Supporting Ukraine’s reconstruction

While Ukraine has been resisting Russia’s war of aggression since February 2022, the international community has already mobilized to begin the process of reconstruction. This process takes place on two levels, the first of which involves helping Ukraine cope with the destruction of vital infrastructure for its survival (energy, logistical routes, healthcare, schools, etc.). Secondly, Ukraine’s reconstruction process is about more than material aid. It is also about fostering the country’s economic and social transformation. This transformation also helps support the country on its path toward membership of the European Union (EU), through the adoption and implementation of numerous reforms to strengthen the rule of law and institutions, fight against corruption, and modernize the functioning of all sectors of the economy, enabling Ukraine to align itself with European legislation (the EU acquis). France is committed to supporting Ukraine for the long haul in strengthening its resilience and preparing its European future. 

In parallel, in addition to providing financing and technical assistance tools and contributing to the risk-sharing and financing instruments of international and European financial institutions (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European Investment Bank, Council of Europe Development Bank), the French government works with French companies, local governments and civil society to facilitate their participation in Ukraine’s reconstruction.

In March 2023, the French President appointed a first special envoy for aid and reconstruction of Ukraine, Pierre Heilbronn, to define and deploy the French civil support strategy for the country and bring on board French companies. The special envoy also represents France on the Steering Committee of the Ukraine Donor Platform that the G7 set up on 12 December 2022. On 1 January 2026, Muriel Lacoue-Labarthe took up the position of special envoy for aid and reconstruction of Ukraine. The continuity of this assignment illustrates France’s steadfast commitment to supporting Ukraine.

Financing for priority sectors

In addition to existing export support instruments like concessional loans, the Private Sector Study and Aid Fund (FASEP) and export insurance (including war risk insurance, which can cover up to 95% of investments), France is working to support sectors that are essential to Ukrainian resilience in the medium and long terms. Several specific steps have been taken in this regard, including:

The creation of a civilian assistance fund

The creation of a €200 million civilian assistance fund (with two thirds of financing provided by the Ministry for the Economy, Finance and Industrial, Energy and Digital Sovereignty and the remaining third by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs) was decided in 2024 to finance the deployment of 19 business projects supporting critical infrastructure, with production based in France. The goal is to finance solutions to support priority infrastructure in Ukraine in sectors such as energy, transport, water, health and mine clearance.

In light of its success, the fund received an additional €71 million in 2026 to finance a dozen projects that will be deployed between late 2026 and 2027. The selection of projects by the Ukrainian government is currently underway. 

Expansion of the AFD mandate to include Ukraine

An AFD mandate to operate in Ukraine was announced during President Zelenskyy’s visit to Paris on 7 June 2024. This mandate allows it to offer loans and grants to local government bodies to finance projects supporting the country’s modernization and integration into the European Union. The AFD will provide €400 million in loans and €50 million in grants through to 2027, without impacting Ukraine’s debt. 

The mobilization of private investment for Ukraine’s reconstruction through risk-sharing mechanisms:

• Officially created during the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdańsk in June 2026, the European Flagship Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukraine is an investment fund launched with an initial €220 million in public catalytic capital, provided by the European Commission, the European Investment Bank and the development finance institutions of France, Italy, Germany and Poland, to attract up to €1.3 billion in private capital. This capital will help finance the reconstruction and development of the private sector in Ukraine, particularly in strategic sectors such as energy, infrastructure and industry. 
• Bpifrance signed an agreement with the European Commission for €150 million in EU guarantees and €13 million in grants, to support a financing programme designed to raise some €478 million in investment to support Ukrainian companies active in dual-use technologies and strategic industries. 

Sector-specific support in priority areas

Support for the health sector

France is the leading country in terms of hospital cooperation with Ukraine, with more than 60 partnerships between Ukrainian and French hospitals. Its action is notably structured around three priority areas: cancer treatment, mental health and physical rehabilitation. France also recently granted Ukraine two concessional loans for a total amount of €47 million, enabling: 

• the construction of a modular hospital in Nizhyn by Ellipse Projects; 
• the delivery of mammography equipment by the company GE HealthCare. 

France also plays a major role in supporting and enhancing the resilience of the healthcare sector in Ukraine through the APPUI programme, which helps improve Ukrainian people’s access to care, enables the procurement of emergency equipment and supports cooperation between hospital practitioners, implemented by Expertise France with the aid of the Crisis and Support Centre.

Expertise France also financed the new Superhumans Center in Odesa, to strengthen Ukrainian capabilities in the area of physical rehabilitation and mental health support for veterans. The centre was inaugurated in early July 2026. 

Support for the energy sector

Supporting the energy sector is vital for Ukraine, as Russia attempts to cut off the country’s ability to deliver electricity and heat. Out of the €200 million provided through France’s Ukraine Fund I to finance projects which are in the process of being implemented, €65 million was dedicated to energy (Schneider Electric, EDF International Networks and GE Vernova).

On 23 January 2026, Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced that France would provide more than 100 generators (some solar-powered) representing 13 MW of power. This gift contributes to the development of decentralized energy production, an essential factor for strengthening energy resilience in Ukraine.

Two companies are developing grid renovation projects with high potential, with support from the Private Sector Study and Aid Fund (FASEP): i) installation of smart meters by EDF International Networks, and ii) grid stabilization through energy storage infrastructure by Forsee Power. 

Ukraine and France are among a small number of countries whose energy mix includes over 50% nuclear power. The French sector is developing several industrial cooperation projects.

Support for mine clearance

Mine clearance is a prerequisite for any physical reconstruction, and therefore essential for rebuilding Ukraine. As France has strong expertise in underwater mine clearance, actions have been conducted to provide training in this area to Ukrainian mine clearance divers, in coordination with the Ministry of the Interior, as well as to translate the TURPIN software into Ukrainian and provide training in its use. 

Support for the digital and telecommunications sector

Before the start of Russia’s war of aggression, Ukraine was one of the most dynamic countries in the world in the field of information technology. This sector, more competitive than others in Ukraine, has maintained its ability to attract numerous international investors, as illustrated by the major acquisition by NJJ of a leading fixed-network operator and the third-largest mobile network operator in Ukraine, the largest direct foreign direct investment in Ukraine in the past 10 years. France is well-positioned, in terms of both business projects and investments and bilateral cooperation projects, to help Ukraine integrate the Digital Single Market and EU acquis. Other French companies are also present in the sector, such as Teleos, through a FASEP project to deploy a fibre optic network.

Lastly, a venture capital fund, Ukraine Phoenix Tech Fund, was created to invest in breakthrough innovation in Ukraine, with the support of Bpifrance, Proparco, Swedfund, private investors and the European Investment Bank. 

Support for the transport sector

In September 2025, Alstom signed a €473 million agreement with Ukrainian Railways to supply 55 electric freight locomotives. Previously, the company Saarstahl Rail supplied 20,000 tons of rails to Ukrainian Railways to repair more than 150 km of railway track, enabled by a concessional loan to the Ukrainian Government of €37.6 million.

Development of technical assistance

With a view to Ukraine’s EU accession, France is working to support its convergence with EU norms and standards, including by:

• Sending high-level technical experts to work with Ukrainian ministries. These experts particularly support the Ukrainian government in preparing the necessary reforms to align with the EU acquis with a view to Ukraine’s future accession to the EU. 
• Boosting the staff numbers of Expertise France in Ukraine and setting up programmes, like the mAIDan technical assistance facility, to leverage French technical cooperation to prepare reconstruction and the EU accession process. Expertise France is active in several sectors in Ukraine, including justice reform, governance, health and infrastructure rehabilitation.

Support for Ukraine within international forums

To rally civil support for Ukraine, France uses its diplomatic influence in several international forums. 

• 2026 G7 Presidency: Taking up the rotating presidency of the G7 in 2026, France has dedicated a large part of its work to support for Ukraine. The Heads of State and Government of the G7, meeting in Évian on 16 June, underlined that they “stand united in [their] unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity”, stating: “We reaffirm our solidarity with the Ukrainian population suffering from attacks on their critical infrastructure and cultural heritage. We commend Ukraine for its resilience and progress on the battlefield in recent months and emphasize there is now a new momentum.” France also supports the fundraising initiative led by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to repair the confinement structure at the Chernobyl nuclear plant, damaged by a Russian drone strike in 2025. 
• Co-chairmanship of the G7+ Ukraine Energy Coordination Group: France is the co-chair, alongside the European Commission, of the G7+ Ukraine Energy Coordination Group, including the G7 members and 14 other countries. In January 2026, while Ukraine was facing particularly violent attacks on its energy infrastructure and thus its civilian population, the group held an emergency meeting that led to the delivery of some 2,500 generators in total throughout the winter. The group now meeting monthly with the aim of facilitating preparations for next winter, in light of the destruction inflicted on the Ukrainian energy system.
• At European level: the EU and its Member States are the leading source of financial, economic, military and humanitarian support to Ukraine. The EU provides financial assistance through the following instruments: 
  • Ukraine Facility: In February 2024, the EU adopted a €50 million facility to support Ukraine for 2024-2027. This instrument helps meet Ukraine’s short- and medium-term needs for its reconstruction and modernization, in connection with its path towards EU membership. Pillar 1 of this facility encourages Ukraine to adopt reforms related to its EU accession process, with disbursements subject to the implementation of the reforms set out in the Ukraine Plan. Part of the budget (€30 billion in total) of the Ukraine Support Loan will contribute to Pillar 1.
  • Ukraine Support Loan: The European Council, at its meeting of 18 December 2025, agreed to grant a €90 billion loan to Ukraine (the Ukraine Support Loan). This loan was granted for the years 2026 and 2027, based on EU borrowing on the capital markets, and backed by the EU budget headroom. It includes a military component that gives strong priority to European production (indicative amount of €60 billion) and a budget support component (indicative amount of €30 billion).