While at the event, the European Commission “presented a proposal that will mobilise up to €50 billion for Ukraine between 2024 and 2027.” Similarly, the United States announced that it would provide an additional $1.31 billion in assistance to Ukraine. The United Kingdom stated it would also assist in these reconstruction efforts.
The conference came at a pressing time. Just recently, Russia launched another series of missile strikes across Ukraine. Residential buildings were targeted, dozens of citizens were injured, and at least three people were killed. The war continues without an apparent end.
But as the Ukrainians defend their homeland, they are also quickly working to rebuild their country. In a matter of months, they have successfully rebuilt apartment buildings, shopping centers, gas stations, and other public areas that were previously destroyed.
The country has its government and citizens to thank for these efforts. Last May, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky launched UNITED24, an initiative designed to help defend and rebuild Ukraine. The Ukrainian president has recruited high-profile Ukrainian athletes and actors to assist with these efforts, and these ambassadors have helped raise millions of dollars to rebuild the country.
In particular, the “Rebuild Ukraine” program has been very successful. World-renowned tennis star Elina Svitolina and professional boxer Oleksandr Usyk have helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars. Their work has led to the complete restoration of Ukrainian apartment complexes in Kyiv oblast. The speed at which these previously destroyed buildings are being repaired, and the precision of their rehabilitation, is unprecedented.
The Ukrainians also have foreign investors to thank. For example, the prominent American band Imagine Dragons have helped raise millions in aid for Ukraine. Meanwhile, French film director Michel Hazanavicius launched a program to “help Ukrainians return to their homes.” Similarly, American country singer Brad Paisley has helped collect funds to help “rebuild an apartment complex in Kyiv.”
Finally, other prominent and popular figures from the West, such as American actor Mark Hamill, record-breaking American astronaut Scott Kelly, American actor Liev Schreiber, and American singer and actress Barbara Streisand have been actively involved in helping rebuild and restore Ukraine.
The Ukrainians “have shown such courage and determination in the face of adversity,” British adventurer Bear Grylls said while discussing his role in Ukraine’s restauration efforts. In his opinion, the Ukrainians have become “a global symbol of resilience and defiance.”
Outside of these individuals, various international companies have actively participated in Ukraine’s restoration efforts. For example, Deloitte is providing “assurance services (on a pro bono basis) to UNITED24.” The firm has raised more than $7 million in humanitarian assistance for Ukraine. Meanwhile, international company Uber is helping locate, restore, and protect “Ukraine’s national and cultural heritage [by] using a custom-built version of the Uber app.” Uber has paired with the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture during this process.
Uber is “proud to be assisting Ukraine in its efforts,” said Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi. “[Uber is] enabling conservationists to carry out their critical work to safeguard Ukraine’s national identity.”
Finally, Ukraine has shown that it has a lot of potential as it continues to undergo these restoration efforts. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, Ukraine has one of the world’s most educated and most literate populations. Some of the country’s best and brightest minds are actively participating in the “world’s largest construction site.”
Unfortunately, there still appears to be some hesitation from the international community to help Ukraine. For example, some countries may be reluctant to provide financial and humanitarian assistance. Critics have stated that “Ukraine’s economic problems go far deeper than the destruction caused by Russia’s unprovoked war.” Others have stated that paying to rebuild Ukraine will be expensive, especially at a time when global inflation is high.
But these critics should turn to previous historical examples to learn about the successes of restoration programs. For example, following the conclusion of the Second World War, Germany and Japan were left devastated. Rather than ignoring these two countries, the globe helped rebuild them. New technologies were brought to these countries, buildings and factories were restored, and infrastructure was repaired. Today, Germany and Japan are leaders in the technological industry, they are industrial giants, and they are two of the world’s wealthiest countries. Moreover, they are two of the seven members of the G-7 club.
Based on the successes of Germany and Japan, and given Ukraine’s young, innovative, educated, and creative thinkers, it is not inconceivable to believe that Ukraine could undergo a similar fate. Helping invest in Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts and its future would allow this country to become an economic and technological leader in Europe.
The hard work and resilience of the Ukrainians have demonstrated that they will not back down during the ongoing invasion. Their defiance, especially as they swiftly rebuild their country, suggests that they will stop at nothing until their home is rebuilt. Ukraine’s optimism has inspired millions across the globe, and the Eastern European state has successfully recruited prominent figures and companies to assist with these restoration efforts.
No one knows when the war will end, but one thing is for certain. Ukraine is already building a bigger and better future.
Mark Temnycky is an accredited freelance journalist covering Eastern Europe and a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center. He can be found on Twitter @MTemnycky
