Greece to open special office in Ukrainian city of Odesa to aid in region’s reconstruction

Minister Oleh Nemchinov and Greece's Special Envoy for Ukraine, Ambassador Spyridon Lambridis, discussed cooperation between the countries, including the possibility of opening a special office to support the reconstruction of the Odesa region, Rubryka reports.

What's the problem?

The Russian army consistently shells the ports and agricultural infrastructure in the Odesa region. Since the beginning of the war, the Russian forces targeted civilian facilities, later shifting to the destruction of energy facilities last winter. Due to destructive Russian attacks, grain storage facilities, businesses, and homes of peaceful residents have been ruined.

Russia damaged over 90 architectural landmarks in Odesa in the past five months alone.

Today, these attacks are more of an economic strategy than a military one, as the occupiers are significant grain suppliers globally and view Ukraine as a major competitor.

"In this way, they try to get several bonuses at once: one of them is to remove us from the market, where we hinder them. Well, the second is simple blackmail, plain terrorism, and an attempt to once again use hunger as an instrument of global geopolitics," said Dmytro Pletenchuk, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Navy.

The reconstruction of the Odesa region requires substantial funds.

What's the solution?

Ukraine is interested in strengthening political dialogue with Greece, a crucial European partner.

"Today, it is extremely relevant to resume the economic, industrial, technical, and scientific cooperation within the Interdepartmental Joint Ukrainian-Greek Working Group, the Ukrainian part of which I head," said Nemchinov at the beginning of the meeting. "It is essential that we have already agreed on the date for the next meeting and started the preparation. Currently, we are awaiting proposals for the agenda from the Greek side. I am confident that this meeting will be a catalyst for the economic cooperation between our countries." 

How does it work?

The parties discussed Odesa's special role in the Greek Republic's history and Greece's willingness to contribute to the restoration of architectural monuments and the historical center of Odesa damaged during the Russian aggression.

In turn, Lambridis stressed that Greece intends to open a special office in Odesa to aid Ukraine in the reconstruction of the Odesa region. He also announced an international conference in Athens on February 15, 2024, on the recovery of Ukraine with the involvement of Greek businesses.

Key issues planned for discussion during the conference include:

• Preparation of the Ukrainian Recovery Plan — planning and financing aspects of recovery projects involving European agencies and the Ukrainian government.
• Institutional mechanism for business — presentation of a mechanism for business circles involved in reconstruction projects, with the participation of Ukrainian government experts and representatives of businesses with regional experience in recovery.
• Opportunities for cooperation in specific sectors — presentation of sectors such as construction, transport, logistics, energy, technology, IT, consulting, and healthcare involving representatives of Greek and Ukrainian trade and industrial organizations.

Nemchinov stressed the importance of developing trade and economic cooperation between the two countries, which has significant potential, particularly in construction, alternative energy, and expanding logistical ties. Special emphasis was placed on collaboration in the transport sector, considering the substantial potential of Greek shipping companies.

As previously reported, in 2022, the volume of trade in goods and services between Ukraine and Greece increased by 24.3%, reaching $954.8 million. For the first nine months of 2023, the trade turnover between the two countries increased by 59.4%, totaling $1,025.7 million.

Rubryka reported that the first 18 months of Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine could lead to up to 150 million tons of additional CO2e emissions, surpassing the annual emissions of an industrialized country like Belgium. The overall climate damages caused by and to be compensated by Russia are estimated at $9.6 billion.