Rebuild Ukraine Forum 2026  /  Panel IIIb  /  22 October 2026

The panel examined the challenges and opportunities surrounding investment in Ukraine’s recovery, emphasizing the need for realistic expectations given the ongoing war. Bogdan Zawadewicz highlighted legal uncertainty and corruption as major barriers to investor confidence, stressing that political commitment and meaningful reforms are essential to improving the investment climate. Ulrik Tideström outlined Ukraine’s consolidated support priorities, including railway locomotives, border crossing points, and private-sector initiatives to reskill and upskill workers in healthcare and transport.

Oleksandra Betliy emphasized the importance of Ukraine’s democratic institutions and open data in ensuring transparency and accountability, calling for stronger European support, reconsideration of frozen Russian assets, and accelerated reforms to advance EU integration. She also highlighted challenges related to profit transfers, judicial enforcement, and the need to distinguish corruption from institutional inefficiency and mismanagement.

Lorenz Gessner underlined the resilience of Ukrainian businesses and the continued development of joint initiatives between the government and private companies despite the war, stressing the importance of sustained support. In a follow-up intervention, Bogdan Zawadewicz reiterated concerns about corruption and legal uncertainty, noting that Russian attacks and the deteriorating investment climate may be prompting some foreign companies to reconsider reinvestment and transfer profits abroad.