Why Ukraine’s Reconstruction Is Not Charity but a Strategic Investment

Western governments are increasingly aligning behind a powerful idea: Ukraine’s reconstruction is not a matter of charity, but of strategy. As detailed in a recent article by Bohdan Popov, head of digital at the United Ukraine Think Tank, the long-term rebuilding of Ukraine is viewed as a cornerstone of European and transatlantic security.
“The devastation brought by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine since 2022 has been staggering, but Western leaders increasingly frame Ukraine’s reconstruction not just as humanitarian duty but as a strategic investment in their own security.”
This shift in mindset is not merely rhetorical. Policymakers in Brussels and Washington see a rebuilt, democratic Ukraine as a safeguard for the rules-based international order. Popov writes:
“A prosperous, stable Ukraine is seen as a bulwark of political stability and security for Eastern Europe – a buffer against aggression and a reliable partner embedded in the democratic West.”
The financial scale is historic. A joint assessment in early 2025 by the World Bank, UN, EU, and the Ukrainian government estimated the cost of rebuilding at $524 billion – nearly triple Ukraine’s pre-war GDP. Yet leaders emphasize this is money well spent:
“Brussels policymakers openly describe Ukraine’s reconstruction as ‘an investment in European stability and security.”
Western funding efforts reflect this outlook. The European Union alone has pledged over €70 billion in aid and institutionalized its long-term support through a new Ukraine Facility set to provide up to €50 billion between 2024 and 2027. Meanwhile, private sector involvement is being actively encouraged, with mechanisms in place to reduce investment risk and spur growth.
This dual focus on strategic security and economic potential runs through the entire Western approach. As Popov notes:
“In sum, the United States and Europe have compelling self-interests in championing Ukraine’s reconstruction. It is a chance to fortify the rules-based international order by proving that aggression does not pay – and that democracies band together to rebuild what tyrants destroy.”
With Ukraine’s infrastructure battered and millions displaced, reconstruction may be daunting. But for Ukraine’s partners, it is an opportunity to secure not only Ukraine’s future, but their own.
Read the full article by Bohdan Popov on The Gaze: (Re)Building Ukraine’s Economy as a Pillar of Regional Stability and Security