A Trillion Dollars Are Needed to Rebuild Ukraine: Businessman Zhevago Explains Which Countries Can Contribute to the Reconstruction

The United States has made a historic vote to approve a $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.

Ukraine will receive $61 billion, which will support defense, the budget, the economy, border protection, and humanitarian demining.

As Congress debated and delayed the voting process, and Ukrainian society questioned the likelihood of receiving US aid, Ukraine found new reliable partners. According to businessman Kostyantyn Zhevago, Japan has taken on this role, having assumed the lead in terms of financial assistance to Ukraine.

 "Japan has supported both the US and the EU, which have experienced delays due to technical and political issues. The country is focusing on long-term contracts, and cooperation may not be limited to military aid but could develop into long-term contracts that will also contribute to the reconstruction of Ukraine," said businessman Konstyantyn Zhevago.

According to preliminary estimates, Ukraine's post-war recovery may require $1 trillion.

Western countries, as well as public and private companies, are already developing plans for post-war reconstruction. Entrepreneur and businessman Kostyantyn Zhevago explained where Ukraine can get the necessary funds and which countries are ready to join this process.

For example, the Japanese are interested in our raw materials and their processing, starting with agricultural and machine-building products and the metallurgical complex, including so-called green steel. However, for this, Ukraine must have an appropriate investment credit rating, which we will receive after the war ends and we join the EU.

"If you look at the ratings of so-called long-term contracts in industry, business, in any sector, there are contracts with Japanese companies with high ratings everywhere. Japan itself has almost the highest credit rating," explains Zhevago.

In turn, German and Austrian companies are planning to build infrastructure and defense facilities. In February, the defense giant Rheinmetall AG announced plans to set up a plant in Ukraine to produce 155mm artillery ammunition needed at the front.

Fixit, a manufacturer of construction materials, has been opening a new production site in western Ukraine since last year, and Bayer AG, a chemical company, has announced investments in seed production.

Ukraine's German partners have also focused their attention on rebuilding housing and social infrastructure. It will take five to ten years and require about 3.5 million tonnes of steel, which German producers are ready to meet this demand.

Each country is trying to contribute to helping Ukraine through the war and into reconstruction. Western governments, business leaders, and investors are already scrambling to find funding for Ukraine's post-war reconstruction, which the European Investment Bank estimates will cost five times more, adjusted for inflation, than the US-funded Marshall Plan after World War II.