the need to restore and revive the national economy, which shrank by 30.4% in 2022.
In December 2022, the United Kingdom handed over to Ukraine more than 1,000 VALLON metal detectors and 100 bomb de-arming kits to help clear minefields and make safe reclaimed territory, civilian homes, and infrastructure.
Estonia also sent counter explosive ordnance equipment to Ukraine worth EUR 337,000.
Meanwhile, 98 Polish police officers took part in a secret mission to carry out mine clearance of the liberated areas in Ukraine. In total, the Poles removed 2,000 explosives.
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