Americans on the ground in Ukraine think their country needs to do more for Ukrainian society than passively sending dollars. While the West has given billions in military and humanitarian aid to the country, Ukrainians are dealing with complex wartime issues and internal corruption on their own. I spoke with two Americans working in Ukraine—an independent contractor and a non-profit leader—to hear how they think America can help reconstruct the country’s democratic institutions and businesses after the war. In order to earn a say in the country’s reconstruction, the U.S. needs to support and mentor Ukrainian private and civil society organizations now, before the window of opportunity closes.
