FIEC STATEMENT
Four years on: from resilience to reconstruction in Ukraine
Brussels, February 2026
This month marks four years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine – four years of devastation, but also of courage, ingenuity and unbroken resolve from the Ukrainian people. FIEC condemns this war of aggression and reaffirms its solidarity with Ukraine and with all those working for a just and lasting peace.
Russia’s campaign has not been confined to strictly military targets. It has repeatedly struck civilian life and critical infrastructure – power generation and grids, transport links, housing and municipal services – with the clear intent to undermine Ukraine’s ability to function, to produce and to innovate. The joint Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA5) estimated recovery and reconstruction needs at USD 587 billion. These figures are a stark measure of the task ahead – and a reminder that solidarity must now be matched with action: turning commitments into transparent delivery on the ground.
Analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) highlights the war’s attritional character: Russia is paying a very high price for marginal gains, while the conflict continues to erode its military potential. At the same time, Ukraine has shown that technological innovation, industrial agility and the mobilisation of SMEs – often across dual-use ecosystems – are not only a wartime necessity but a strategic asset. For Europe, the lesson is clear: resilience, industrial capacity and innovation are both an economic priority and a security imperative.
Since June 2022, FIEC and the European International Contractors (EIC) have channelled this commitment through the joint Task Force “Ukraine”, chaired by FIEC Honorary President Kjetil Tonning and developed in close cooperation with our Ukrainian member, the Confederation of Builders of Ukraine (CBU). The Task Force connects European and Ukrainian expertise, promotes coordination among stakeholders, and helps translate political commitments into project-ready solutions – supporting Ukraine’s recovery and its path towards EU integration. Key milestones include early engagement with Ukrainian local authorities (Irpin, 2022), the publication of industry recommendations (2023), contributions to the debate on the Ukraine Facility (adopted in 2024), the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding on sustainable reconstruction with European social partners (2023), the co-organisation of the Recovery Construction Forum (since 2023) and the co-organisation of a high-level side event on Ukraine’s green reconstruction at the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025.
As we look ahead, solidarity must be matched with practical choices that make reconstruction faster, cleaner and more trustworthy. FIEC therefore calls for:
- Integrity first: scale up anti-corruption safeguards and open contracting – transparent e-procurement, robust audit trails, independent oversight, and clear conditionality – so every euro supports recovery and strengthens public trust.
- Value for Europe and Ukraine: ensure EU support benefits Ukrainian and European businesses, especially SMEs, through preferred access to tenders, partnerships and capacity building – while strictly excluding sanctioned and high-risk entities from supply chains.
- Build to European standards: align projects with EU technical standards and proven international contracting practices, and use award criteria based on best value (MEAT) and life-cycle performance rather than lowest upfront price.
- De-risk delivery and investment: strengthen payment security, apply workable price-revision mechanisms, and expand guarantees and blended-finance tools (notably under the Ukraine Facility) to mobilise private capital and accelerate implementation.
- Rebuild green and resilient: treat debris as a resource, scale low-carbon materials and circular solutions, invest in energy efficiency and resilient networks, and prioritise skills, safety and quality jobs so reconstruction delivers lasting value.
FIEC stands ready – together with its member federations, EIC, CBU and partners – to support a transparent, high-quality and sustainable reconstruction that restores homes and infrastructure, rebuilds communities, and anchors Ukraine’s future within the European family.