Several Western countries have repeatedly stated the need for Ukraine to “win” the war against Russia. The goal of “winning” cannot, however, be limited to a military victory to restore Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Victory must include Ukraine’s full economic recovery and reconstruction. Planning for Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction phase must begin now, both to mitigate the economic and human cost of eight years of war, and to deliver a powerful message of hope to all Ukrainians that a better future lies ahead.
The Open Society Foundations and the German Marshall Fund of the United States will host a public discussion in response to the conclusions of the International Expert Conference on the Recovery, Reconstruction, and Modernization of Ukraine, co-hosted by the German Presidency of the G7 and the European Commission in Berlin on October 25.
The event brought together German, EU, U.S., and Ukrainian decision makers, experts, and civil society leaders to share recommendations on making Ukraine’s reconstruction and recovery effective, just, inclusive, accountable, and sustainable. Speakers made the case for a more systemic, meaningful, and adequately resourced engagement of Ukrainian civil society, cities, and the expert community, and for improved donor and government coordination in Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction.
The conversation highlights recommendations from Open Society’s recent paper War and Peace: Supporting Ukraine to Prevail, Rebuild, and Prosper; from the recent conference “From Resilience to Recovery: The Critical Role of Ukrainian Civil Society,” led by Open Society’s foundation in Ukraine—the International Renaissance Foundation—and two recent German Marshall Fund reports, Designing Ukraine’s Recovery in the Spirit of the Marshall Plan and A Modern Marshall Plan for Ukraine: Seven Lessons from History to Deliver Hope.
Speakers
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Oleksandra Betliy
Speaker
Oleksandra Betliy is a leading research fellow and project coordinator with the Institute for Economic Research and Policy.
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Heather A. Conley
Speaker
Heather A. Conley is president of the German Marshall Fund of the United States.
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Thomas Kleine-Brockhoff
Speaker
Thomas Kleine-Brockhoff is vice president and executive director of the Berlin Office of the German Marshall Fund of the United States.
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Orysia Lutsevych
Moderator
Orysia Lutsevych is a research fellow and manager of the Ukraine Forum in the Russia and Eurasia Program at Chatham House.
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H.E. Oleksii Makeiev
Speaker
H.E. Oleksii Makeiev is Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Federal Republic of Germany.
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Katarína Mathernová
Speaker
Katarína Mathernová is deputy director-general in the European Commission’s Directorate-General Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations.
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Daniela Schwarzer
Speaker
Until May 2023, Daniela Schwarzer was the executive director for Open Society–Europe and Central Asia.
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Oleksandr Sushko
Speaker
Oleksandr Sushko is executive director of the International Renaissance Foundation.
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