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Among U.S. scholars, many argue that rebuilding Ukraine should prioritize institutions, people and society, and security. Doug Irving (RAND) and Max Primorac (Heritage) suggest that Ukraine’s reconstruction should not rely too heavily on foreign aid – because it is difficult to mobilize and not sustainable – nor focus narrowly on physical infrastructure (bridges, roads, schools, etc.). Instead, it should pursue a longer-term objective: restoring Ukraine’s private sector by attracting global private investment.
Accordingly, Ukraine’s recovery plans should concentrate on three directions.
First, according to Howard Shatz (RAND) and experts at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), the United States and its European allies should place greater emphasis on helping Ukraine improve its institutions and tackle persistent problems—especially corruption and lack of transparency. These have been among the reasons why private investment in Ukraine remained low even before the conflict. More specifically, experts argue that Washington could encourage European allies to adopt supportive measures, including considering Ukraine’s EU accession as a way to create incentives for institutional reform. Notably, Shatz observes that the Russia–Ukraine war has strengthened social cohesion in Ukraine, potentially creating more favorable conditions for reforms.
Second, Charles Becker and colleagues at CFR identify the decline in the labor force due to migration and the war as a major obstacle to reconstruction. A RAND study in 2024 noted that most historical efforts to recover from disasters and address their consequences fail if they lack effective ways to mobilize society’s resources at scale. Therefore, CFR experts and Gabrielle Tarini (RAND) argue that Ukraine’s reconstruction plans should focus on ensuring social welfare protections for returning workers, rebuilding and strengthening the productive capacity of local communities, and establishing mechanisms to ensure reconstruction funds are used effectively amid labor shortages.
Third, some scholars argue that the Russia–Ukraine conflict is unlikely to be fully resolved, and the lingering risks will make international investors wary. As a result, Max Primorac (Heritage) contends that the United States should help Ukraine rebuild its military through training and equipment provision, compensating for the limited defense capacity of European allies. According to James Dobbins (former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State and U.S. Ambassador to the EU), Ukraine does not necessarily need to join NATO to deter Russia; instead, the United States and its allies can continue providing equipment and training to Ukraine’s armed forces while demonstrating clear resolve to guarantee Ukraine’s security.
