Today's Contents
Just The Facts:
- Trump-Putin call in coming days or weeks; US to urge Ukraine to lower draft age, says incoming US national security adviser
- DTEK commissions Fluence to deliver 200 MW energy storage system for Ukraine
- Ukraine eyes Finnish companies for waste-to-energy plants
- South Korea contributes $21 million to UNDP for Ukraine recovery
- Taiwan makes pledge to Ukraine's Bucha to repair roads near mental health center
Here's What They Think:
- The Scotsman: Trump will have to seek for negotiated settlement of Ukraine war
- Atlantic Council: Ukraine hopes to counter Russia's military superiority with robotic systems
- Euractiv: Trump's Greenland rhetoric could hurt West's case on Ukraine
Sober Second Thought:
- 1.6 million Ukrainian IDPs have returned to unsafe regions amid economic pressures, study finds
We're launching the Master Guide to Rebuilding Ukraine, Q1 2025, the to general public
Interest in the +$500 billion reconstruction of Ukraine is growing. Related stocks have surged, Ukraine debt prices have eased, requests for information are proliferating, and many investors are taking note.
Tragically, the war continues to devastate Ukraine and claim the lives of tens of thousands of dedicated men and women, but the light on the horizon is brightening with hope for peace.
Lasting Ukrainian victory, though, will not be cemented by bullets. It will take actual cement, and bricks and steel. The hammers, cranes and blueprints of the rebuilders must usher in a future of higher living standards and security.
The entire infrastructure will be reoriented West-ward. The energy grid, already being redesigned, will lead global engineering into a decentralized, renewable future. Homes, schools, hospitals, roads, dams, airports, factories, farms and will be Built Back Better in billion-dollar contracts.
To steer the far-sighted early movers through this historic project, scores of bright men and women are writing excellent guidebooks. They come from firms such as BDO, Dentons, CMS, EY, DLA Piper and organizations such as UkraineInvest, Invest in Lviv, the UNDP, the Kyiv School of Economics, the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine and the European Business Association.
This afternoon (Ukraine time), Ukraine Rebuild Newswire will launch the first-ever collection of such advice.
The Master Guide to Rebuilding Ukraine, Q1 2025, links to a wealth of knowledge about the reconstruction. The dozens of references explain the paths for the reconstruction funds, outline the risks, ease the uncertainties of travel to Ukraine and take stock of the potential and riches of the country.
The Master Guide to Rebuilding Ukraine, Q1 2025, is attached to this e-mail.
Here's wishing you a peaceful, and fruitful, 2025.
The URN Team
Trump-Putin call in coming days or weeks; US to urge Ukraine to lower draft age, says incoming US national security adviser
The incoming US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin are expected to "at least" have a call in the coming days or weeks to discuss the situation in Ukraine, Trump's future national security advisor Mike Waltz said on Sunday.
Waltz also said that "preparations are underway" for the meeting between the two leaders and that, from Trump's perspective, "you can't enter a deal if you don't have some type of relationship and dialogue with the other side, and we will absolutely establish that in the coming months."
Speaking with ABC News, Waltz said the Trump administration will urge Ukraine to lower its draft age to 18 to stabilize its front lines ahead of direct talks with Russia.
"So, when we hear about morale problems, when we hear about issues on the front line … Look, if the Ukrainians have asked the entire world to be all in for democracy, we need them to be all in for democracy," Waltz said.
In December, the outgoing US Secretary of State Antony Blinken echoed a similar stance, telling Reuters that Ukraine needs to get younger people into the military to succeed in the war.
The idea has been unpopular among Ukrainians, whose officials have repeatedly said that bringing in more soldiers can't compensate for the lack of ammunition.
Ukraine lowered the conscription age to 25 from 27 in April 2024.
DTEK commissions Fluence to deliver 200 MW energy storage system for Ukraine
Ukraine's largest private power producer DTEK said on Monday it has awarded a €140 million contract to a unit of US-based Fluence Energy to deliver Ukraine's first large-scale battery-based energy storage portfolio with a total capacity of 200 MW.
The project involves six energy storage sites across Ukraine and will provide 400 MWh of dispatchable energy, enough to power 600,000 homes.
Set for completion by October 2025, the project will become Eastern Europe's largest operational energy storage portfolio, DTEK said in a press release.
With capacities ranging from 20 MW to 50 MW, these storage plants will stabilize Ukraine's power grid by providing frequency and power-balancing services, featuring advanced grid-forming capabilities and millisecond response times for rapid power restoration after outages.
DTEK said it chose Fluence, established by Siemens and AES Corporation, for its proven expertise in delivering over 35 GWh of cutting-edge energy storage solutions efficiently and reliably.
Fluence's experience includes integrating storage assets into national energy systems, such as a 201 MW portfolio in Lithuania and 450 MW of projects for German transmission operators.
Ukraine eyes Finnish companies for waste-to-energy plants
The head of Ukraine's State Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development, Serhiy Sukhomlyn, has held talks with Finnish companies about their willingness to participate in the construction of waste-to-energy combined heat and power (CHP) plants in the war-torn country.
"The construction of CHPs that will operate on RDF and CRF fuel is a complex project. But its implementation will definitely work as an investment in the future. With the help of Finnish companies, we will be able to implement it much faster and more efficiently," Sukhomlyn said.
He spoke following a meeting with Finnish Ambassador to Ukraine Tarja Fernandez and Finland's Senior Specialist for Trade and Reconstruction Henri Riihimäki.
During the meeting, the prospects for cooperation in the implementation of the project were discussed, with Fernandez proposing organizing a study tour for Ukrainian community representatives to visit similar waste-to-energy plants in Finland, the state recovery agency said in a press release on Friday.
The agency is in the process of selecting communities to host these facilities, focusing on areas with similar population sizes and existing waste recycling infrastructure to support the development of a standardized plant design.
Ukraine has already secured support for developing the project from the British Embassy in Ukraine and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), as per the statement.
South Korea contributes $21 million to UNDP for Ukraine recovery
South Korea has contributed $20.79 million to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for early recovery and area-based development projects in Ukraine, the UN agency said.
The funding marks a pivot from emergency humanitarian aid to early recovery initiatives in the war-affected regions of Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, and Kherson.
These initiatives seek to enhance the Ukrainian government's capacity to provide essential services while addressing the pressing needs of local populations, particularly the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees, the UNDP said in a press release on Friday.
The agency noted that, according to projections, around 12.6 million Ukrainians will need humanitarian assistance in 2025 due to the war, which has caused severe damage to infrastructure.
The project targets urgent crises in Zaporizhzhia, where daily aerial assaults have caused widespread trauma and displacement; Sumy, home to approximately 30,000 IDPs; and Kherson, where the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam has severely disrupted water management systems.
All efforts will prioritize restoring essential services, such as energy, water, and waste management systems, as well as rehabilitating critical infrastructure in the affected regions, as per the statement.
This funding forms part of the UNDP's wider initiative to support Ukraine's recovery from the devastating effects of the ongoing conflict, the UN agency said. The organization works with diverse stakeholders to restore vital infrastructure, strengthen local capacities, and promote inclusive recovery strategies.
Taiwan makes pledge to Ukraine's Bucha to repair roads near mental health center
Taiwan has pledged a donation of $560,000 to the Ukrainian city of Bucha to support the reconstruction of roads linking the Kyiv Regional Center for Mental Health to nearby areas, Focus Taiwan reported.
The donation agreement was signed during a webinar on Friday by Jeff Liu, Taiwan's representative to Poland, and Bucha Mayor Anatoliy Fedoruk.
At the event, Liu noted that rebuilding the roads would not only enhance access to the health center but also serve as a symbol of recovery for Ukraine, as cited by Focus Taiwan.
Situated in Bucha, a city in the Kyiv region, the Kyiv Regional Center for Mental Health is Ukraine's largest institution of its kind, according to the country’s Renovation League.
Since its establishment in 1978, the center has provided inpatient and outpatient care to more than 150,000 people with mental health conditions.
The Scotsman: Trump will have to seek for negotiated settlement of Ukraine war
Incoming US President Donald Trump will face the unavoidable task of pursuing a negotiated settlement to the war in Ukraine, as President Joe Biden's prolonged strategy has left the conflict politically and economically untenable, Azeem Ibrahim, a senior director at the New Lines Institute, wrote in an op-ed for The Scotsman.
While Biden committed significant aid and military support to Kyiv, his administration's hesitancy and incremental approach to providing advanced weaponry have prolonged the war and limited Ukraine's ability to counter Russian aggression effectively, Ibrahim wrote.
Atlantic Council: Ukraine hopes to counter Russia's military superiority with robotic systems
Ukraine last month marked a significant milestone by launching its first attack using unmanned technologies, highlighting its growing reliance on robotic systems in warfare, such as drones equipped with machine guns and kamikaze capabilities, with which it aims to counter Russia's military superiority, David Kirichenko, an associate research fellow at the Henry Jackson Society, wrote in an op-ed for the Atlantic Council.
As the war continues into its fourth year, Ukraine is focusing on leveraging technological innovations, like unmanned ground vehicles, to counter manpower shortages and Russia's military advantages, while also establishing initiatives to streamline defense tech development and maintain a competitive edge in future combat, Kirichenko wrote.
Euractiv: Trump's Greenland rhetoric could hurt West's case on Ukraine
As incoming US President Donald Trump considers acquiring Greenland and the Panama Canal for "economic security," European leaders have strongly opposed any territorial changes through force, drawing parallels to Russian and Chinese expansionist rhetoric, Alexandra Brzozowski, an editor at Euractiv, wrote in a commentary.
This has sparked concerns that Trump's actions, or even his rhetoric, could embolden Russia and other powers to challenge Western principles of territorial integrity, potentially undermining global norms and inviting further territorial claims, Brzozowski noted.
1.6 million Ukrainian IDPs have returned to unsafe regions amid economic pressures, study finds
Ukrainians are returning to areas near the frontline despite significant security risks, driven by family reunification and economic challenges, according to a brief published by humanitarian organization REACH.
The brief analyzes data from the group's 2024 multi-sector needs assessment (MSNA), which included nationwide representative surveys. It also incorporated findings from the IOM's displacement tracking matrix and qualitative data from rapid needs assessments conducted in frontline areas.
As of June 2024, some 12% of internally displaced persons (IDPs) had returned to their areas of origin. Since February 2022, one-third of all returnees — 1.6 million individuals — moved back to areas within 30 km of the frontline. Most of these returnees relocated to urban settlements, with 92% returning to cities like Kharkiv (59%), Zaporizhzhia (10%), and Sumy (8%).
The motivations for returning to these regions were diverse. Family reunification was cited as the primary reason for 40% of the returnees to the frontline. Economic and housing challenges during displacement areas also played a role, with 31% reporting accommodation issues and 30% mentioning financial difficulties.
The financial burden on displaced households was another significant factor. Rental costs accounted for 60% of IDPs' monthly expenditures, while only 16% of returnees faced similar expenses.
The discontinuation of financial assistance for IDPs led some to leave rented accommodations and move to collective sites, with 8% of new arrivals citing unaffordable rent as a reason. According to monitoring of collective sites in July 2024, almost half reported new arrivals between April and June 2024.
The brief highlighted IDPs' data to recommend that humanitarian and government actors address the push-and-pull factors and provide adequate support for both IDPs and returnees. REACH emphasized the need for more targeted policies to improve assistance and protection for vulnerable populations.
Tyson Barker, US deputy special representative for Ukraine's economy recovery, announced his last day in the role and in the Biden administration, after serving under both Secretary Penny Pritzker and Deputy Secretary Richard Verma.
Olga Savchenko, a partner at energy-oriented law firm Altelaw, promoted the firm's article on the future of auctions for the construction of new generating capacities in Ukraine.
The USAID Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) spotlighted Glek Farm, a family-owned smallholding in Kherson Oblast, as a beneficiary of its program that enabled farmers to buy grain transshipment equipment from Kobzarenko Plant, a Ukrainian agricultural machinery manufacturer, at a 30% discount.
In a separate social media post, USAID ERA announced its completion of rapid upgrade improvements at the Rava-Ruska/Hrebenne road border crossing point in Lviv Oblast.
URN Daily: Sense Bank and Ukrgasbank for sale? And US seeks to cancel $4.7 billion of Ukraine's debt
