U.S. Special Envoy Keith Kellogg to Attend Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome

U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, is set to participate in the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC2025) in Rome on July 10–11, 2025. This conference aims to mobilize international support for Ukraine's reconstruction, with estimated costs around 500 billion euros ($590 billion).

The URC2025, co-organized by Italy and Ukraine, continues a series of high-level international conferences dedicated to Ukraine's recovery since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are expected to attend, along with leaders from Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, and Greece.

Kellogg's participation underscores the United States' commitment to Ukraine's recovery efforts. Appointed by President Donald Trump in March 2025, Kellogg is a retired Lieutenant General with extensive military and national security experience. He previously served as the National Security Advisor to Vice President Mike Pence and as the Executive Secretary and Chief of Staff of the U.S. National Security Council during Trump's first term.

The conference will focus on four strategic areas:

1. Business Dimension: Mobilizing private sector investment to drive economic growth and reconstruction.
2. Human Dimension: Fostering social recovery and developing human capital by reintegrating internally displaced persons, refugees, and veterans into civilian life.
3. Local and Regional Dimension: Engaging local and regional authorities in the recovery process to ensure that reconstruction efforts are tailored to the specific needs of communities and regions.
4. EU Dimension: Advancing Ukraine's reform process in the context of its path toward European Union accession, aligning recovery efforts with EU standards and practices.

A significant focus of the conference is on "green" recovery, emphasizing sustainable reconstruction practices. Italian Ambassador to Ukraine Carlo Formosa stated that URC2025 will include high-level panels and workshops aimed at coordinating expertise and funding for a climate-smart future for Ukraine.

This conference follows President Trump's decision to resume U.S. weapons shipments to Kyiv after a brief pause that raised concerns about Ukraine's defense capabilities amid escalating Russian attacks. The resumption of aid aligns with the administration's broader strategy to support Ukraine while encouraging diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.

The World Bank estimates that Ukraine's reconstruction and modernization will require approximately 500 billion euros. URC2025 aims to secure commitments from international partners, including private sector investments, to meet these substantial financial needs.

The conference will feature a Business Fair, providing a platform for Ukrainian companies to present investment projects to international investors. The Ministry of Economy of Ukraine has initiated a selection process for private Ukrainian companies to participate, focusing on sectors such as energy, infrastructure, defense, manufacturing, and technology.

The emphasis on the human dimension at URC2025 reflects the critical need to address the social fabric of Ukraine. Reintegrating displaced populations and veterans, fostering social cohesion, and ensuring inclusiveness are essential for sustainable recovery. The conference's focus on human capital development aims to unleash the potential of all citizens, particularly women and youth, to contribute to the nation's future.

URC2025 is the fourth Ukraine Recovery Conference, following previous conferences held in Lugano (2017), London (2018), Copenhagen (2019), and Vilnius (2021). Each conference has built upon the last, aiming to coordinate international efforts in supporting Ukraine's recovery and reform processes.

The participation of U.S. Special Envoy Keith Kellogg in URC2025 underscores the United States' commitment to Ukraine's recovery and highlights the importance of international collaboration in addressing the challenges posed by the ongoing conflict and reconstruction efforts.