On August 25, UK minister of transport Grant Shapps and minister of infrastructure of Ukraine Oleksandr Kubrakov held a meeting at which a historic agreement was signed. Under the terms of the bilateral agreement, the UK guarantees to share engineering experience, as well as provide financial assistance in rebuilding a country devastated by war.
A joint action plan was developed to restore the state's critical infrastructure, including airports, airstrips, ports and routes necessary for grain exports. Also, 5 Go Ahead Group buses will be sent from the kingdom to restore communication with the population of Ukraine. Separate training will be provided for airport personnel, air traffic controllers and aviation security services.
"It’s great to meet with the Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister today and offer the UK’s expertise and resources to help them rebuild and get its people get moving again in the face of this brutal conflict," transport secretary Grant Shapps.
"In the UK we have some of the best transport experts in the world and sharing this with Ukraine will not only help them rebuild – but will boost the profile of UK businesses on a global scale," Grant Shapps.
Separately, the minister spoke about the goals of the previously announced £10 million grant for the Ukrainian railway operator Ukrzaliznytsya. Funds from this grant will be used to purchase equipment for repairing bridges and tunneling, tools and more than 120 shipping containers that will help mobilize Ukrainian grain trains. As Ukraine is one of the world's largest grain exporters, these measures are critical to rebuilding the global economy and reducing pressure on food prices.
"This will support the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which allows the safe passage of grain, food and fertiliser exports out of Ukraine in protected shipping corridors. So far, the initiative has freed 721.449 metric tons of goods from 3 Ukrainian ports," UK government portal.
