24.08.2026 | Insight
As Ukraine celebrates its Independence Day, my message to our partners, clients and beneficiaries is one of confidence and commitment.
Russia’s full-scale invasion has brought immense suffering and destruction. Yet every time I visit Ukraine or speak with our partners across the country, I am reminded that Ukraine’s greatest strength is its people. Despite extraordinary challenges, communities continue to deliver essential services, rebuild and plan for the future. Their determination shows that recovery is not only possible; it is already underway.
For Nefco, Ukraine remains one of our most important priorities. Three areas will continue to guide our work in the years to come.
First, we are committed to supporting Ukraine’s green recovery and reconstruction. Rebuilding is not only about restoring what has been lost. It is an opportunity to invest in more energy-efficient buildings, modern water and wastewater infrastructure, sustainable energy systems and resilient municipal services. Recovery should strengthen communities while helping Ukraine advance its long-term environmental and climate objectives.
Second, we will continue to work through strong partnerships. The scale of Ukraine’s needs is too great for any single organisation to address alone. We work closely with Nordic governments, the European Union, international financial institutions and Ukrainian partners to translate funding into practical results on the ground. By combining resources, expertise and local knowledge, we can achieve far greater impact together.
Third, we remain committed to mobilising financing for recovery. The recent decision to resume lending to Ukrainian municipalities is an important milestone. Grants will remain essential, particularly in areas most heavily affected by the war. At the same time, loans can help communities move faster, undertake larger investments and address long-term infrastructure needs. The return of lending sends an important signal: despite the ongoing war, conditions are being created for sustainable investment and long-term development.
Ukraine is not only rebuilding; it is also creating solutions from which its international partners can learn. Across the country, municipalities are finding new ways to deliver services under difficult conditions, schools and hospitals are adapting rapidly, businesses are developing new solutions, and local communities are solving practical problems every day.
Faced with immense pressure, Ukrainians are moving from idea to implementation with a speed and pragmatism that many of us elsewhere in Europe would struggle to match. Decisions taken today to modernise infrastructure, strengthen energy systems and create cleaner, healthier communities, will shape the country for decades.
This is why the relationship between Ukraine and its international partners should not be viewed as one-directional. Ukraine’s experience offers valuable lessons in resilience, preparedness and rapid implementation.
We can learn from decentralised approaches to energy and infrastructure, from the ability to maintain essential services under pressure, and from the speed with which damaged systems are restored. As Nordic countries increasingly focus on security of supply, energy resilience and societal preparedness, these lessons are directly relevant to us.
At Nefco, our role is not simply to finance projects. It is to work alongside Ukrainian municipalities and our partners to turn resources into lasting environmental, economic and social benefits, and to help build a stronger, greener and more resilient country.
On Ukraine’s Independence Day, we celebrate the courage of communities that continue to move forward. Ukraine has shown the world that independence is not simply a political concept. It is the ability to choose your own future and to keep building it, even in the face of adversity.
We are proud to stand alongside Ukraine on that journey.
