Lessons from the Western Balkans: For a Better Rebuilding of Post-War Ukraine

When conceptualising the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine, which has been severely damaged by Russia’s ongoing full-scale invasion, there is perhaps no closer comparison – in terms of the scale of damage to society, the economy and infrastructure – than the Western Balkans and the wars in the region during the 1990s.

Pavel Havlíček, Petr Čermák | 23. 9. 2025

Lessons from the Western Balkans: For a Better Rebuilding of Post-War Ukraine

This paper draws lessons from the Western Balkans’ experience after the wars in the 1990s to inform Ukraine’s post-conflict reconstruction, emphasising the need for effective coordination and accountability among domestic and international actors, decentralisation, and alignment with EU integration. It is aimed at policy-makers, development experts and civil society shaping Ukraine’s recovery strategy.

Originally published by the Institut für Donauraum und Mitteleuropa.