Presentation of the results of the surveys on the attitude of Ukrainians to the issues of revival and reconstruction of Ukraine at the International Forum “Economic Renaissance of Ukraine”

On November 20-21, 2024, the  International Forum “Economic Renaissance  of Ukraine” was held at the Vadym Hetman Kyiv National Economic University.

Over 500 participants from 16 countries took part in the Forum over the two days of its work. The organizers brought together leading national and foreign experts to discuss the Forum's topics, who highlighted many aspects that are of utmost importance not only for Ukraine but also for the stability of European countries.

Volodymyr Lakomov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine, expert of the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation, took part in the platform on the thematic area “Financial and Investment Instruments for the Postwar Renaissance  of Ukraine”, where he expressed support for the project of creating an international financial center in Kyiv and familiarized the forum participants with the results of surveys conducted by the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation in March and October 2024 on the attitude of Ukrainians to the issues of revival and reconstruction of Ukraine after the victory.

We publish his speech during the event.

Dear Chairman, distinguished participants of the forum,

First of all, let me express my gratitude to the speaker for the deep and professional analysis of the issues related to the formation of financial mechanisms and the modernization of Ukraine after our victory. The report, based on the concept of bifurcation points, provides a solid foundation for the development of important government decisions and legislative initiatives that should be implemented as priority tasks right now. It can also serve as a basis for creating a roadmap for the implementation of financial and economic recovery mechanisms, involving all stakeholders both within Ukraine and abroad.

Today’s presentation is an important step in shaping the national recovery strategy. At the same time, it should serve as an impetus for closer cooperation between the government, civil society, local communities, and international partners.

The Strategic Importance of an International Financial Center

I would like to draw special attention to the idea of establishing an International Financial Center (IFC) in Kyiv. As global experience shows, such initiatives strengthen the economic positions of countries on the global stage. Our neighbors—Turkey and the Baltic states—are actively working on the creation of similar structures. Ukraine must not lose time.

Considering that European financial center rankings are dominated by London, Zurich, Paris, and Frankfurt, Ukraine has the opportunity to become a significant new player. Our forum could support this idea and call for an urgent discussion on the matter with the involvement of international partners.

Survey Results: Prospects and Challenges of Recovery

Sociological data highlights the importance of citizens' participation in the recovery process. According to surveys conducted in September 2024 by the Democratic Initiatives Foundation in cooperation with the Center for Political Sociology, 36.8% of respondents believe that ordinary Ukrainians play a key role in the country’s recovery—this is a significant increase compared to 29.5% in March.

At the same time, 40.8% of respondents believe that the priorities for recovery should be determined by local communities, while 38% assign this role to the authorities. These discrepancies point to the importance of considering the opinions of all parties in creating an effective strategy.

Among the main areas of recovery, the majority of respondents (40.4%) identified the restoration of housing and critical infrastructure as the most urgent tasks, while 28.1% support addressing urgent problems and implementing large-scale, radical economic modernization even during the war.

At the same time, around 20% of respondents believe that the country should adapt to a prolonged war by building underground facilities, expanding military infrastructure, etc.

The data also shows that 25.4% of Ukrainians have acquaintances whose homes have been destroyed, and 4.5% have personally suffered such losses. Among those who have started restoring their homes, 41.5% financed the repairs themselves, while 26.1% received support from the government or local authorities. Another 26.7% of homes remain destroyed.

Recovery is a long-term challenge: 25.7% of respondents believe that the process will take more than 10 years, and the share of such responses has significantly increased compared to spring 2024.

Key Challenges and Measures to Overcome Obstacles

Respondents identify the following main obstacles to recovery:

• Scale of destruction (73.6%)
• Corruption risks and misuse of funds (64.8%)
• Lack of specialists (43.8%)
• Low willingness of entrepreneurs to work transparently (38%)

These data confirm the need for a transparent control system to ensure the effective use of resources. 44.2% of citizens support involving international organizations in the oversight of funds, while 32.4% see this role being filled by special supervisory committees.

However, despite these challenges, 68% of Ukrainians believe in the recovery of the country’s socio-economic potential, and 51% are ready to join the workforce for reconstruction.

A Call to Action

These results serve as a signal for us and our partners: the recovery process must be based on transparency, trust, and cooperation among all stakeholders. I urge each of you to actively contribute to the formation of a comprehensive recovery strategy. Together, we can ensure a better future for Ukraine.

For more detailed information on the survey results, please visit the following link:

Glory to Ukraine!
Thank you for your attention.