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Italian Embassy promotes G7’s 2025 Ukraine reconstruction conference

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Italian Embassy promotes G7’s 2025 Ukraine reconstruction conference
From left: Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova; Italian Ambassador Mariangela Zappia; and Marisa Lago, US undersecretary for international trade, attend an Oct. 22 event promoting international assistance to Ukraine's reconstruction efforts. (Photos by Larry Luxner)

Against the backdrop of 16 huge photographs depicting the architectural splendor of Kyiv, some 200 dignitaries gathered Oct. 22 at the Italian Embassy here in advance of a July 2025 meeting in Rome to finance the rebuilding of Ukraine—even as its devastating war against Russia rages on.

All eyes focused on four powerful women: the hostess, Italian Ambassador Mariangela Zappia; Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova; Marisa Lago, US undersecretary for international trade; and Penny Pritzker, former US secretary of commerce in the Obama administration.

“Supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression is at the top of Italy’s agenda,” Zappia said in opening remarks, echoing the sentiments of yet another powerful woman: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. “Italy has done its best and will continue to do so, for as long as it takes.”

Italy holds the 2024 rotating presidency of the G7, and will host the next Ukraine Recovery Conference, set for July 10-11, 2025, in Rome. Previous conferences have taken place in London, Berlin and Switzerland. Under Italian law, the weapons it has sent and is sending Kyiv can only be used within Ukrainian territory.

Banner at the Italian Embassy event Oct. 22 to promote Ukraine’s economic reconstruction.

“All the components of Ukrainian society will be needed to restore the country’s social and economic fabric. Preserving Ukraine’s cultural heritage and rebuilding its cities are key to its progress,” she said. “For this reason, Italy has decided to focus on this, with the patronage of the historic city of Odessa.”

Markarova has become one of the best-known diplomats on Embassy Row since Russia attacked her country on Feb. 24, 2022. Shortly after the second anniversary of that unprovoked invasion, she was a guest at the Washington Diplomat’s Ambassador Insider Series.

In an interview published after that Feb. 29 event, she said “we’ve been fortunate to have very strong bipartisan support—from both sides of the aisle—and it’s still there.”

Yet that strong bipartisan support may be eroding. Markarova, at the Italian Embassy event’s only allusion to the upcoming Nov. 5 presidential elections, urged her audience to “please stay the course with us, regardless of the political cycle which is on everyone’s minds.”

Italian Ambassador Mariangela Ziappa speaks at an Oct. 22 promoting Ukraine’s postwar economic reconstruction.

Former President Donald Trump has made no secret of its admiration for Vladimir Putin and his ongoing impatience with the war. During his recent three-hour interview with conservative podcaster Joe Rogan, Trump insisted that Russia would never have invaded Ukraine if he had still been in the Oval Office.

“I said, ‘Vladimir, you’re not going in.’ I used to talk to him all the time,” Trump said, adding that Putin ordered the invasion because “he doesn’t respect Biden at all.”

Trump’s opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, during their Sept. 10, 2024, televised debate, dismissed the notion of Trump negotiating with “a dictator who would eat you for lunch.” Instead, she emphasized the Biden administration’s policy of supporting Ukraine “as long as it takes”—together with US allies in Europe.

Continued US support is nothing less than an existential issue for Ukraine, said Markarova.

“We are discussing how to resolve so many important challenges, but war cannot be normal,” she said. “We cannot take this for granted. We have to win—regardless of the monetary or fiscal challenges. Our number-one priority is weapons for Ukraine. We can win this war and then talk about it. Our road to Rome is our road to a better future—not only for Ukrainians but for all.”

Marisa Lago, US undersecretary for international trade.

Marisa Lago, the administration’s undersecretary for international trade, made clear that Washington is “fully committed” to Ukraine’s victory.

“We have provided over $100 billion in military, economic and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine since Russia launched its ruthless, unjustified invasion,” she said. “We’re committed to using that assistance to ensure Ukraine obtains macroeconomic stability, to repair its crippled energy infrastructure, and to improve the business climate.”

Lago said the Biden administration isn’t waiting until the war ends to plan ahead for Ukraine’s reconstruction. Last month, the US Commerce Department partnered with the State Department in two conferences—one in Kyiv, the other in Bucharest—and has convened business officials to identify additional ways to address Ukraine’s near and long-term needs.

“This past July, I met with 200 government and business representatives in Kyiv. Our conversations made absolutely clear that the US private sector remains eager to support Ukraine,” she said. “It’s especially notable that almost three years into the war, over 80% of American Chamber of Commerce members are operational.”

Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova speaks at the Italian Embassy on Oct. 22, as former US Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker looks on.

“I am deeply inspired by the unshakeable spirit of so many Ukrainians I’ve met in Ukraine, Poland, Romania and here, including many of you in this room today, who remind me of what’s at stake,” Lago said. “All of us must sustain our unwavering resolve and support to ensure that Ukraine not only wins the war, but wins the peace.”

At the event, Pritzker—who served as President Obama’s secretary of commerce, from 2013 to 2017—was honored by Markarova for her service as Biden’s special representative for Ukraine.

Over the course of a year, Pritzker has traveled to Ukraine six times and championed the cause of roughly $9 billion in economic assistance in the most recent supplemental package. She also helped launch the G7+ Multi-Agency Donor Coordination Platform Business Advisory Council, supported Ukraine’s effort to pass key economic reforms to catalyze private-sector investment; started a Defense Industrial Base “Deal Team” that accelerates licensing, co-production and joint ventures between US and Ukrainian defense companies.

Pritzker, who recently stepped down from that role after only a year, said she was accepting the award in honor of all Ukrainians, “especially those who are serving on the front lines” and risking their lives.

Three of the 16 images by Italian photographer Massimo Listri on display at the Embassy of Italy during the Oct. 22 event.

“I remain inspired by the Ukrainians’ incredible grit in the face of Putin’s Russia, which is hell-bent on dragging Ukraine back into a corrupt, dictatorial past,” she said. “Ukrainians are dreaming of integrating into Euro-Atlantic institutions. They want to be plugged into Europe and global markets. They will strengthen the rule of law, governance and transparency. I, like the United States and our allies, remain committed to making that dream, that vision, a reality.”

The images that surrounded participants at the embassy event were taken by Massimo Listri, a distinguished Italian photographer known for his large-scale images of majestic, often empty interior spaces. Listri’s work has been exhibited worldwide, from the Royal Palace of Milan to the Morgan Library & Museum in New York.

According to an information pamphlet accompanying the exhibit, “the relevance of these photographs extends beyond their artistic value. As Italy has taken a leading role in the reconstruction of Ukrainian cultural heritage—most notably the restoration of Odesa’s Transfiguration Cathedral—this exhibition reflects Italy’s unwavering commitment to supporting Ukraine during this critical time. The cultural and diplomatic ties between Italy and Ukraine are exemplified in these photographs and remind us that even in the face of destruction, there is hope for renewal.”

Larry Luxner

Miami native Larry Luxner, a veteran journalist and photographer, has reported from more than 100 countries in Latin America, Africa, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Asia for a variety of news outlets. He lived for many years in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and the Washington, D.C., area before relocating to Israel in January 2017. Larry has been news editor of The Washington Diplomat since 2005.

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