In his speech delivered via video call, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenksy, during the opening statement at the “Ukraine Recovery Conference” in Lugano, Switzerland, said that the reconstruction of Ukraine is a common task of the democratic world.

“The reconstruction of Ukraine is not a local project. It is not a project of one nation, but a common task of the entire democratic world, of all countries that can say they are civilized. This reconstruction also means an opportunity for our countries, our companies and our specialists to show why freedom is more powerful than any tyranny,” Zelensky said in the virtual speech.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal reiterated the need for financial aid in his speech at the conference, saying the country’s recovery plan will cost about $750 billion.

The meeting was attended by representatives of about 40 countries, as well as several international organizations and financial institutions.