Zelensky calls on UN to jointly develop action plan to restore Donbas

25.10.2020 12:51

Ukrinform

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has called on the UN to jointly develop an action plan to restore Donbas after the de-occupation.

"We would like you to pay attention to such an important project, which is very difficult for us to implement only at the expense of the Ukrainian budget - the project to provide Donbas with drinking water. I would like to remind you that the Donbas Water company meets the needs of the entire Donbas - not only government-controlled territories but also temporarily occupied areas of Donbas," Zelensky said at a meeting with United Nations Resident Coordinator, Humanitarian Coordinator Osnat Lubrani, the press service of the Head of State informs.

It is a matter of both reconstruction and construction of a water supply network, Zelensky noted.

The President reminded about Switzerland’s participation in the project and that the President of Switzerland had personally visited the enterprise and the region during the last visit to Ukraine.

In addition, according to Zelensky, roads are being actively built and repaired in Donbas, in particular, 343 km of roads are being repaired in Luhansk region, up 300% compared to total number over ten years.

"This is important for the unification of the country," the President stressed.

The UN Resident Coordinator stressed that people in Donbas saw and appreciated the development of infrastructure.

"When we talk about the restoration of Donbas, we should understand this as a whole range of issues, including the cleansing of the region's information space from propaganda and fake news," the Head of State said.

In this context, the President recalled Ukraine's initiative to establish the headquarters of the International Office for Combating Disinformation and Propaganda in Kyiv.

Zelensky also underscored the importance of further active cooperation between the coordinator's office and public authorities in order to support Ukraine in those areas and regions that need it most, especially in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

At the same time, the parties discussed UN assistance to Ukraine in the fight against coronavirus pandemic.