Turkey and Ukraine have signed an agreement that will allow Turkish construction companies to participate in the reconstruction of Ukrainian infrastructure damaged by the Russian invasion, the two countries announced today.

Turkey shares maritime borders with both Ukraine and Russia on the Black Sea and maintains good ties with both countries. Ankara worked with the United Nations to conclude an agreement on the safe export of grain through the Black Sea.

He opposes the Russian invasion, as well as Western sanctions against Moscow.

In a meeting in Istanbul, Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat, Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglou and Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov they signed a document setting the parameters for a “Turkish-Ukrainian Reconstruction Team”.

Bolat said the three ministers discussed the role “Turkey will play in the reconstruction of Ukraine” and added that the two countries would use the task force, which was formed under a 2022 memorandum of understanding on the reconstruction of Ukraine, to determine the projects in Ukraine and the assessment of financing conditions.

“This will provide an important legal basis for efforts to rebuild Ukraine. We are ready to cooperate with third countries as well”, he emphasized at the signing ceremony of the document.

Kubrakov said the key areas in need of reconstruction are the housing and transport sectors, including road networks, bridges and railways, and Ukraine’s water transport infrastructure. He added that he believed the efforts would also boost bilateral trade.

“It is of utmost importance for our country to attract foreign investment in infrastructure,” said the Ukrainian infrastructure minister.

Turkish contractors wanted to participate in all areas of infrastructure reconstruction, said a Turkish industry source involved in the talks.