In a major step toward European integration and stronger cross-border infrastructure, Ukraine has secured €76 million in grant support from the European Union to build a European-gauge railway connecting Lviv to the Polish border. The funding was approved by the Coordination Committee of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) – a key EU program that finances infrastructure projects of strategic importance.
The project involves constructing the Sknyliv – Mostyska II section, the first full-scale rail segment built to the 1435 mm European standard. It will serve as a vital link in the future direct railway corridor between Ukraine and the European Union, reducing travel time and unlocking new opportunities for freight and passenger transit.
Why It Matters:
- Faster and more efficient logistics: The euro-gauge line will enable seamless integration with European rail networks, avoiding the need for time-consuming wheelset changes at the border.
- Boost to exports and economic resilience: With thousands of trucks and trains currently congesting border crossings, the new railway will ease pressure, speed up deliveries, and increase trade capacity.
- Support for wartime stability: Amid full-scale Russian aggression, this infrastructure development strengthens Ukraine’s ability to maintain mobility, economic activity, and cooperation with international partners.
- A clear sign of EU integration: The project demonstrates Ukraine’s growing integration with the EU’s transport, economic, and digital systems – not in the distant future, but right now.
Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration and Minister of Infrastructure, as well as leaders of Ukrzaliznytsia, welcomed the EU’s decision as a significant vote of confidence in Ukraine’s capacity to build for the future, even during wartime.
“This is more than a railway project. It’s a powerful signal that Ukraine is an integral part of Europe. It’s an investment in logistics, trade, resilience — and our shared future,” – Ukrainian officials noted.
The Lviv–Poland euro-gauge railway is not only about physical infrastructure — it is a symbol of Ukraine’s irreversible European path and a catalyst for regional growth, faster recovery, and deeper partnership with the European Union.
