On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale war against Ukraine.
The brutal violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity was swiftly condemned by the United Nations General Assembly, yet the war continues.
Death and destruction have reached a scale unseen in Europe since World War II, with the war’s impact felt far and wide — from Ukrainian families who have lost loved ones to African nations facing the threat of famine.
This is a dark hour for humanity, but we must think about rebuilding Ukraine after the war. Planning ahead and preparing today is crucial for the country’s long-term survival: these efforts will save lives and increase the chances of success. Furthermore, they will give millions of Ukrainians hope that, after the horrors of war, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
A report by the Centre for Economic Policy Research (Becker et al., 2022) outlines an initial framework for Ukraine’s reconstruction. When the report was drafted in March 2022, uncertainty was overwhelming.
How far would Russia go in its destruction of Ukraine?
How resilient would Ukraine be in resisting the aggression?
What kind of assistance would the civilized world provide to Ukraine?
What once seemed almost unattainable—Ukraine’s victory—now appears increasingly within reach. Therefore, a more detailed analysis is needed to define what Ukraine should look like after the war and what tools policymakers will need to achieve these goals.
This book offers proposals from leading scholars and practitioners on this topic. Each chapter focuses on a specific sector, though some overlap, reflecting the comprehensive nature of Ukraine’s transformation. Many elements must work simultaneously to accomplish this complex task, making a clear vision of the goals essential.
The book’s main message is clear: reconstruction is not about rebuilding Ukraine to its pre-war state but about profoundly modernizing the country. Infrastructure, technology, the business environment, institutions, education, healthcare, and other critical aspects of the economy and society must leap forward and reform to help Ukraine shed its post-Soviet legacy. The aim is to transform Ukraine into a full-fledged democracy with a modern economy, strong institutions, and a robust defense sector. A key part of this ambitious agenda is Ukraine’s full membership in the EU and NATO.
However, there can be no compromises—Ukraine must fulfill all the membership requirements of these organizations, especially those related to democracy, resilient institutions, and low corruption.
This book emphasizes the importance of allied support. Yet, for reconstruction to truly become a success story, Ukraine’s future must be determined by its own citizens. In other words, Ukrainians must take ownership of this process.
For a long time (understandably so), many Ukrainians viewed the state as something hostile and alien, aimed at suppressing society. Today, more people recognize that they must own the state—defend their rights and fulfill their civic duties. Building on this wave of patriotism, creating mechanisms for genuine citizen involvement will help sustain national unity and the enthusiasm of volunteers into the post-war period. More importantly, it will ensure the country’s democratic development.
Rebuilding Ukraine will be a challenge not only for Ukraine itself but for the world as a whole. The destruction is vast, and no single country or organization can handle the reconstruction process alone. It will require extensive coordination among governments, international organizations, NGOs, businesses, and other stakeholders. Through the reconstruction process, mechanisms, institutions, and alliances will be established.
You can read the entire book in Ukrainian at the link: https://cepr.org/system/files/2022-12/reconstruction%20book_Ukrainian_0.pdf