Ukraine needs an “Infrastructure Ramstein” to support railways and logistics during the war

Volodymyr Shchelkunov, Chair the of ICC Ukraine:

— The fifth year of the full-scale war has demonstrated that Ukraine’s transport infrastructure is no longer merely a part of the economy, but one of the key elements of national security, state resilience, and the functioning of the country. Under the current conditions, the railway has become Ukraine’s main transport artery. Due to the closed airspace, constant risks to maritime logistics, and limited capacities of road transportation, the burden on Ukrzaliznytsia is unprecedented.

In fact, today the railway simultaneously performs several strategic functions. These include the evacuation of the population from frontline regions, transportation of military and humanitarian cargo, ensuring the operation of enterprises, supporting exports and imports, as well as maintaining the stability of the domestic economy. Under such conditions, any strikes on railway infrastructure have not only local consequences, but also affect the resilience of the state as a whole.

That is why the issue of international support for Ukraine’s transport infrastructure is extremely relevant and requires a systematic approach. We have already seen examples of effective international coordination in the defense sector within the “Ramstein” format. In my opinion, Ukraine and its international partners should create a similar permanent coordination mechanism to support critical infrastructure and logistics.

This concerns the establishment of a kind of “Infrastructure Ramstein” that would operate on a permanent basis and ensure оперативне response to challenges. Such a mechanism should unite the governments of partner states, international financial organizations, development banks, transport companies, manufacturers of machinery, energy equipment, and specialized international associations.

It is especially important that assistance should not be limited solely to financing. Ukraine needs fast and practical solutions. First and foremost, this includes the supply of locomotives, railcars, energy equipment, transformers, signaling systems, automation tools, specialized repair equipment, and spare parts. It is also critically important to create an international reserve of critical equipment for the rapid restoration of damaged facilities after missile strikes.

We must understand that today the speed of infrastructure restoration has become one of the factors of state resilience. While previously the reconstruction of certain facilities could take months, now it is literally a matter of hours or days. And this is precisely where international support can play a decisive role — through simplified mechanisms of supply, financing, and technical coordination.

In addition, international insurance of transportation and logistics risks is another important area. Due to wartime threats, many international companies face high insurance rates or are not prepared to operate in the region at all. Therefore, international guarantee mechanisms are needed to help maintain cargo flows, investments, and the participation of foreign businesses in the restoration of Ukraine’s infrastructure.

Equally important is the integration of Ukraine’s transport system into the European logistics network. The war has effectively accelerated processes that were previously considered long-term. Today, Ukraine is already becoming an integral part of European transport corridors. This concerns the development of border infrastructure, increasing the capacity of border crossings, modernization of railway tracks, digitalization of logistics, and harmonization of transport standards.

For the international community, it is important to realize that supporting Ukrainian logistics is not only assistance to Ukraine. It is a matter of the stability of global markets, food security, continuity of international trade, and the economic security of Europe. Ukrainian railways ensure critically important exports of agricultural products, metallurgy, raw materials, and humanitarian cargo. Entire regions of the world depend on the stability of these transportation routes.

I would also like to emphasize separately that international support must not be reactive, but strategic. It is necessary already now to form joint long-term programs for the modernization of Ukraine’s transport infrastructure, taking into account post-war reconstruction and Ukraine’s future membership in the European Union.

Today, Ukraine is demonstrating unique experience in operating a transport system under the conditions of a full-scale war. And this experience is also valuable for international partners. Therefore, cooperation should be built not only as assistance to Ukraine, but as a joint formation of a new model of resilient, secure, and modern transport infrastructure for the whole of Europe.