Webinar Summary | July 10, 2025
From Rome to Reality: A Just Recovery for Ukraine
As global leaders convened in Rome for the 2025 Ukraine Recovery Conference, the Foundation Max van der Stoel hosted a timely public webinar, “From Rome to Reality: A Just Recovery for Ukraine,” to spotlight Ukrainian civil society voices and explore what a fair and inclusive recovery should look like.
The featured speaker was Bohdan Ferens, a prominent Ukrainian political thinker, civic activist, and founder of SD Platform. Ferens discussed Ukraine’s current wartime realities and outlined a human-centered vision for rebuilding based on social justice, democratic inclusion, and environmental sustainability.
Moderated by Emiel Bongaerts, the webinar was based on SD Platform’s recently released position paper on fair and inclusive recovery, which was published ahead of the Berlin and Rome Recovery conferences.
The featured speaker was Bohdan Ferens, a prominent Ukrainian political thinker, civic activist, and founder of SD Platform. Ferens discussed Ukraine’s current wartime realities and outlined a human-centered vision for rebuilding based on social justice, democratic inclusion, and environmental sustainability.
Moderated by Emiel Bongaerts, the webinar was based on SD Platform’s recently released position paper on fair and inclusive recovery, which was published ahead of the Berlin and Rome Recovery conferences.
Q&A: Rethinking Ukraine’s Recovery with Bohdan Ferens
Moderator (Emiel Bongaerts): Thank you, Bohdan, for joining us. You’ve been very engaged in Ukraine’s recovery discourse. Can you start by updating us on the current situation in Ukraine?
Bohdan Ferens: Thank you for the invitation. Unfortunately, Ukraine is facing an enormous escalation, especially aerial attacks. In cities like Kyiv, Odesa, and Kharkiv, we are being targeted almost every night with missiles and drones. These attacks are designed not just to destroy infrastructure but to break the psychological resilience of our people.
The trauma is deep. As a father and husband, I can tell you that just getting a few hours of uninterrupted sleep feels like a luxury. But despite this brutality, we are trying to focus on recovery—even amid the war.
Bohdan Ferens: Thank you for the invitation. Unfortunately, Ukraine is facing an enormous escalation, especially aerial attacks. In cities like Kyiv, Odesa, and Kharkiv, we are being targeted almost every night with missiles and drones. These attacks are designed not just to destroy infrastructure but to break the psychological resilience of our people.
The trauma is deep. As a father and husband, I can tell you that just getting a few hours of uninterrupted sleep feels like a luxury. But despite this brutality, we are trying to focus on recovery—even amid the war.
Moderator: With war ongoing, is it realistic to talk about recovery?
Ferens: That’s a fair question. Recovery, for us, isn’t only post-war. It must begin during the war. We’re not just talking about rebuilding physical structures—we’re talking about social and psychological recovery, about preparing our people and communities to live again.
The unpredictability of attacks makes it harder to plan, but if we wait for peace to start rebuilding, we’ll lose too much time and momentum.
Ferens: That’s a fair question. Recovery, for us, isn’t only post-war. It must begin during the war. We’re not just talking about rebuilding physical structures—we’re talking about social and psychological recovery, about preparing our people and communities to live again.
The unpredictability of attacks makes it harder to plan, but if we wait for peace to start rebuilding, we’ll lose too much time and momentum.
Moderator: Your platform, SD Platform, has been active in research and advocacy. Can you share your recent work?
Ferens: Yes. With support from partners like the UK Labour Party, Westminster Foundation, and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, we’ve developed a position paper on a fair and inclusive recovery model for Ukraine.
Our work is not just theoretical—it’s meant to influence actual policy. We emphasize a human-centric, equitable, and sustainable approach. This means not just rebuilding bridges and roads, but ensuring veterans, displaced persons, teachers, youth, and people with disabilities are included in the process.
Ferens: Yes. With support from partners like the UK Labour Party, Westminster Foundation, and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, we’ve developed a position paper on a fair and inclusive recovery model for Ukraine.
Our work is not just theoretical—it’s meant to influence actual policy. We emphasize a human-centric, equitable, and sustainable approach. This means not just rebuilding bridges and roads, but ensuring veterans, displaced persons, teachers, youth, and people with disabilities are included in the process.
Moderator: What makes your recovery model different from the mainstream discussions?
Ferens: Many recovery strategies today risk falling into the trap of neoliberalism—where recovery means opening markets and letting the private sector lead. That model will not serve Ukraine.
Our model is people-first. It includes:
Ferens: Many recovery strategies today risk falling into the trap of neoliberalism—where recovery means opening markets and letting the private sector lead. That model will not serve Ukraine.
Our model is people-first. It includes:
- Empowering local communities and involving them in decision-making.
- Supporting SMEs and local industry instead of enriching oligarchs.
- Protecting labor rights through social dialogue.
- Ensuring transparency in aid distribution.
Moderator: How do you see the role of international recovery conferences like the one in Rome?
Ferens: They’re important. Conferences in Lugano, London, Berlin, and now Rome help maintain international attention and mobilize resources. But they must move beyond rhetoric.
The problem is implementation. We often hear big pledges—billions in aid—but without a concrete plan and social criteria, the money may not reach those who need it. We need to make sure investments create jobs, empower local actors, and strengthen Ukraine’s resilience from the ground up.
Ferens: They’re important. Conferences in Lugano, London, Berlin, and now Rome help maintain international attention and mobilize resources. But they must move beyond rhetoric.
The problem is implementation. We often hear big pledges—billions in aid—but without a concrete plan and social criteria, the money may not reach those who need it. We need to make sure investments create jobs, empower local actors, and strengthen Ukraine’s resilience from the ground up.
Moderator: Can you give examples of “hopeful” recovery efforts that are already happening?
Ferens: Absolutely. In Kyiv’s suburbs like Bucha, which were under occupation in 2022, we now see bridges rebuilt, kindergartens reopening, roads being repaired. That shows it’s possible to rebuild amid conflict.
In cooperation with Dutch partners, we’re supporting ecological housing projects for IDPs. We’re also launching initiatives for veterans with disabilities—providing rehabilitation, psychological support, and reintegration opportunities.
Ferens: Absolutely. In Kyiv’s suburbs like Bucha, which were under occupation in 2022, we now see bridges rebuilt, kindergartens reopening, roads being repaired. That shows it’s possible to rebuild amid conflict.
In cooperation with Dutch partners, we’re supporting ecological housing projects for IDPs. We’re also launching initiatives for veterans with disabilities—providing rehabilitation, psychological support, and reintegration opportunities.
Moderator: You mentioned the risk of recovery being too neoliberal. Can you expand on that?
Ferens: Yes. If recovery is led only by market forces, we risk marginalizing those already most affected. Job creation must be central. We must rebuild our industrial base, especially in regions like Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia, which have been devastated.
But this doesn’t mean returning to oligarch-run industries. It means investing in modern, socially responsible production, clean technologies, and small and medium-sized businesses.
We also need to support our middle class. Without a strong middle class, Ukraine’s democracy and economy can’t stabilize long-term.
Ferens: Yes. If recovery is led only by market forces, we risk marginalizing those already most affected. Job creation must be central. We must rebuild our industrial base, especially in regions like Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia, which have been devastated.
But this doesn’t mean returning to oligarch-run industries. It means investing in modern, socially responsible production, clean technologies, and small and medium-sized businesses.
We also need to support our middle class. Without a strong middle class, Ukraine’s democracy and economy can’t stabilize long-term.
Moderator: What about labor rights and trade unions?
Ferens: Social dialogue is essential. Right now, Ukrainian trade unions are under pressure and struggling to adapt. If we want democratic recovery, we need strong labor institutions that represent workers, defend rights, and participate in economic planning.
Without this, aid risks fueling exploitation or deepening inequality. Progressives in the EU must help us rebuild this capacity.
Ferens: Social dialogue is essential. Right now, Ukrainian trade unions are under pressure and struggling to adapt. If we want democratic recovery, we need strong labor institutions that represent workers, defend rights, and participate in economic planning.
Without this, aid risks fueling exploitation or deepening inequality. Progressives in the EU must help us rebuild this capacity.
Moderator: Final thoughts—what’s your message to Ukraine’s international partners?
Ferens: Understand the context we live in. This is not just another warzone—this is a country fighting for democracy, for Europe, and for its people. Our recovery must reflect those values.
We call on our partners to prioritize efficiency, inclusivity, and social resilience. Don’t just support Ukraine’s recovery formally—co-create it with us. Only through true collaboration can we build a sustainable and just post-war future.
Ferens: Understand the context we live in. This is not just another warzone—this is a country fighting for democracy, for Europe, and for its people. Our recovery must reflect those values.
We call on our partners to prioritize efficiency, inclusivity, and social resilience. Don’t just support Ukraine’s recovery formally—co-create it with us. Only through true collaboration can we build a sustainable and just post-war future.
📄 Read the SD Platform position paper on just recovery
🎥 Watch the full webinar on YouTube: Foundation Max van der Stoel — July 10, 2025
🎥 Watch the full webinar on YouTube: Foundation Max van der Stoel — July 10, 2025
15.07.2025
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