German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for the further strengthening of Ukraine’s air defence against Russian attacks.

Mr Scholz made the call at the start of an international reconstruction conference for Ukraine in Berlin.

He called on allies to support a German initiative to bolster Ukraine’s air defences “with everything possible.”

“Because the best reconstruction is the one that doesn’t have to happen in the first place,” Mr Scholz said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is also attending.

Mr Scholz held out the prospect of far-reaching and long-term commitments for reconstruction in the country, which has been severely scarred by more than two years of costly all-out war and years of simmering conflict before that.

Mr Scholz said he would push for those kinds of commitments at the upcoming G7 summit of wealthy democratic countries, which begins in Italy on Thursday.

The chancellor pointed out that the World Bank estimates that $500 billion in reconstruction aid will be needed over the next decade.

He also called on private companies to participate in investments.

“Given the scale we are talking about here, private capital must be added,” Mr Scholz stated.

Mr Scholz emphasised that hundreds of German companies continue to do active business in Ukraine, with automotive firms alone employing about 35,000 people in Ukraine.

Mr Scholz said that despite the war, German investment in Ukraine did not reduce, and the volume of trade had increased significantly since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

“All of this shows me that the business sector understands the potential Ukraine has,” he said.

(dpa/NAN)