On June 17, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mariana Betsa took part in the national forum “Human Capital Dimension at the URC 2025: Focusing on Return and Recovery,” held in the lead-up to the upcoming Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC 2025), which will take place in Rome this July.
During the panel discussion, Mariana Betsa underscored the critical importance of maintaining strong ties between Ukraine and all Ukrainians worldwide, particularly those who have been forced to temporarily seek refuge abroad as a result of Russian aggression. She outlined the ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine in this area.
“The MFA is doing everything in its power to ensure that all Ukrainians abroad feel protected by their state. This includes expanding the global network of Ukrainian diplomatic missions, enhancing digital access to consular services, and actively safeguarding the rights of our citizens,” emphasized Mariana Betsa.
The Deputy Minister further highlighted that preserving human capital remains a strategic priority for the Government of Ukraine.
“We are committed to ensuring that Ukrainians abroad retain their national identity, serve as active advocates for Ukraine, and sustain strong ties with their homeland. These efforts are essential to fostering the voluntary return of our citizens and engaging them in the country’s reconstruction,” she noted.
Mariana Betsa also called on international partners to play an active role in Ukraine’s recovery, stressing that investing in Ukraine and its people is an investment in shared global security.
The panel discussion was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Unity of Ukraine Oleksiy Chernyshov, Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine Oksana Zholnovych, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Olena Kovalska, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine Matthias Schmale, UNHCR Representative in Ukraine Karolina Lindholm Billing, and Nithin Umapathi, Human Development Program Leader for Eastern Europe at the World Bank.