Opinion: Ukraine Can’t Afford to Wait: It’s Time to Invest in the Economy Now (2025)

In a war zone, waiting feels like the safest option. Wait for peace, then rebuild. Wait for a ceasefire if it comes from Donald Trump’s engagement with Russia, then invest. Wait for the smoke to clear, then think about the future. But Ukraine doesn’t have that luxury of waiting for uncertainly over a ceasefire to become certainty – and neither does the world.

Right now, when ceasefire is just an abstract concept, Ukraine must do something that feels counterintuitive but is essential: it must invest in its economy. Not tomorrow. Not when the last missile lands. Now.

This isn’t about being reckless. It’s about being realistic. A country that waits for perfect peace before rebuilding is a country that falls behind, loses even more of its people to emigration, and sees hope fade. Ukraine, against all odds, has kept its institutions functioning and its people working. It’s time to reward that resilience with bold economic action – especially in the agriculture sector, one of its greatest assets and a cornerstone of global food security as the country has continued exporting to those that need it.

Agriculture: Ukraine’s green engine

Ukraine’s agriculture has proved to be very resilient to the impact of the war, almost reaching levels which existed before the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022. Then, agriculture accounted for more than 50% of Ukraine’s exports. With its vast arable land – among the largest in Europe – and a favorable climate, Ukraine is one of the world’s top producers of wheat, corn, and sunflower oil. It’s not just about fields and farms; it’s about a sophisticated, diversified sector that is amongst the least subsidized anywhere in the world.

But war has taken a toll. The agricultural sector has suffered more than $80 billion in damages and losses. Twenty percent of storage facilities have been destroyed. Five ports damaged or closed. Over 350 bridges obliterated. Railway lines shattered. Value chains disrupted, balance sheets wrecked, and livelihoods upended. And yet, the fields are still there. The know-how is still there. The will to rebuild is stronger than ever.

To do that, Ukraine needs investment – private, international, and imaginative.

Private sector, meet opportunity

This is not a charity case. Investing in Ukraine’s agriculture sector now is both an act of solidarity and a smart business decision. Farmers and agribusinesses need working capital to recapitalize and restore production. They need infrastructure to store, transport, and export their goods.

But the private sector isn’t shouldering the risk alone. Development finance institutions (DFIs) and multilateral development banks (MDBs) have been welcome partners. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the International Finance Corporation, and many others are encouraging the private sector to come into Ukraine and have been sharing the risks.

These aren’t hypothetical solutions – they are proven mechanisms that have worked in post-conflict settings from the Balkans to sub-Saharan Africa. Ukraine, with its commitment to reform and to integration with the European Union, is a strong candidate for this support.

Think regionally, act strategically

Ukraine’s own export routes are under constant threat. The Black Sea ports – lifelines for its grain exports – are frequently attacked. Rebuilding them is necessary, but it can’t be the only plan. Instead, we need to think beyond Ukraine’s borders and leverage the potential of the entire Black Sea region.

Enter Moldova and Romania. These neighbors are becoming vital logistical hubs for Ukrainian goods. Investments in cross-border rail, road, and river infrastructure – combined with new processing facilities and storage capacity – can dramatically improve the speed and scale of exports. With bridges destroyed and a rail network under pressure inside Ukraine, regional logistics matter more than ever.

Imagine a coordinated investment corridor: rebuilding roads in southern Moldova, expanding port capacity in Constanța, Romania, and creating new inland processing zones that support Ukrainian farmers while benefiting local communities. It’s a win-win for regional cooperation, economic growth, and food security. It’s a move which would be welcomed way beyond Europe, nowhere more so than in the global south where Ukraine’s exports feed so many people.

It’s not just about agriculture

Agriculture is the most obvious candidate for urgent investment, but the same principle applies across sectors. Energy, IT, light manufacturing, transport – each offers opportunities to build resilience and recovery now, not later. And each one, if supported today, can prevent a brain drain, stabilize communities, and send a powerful message: Ukraine has a future, and it’s worth betting on.

Rebuilding is resistance

Investing in Ukraine while the war is ongoing, while ceasefire talks make uncertain progress, might seem risky. But doing nothing is riskier. The country’s ability to withstand Russian aggression depends not just on weapons, but on wheat. Not just on defense, but on development.

Ukraine isn’t asking for a handout. It’s asking for partnership. The ploughs are ready. The time to invest is now.

The views expressed in this opinion article are the author’s and not necessarily those of Kyiv Post.