OPINION:
Humanity has endured civil strife and war since time immemorial. Today, Ukraine is living through one of the most painful chapters in its history. Yet history also teaches that every war ends, and our prayers are directed toward that day. Like a deep wound, healing is slow, but in time, life finds its balance. People will soften, shared ideas will rise and, God willing, an era of genuine peace will dawn.
The recent efforts at peace negotiations hold promise that the war will end sooner rather than later. This would be most welcome not only for Ukraine but also for the region and the world community. However, Ukraine will face numerous challenges in its postwar recovery efforts.
During postwar reconstruction, Ukraine’s top priority must be eliminating its two principal internal weaknesses: dependence on raw material exports and deeply entrenched corruption. Only by building a high-tech economy and uprooting corruption can Ukraine achieve durable peace and prosperity.
Ukraine’s economic sustainability will hinge on its ability to develop a modern industrial base. Priorities include import substitution manufacturing, free economic zones and aggressive adoption of artificial intelligence. Together, these steps can establish stable revenue streams to support education, health care and other essential social needs.
This strategy opens unique avenues for U.S.-Ukrainian cooperation, particularly in mechanical engineering. Ukraine could become a hub for the localized production of American machinery and precision instrument products, creating true synergy and shared benefit.
As the largest nation in Eastern Europe, Ukraine is ripe for large-scale infrastructure projects because of its geography and strategic position. A nationwide high-speed rail network would knit the regions together and turbocharge growth. Precedent already exists: During President Trump’s first term, Kyiv began purchasing freight locomotives with plans to localize production by 2034. Full-scale war put those efforts on hold, but the imperative to revive them is clear.
Ukraine’s ambitions also extend to the automotive sector, primarily electric and hybrid vehicles. With the participation of Tesla, GM, Ford and other U.S. firms, the country could build a complete production cycle that satisfies domestic demand and supplies Europe with clean transport. Rebuilding mechanical engineering and electronics should be a top priority of postwar recovery, and American partners can play a decisive role.
A cornerstone of that revival will be expanding the mining and processing of rare earth minerals, a resource Ukraine has in quantity. Developing this sector would underpin the growth of the auto and electronics industries. For the United States, it is not merely an economic play but also a strategic move to secure critical materials while bolstering Ukraine’s independence.
Energy is the bedrock of industry. Ukraine has long experience in nuclear power and now relies entirely on American nuclear fuel, working with Westinghouse Electric Co. Of the nation’s 15 reactors, seven of the nine under Kyiv’s control are due to be retired by 2035. To fill the gap, construction has begun on four new units at the Khmelnytskyi plant, two using Westinghouse technology.
Ukraine is also betting on next-generation nuclear. In 2024, Energoatom and Holtec International formed a joint venture to manufacture small modular reactor components, positioning Ukraine as a European leader in advanced nuclear energy.
Private enterprise is not standing still. My company, Sunpro Group, is spearheading the Berezan Port intermodal industrial cluster on the Black Sea. Plans call for the region’s deepest-water port (up to 15½ miles of berths and 120 million tons annual throughput) alongside an industrial zone spanning food processing, metallurgy, petrochemicals and data centers. With U.S. expertise, the site could host a modern liquefied natural gas terminal, reshaping Eurasian gas flows, and provide a new home for war-displaced industries from eastern Ukraine. It is also an ideal platform for piloting American-made modular reactors. U.S. investment in new nuclear plants, a full nuclear-fuel cycle and port infrastructure will be pivotal to Ukraine’s industrial future.
Yet none of these initiatives can succeed without profound institutional change. Despite the creation with the participation of the previous U.S. administration of numerous anti-corruption structures — such as the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine, Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecution, National Agency on Corruption Prevention and the High Anti-Corruption Court — tangible results remain weak and corruption persists.
Multiple investigative bodies also strain the budget. The fight requires systemic reform, not cosmetic fixes. Kyiv must attack root causes: onerous regulation, labyrinthine tax and customs rules and weak accountability. Simplifying or scrapping permitting regimes that breed bribery is essential.
Ukraine must abandon high-tax, high-social-burden models that are ill-suited to its development stage. A new paradigm — industrial growth, a modest tax load and open investment — mirrors the formula that drives the U.S. economy and could entice millions of war-displaced Ukrainians to return.
The road to recovery will be long and challenging, but it will unlock unprecedented opportunities for Ukraine and its partners. By focusing on industrial revival, energy independence and institutional transformation, Ukraine can rebuild and emerge from war as a freer, more prosperous nation.
We believe a historic moment has arrived, one in which the United States can make a decisive contribution to a just, durable peace for Ukraine. A peace grounded in humanism and solidarity would offer renewed hope to a people enduring a profound trial.
All these changes will pose challenges to the Ukrainian people, but I am confident that we will succeed in our efforts. Ukrainians are resilient and resourceful, as clearly demonstrated in our current fight to maintain our freedom. However, we are also aware that our efforts will need the support of the international community.
That is why I am pleased to announce the creation of the Unity Club (https://unity-ukraine.club), composed of international personalities who are dedicated to the future of Ukraine and will lend their expertise, leadership and experience to help build the country’s future. Our membership will focus on attracting investment, building an inviting business environment, strengthening the political and social cohesion of Ukraine, and integrating Ukraine into the European Union.
Together, we will build a peaceful, prosperous and democratic Ukraine that will be a stable and peaceful member of the international community.
• Pavlo Chumak is the owner of Sunpro, a major Ukrainian sunflower seed oil company, and holds business interests in agriculture, energy, finance and ports. In addition, he is an active philanthropist.
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