Return and Reconstruction: How the EU Should Invest in Ukrainian Refugees

Abstract

While preparing for a longer war, Ukraine and its allies are already planning for reconstruction. Human capital will be the linchpin of this effort. A multifaceted approach to reconstruction includes physical ­restoration, economic recovery, and governance reinstatement, but people on the ground will matter most. Already before Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukraine was lacking people in its administration and crucial sectors. That is why European countries should more strategically address the prospective return of Ukrainians who fled the war by enhancing their potential to help reconstruction.