France co-hosted a donor conference in Paris on Monday that raised €278 million toward repairing the Chernobyl nuclear plant's drone-damaged containment arch.

Fifteen donors confirmed commitments totaling €278 million at the conference, co-chaired by France, Ukraine and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Benjamin Haddad, France's Minister Delegate for European Affairs, announced the total at the closing session. The sum represents more than half of the €500 million the EBRD estimates is needed to fully restore the structure.

A Russian drone struck the New Safe Confinement on February 14, 2025, damaging both the outer and inner cladding and the safety systems. The plant director warned that another attack could cause the structure to collapse. The EBRD says the arch must be fully restored by 2030 to reduce the risk of corrosion to its steel structures. Odile Renaud-Basso, the bank's president, warned that without repairs, "the risk of a very serious accident, with very extensive consequences – comparable to what happened in 1986 – is quite real."

France pledged €40 million, including €10 million already allocated for preliminary studies and an additional €30 million announced by Roland Lescure, the Minister of Economy and Finance. The French government said the "extent and complexity" of the damage make restoration both urgent and demanding. Germany committed €50 million, the United States up to $100 million, and Austria €1 million. In October, G7 finance ministers meeting in Bangkok announced their intention to allocate €260 million for the repairs.

Lescure said donors have until spring 2027 to raise the full €500 million. "We must continue our work and broaden the circle of donors. That is precisely why we have brought everyone together today," he said. Haddad said that by mobilizing international funding, donors help Ukraine not have to bear alone the financial consequences of the Russian aggression. Anatolii Kutsevol, Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Energy, expressed confidence that partners would raise the entire amount required. Extensive repairs are planned to begin in 2028.

The New Safe Confinement is a 36,000-ton steel arch standing 108 meters high. French companies Vinci and Bouygues built it with other European firms between 2010 and 2019. It was designed to last 100 years and to contain radioactive materials from the reactor that exploded on April 26, 1986.