As the IMF and World Bank meetings are underway today in Washington, DC, Ukrainian experts at campaign group Razom We Stand call on finance and development leaders to match pledges of reconstruction and recovery in Ukraine with decisive action to end the flow of fossil money fueling Russia’s war.
Today, the 8th Ministerial Roundtable for Support to Ukraine is expected to address the World Bank’s July 2025 assessment, which estimates $524 billion in total reconstruction needs over the coming decade. We are advocating for all energy reconstruction allocations to prioritise clean energy buildout in Ukraine.
Clean energy is cheaper than fossil energy, creates jobs, and has proven, especially in wartime, to be more resilient against Russian attacks than outdated centralised fossil fuel-based infrastructure or dangerous nuclear plants.
Dr Svitlana Romanko, Founder and Executive Director of Razom We Stand, said: “Ukraine’s reconstruction cannot be built on outdated and vulnerable fossil fuels; what we need is resilient and decentralised clean energy, which will create quality jobs of the future and a stable and growth-oriented energy infrastructure that will supercharge Ukraine’s vital need for economic health.
Sanctions against Russia must be comprehensive globally, with a focus on secondary sanctions, as seen in the approach taken against India, and with robust enforcement mechanisms. Each euro sent for reconstruction means little if billions more flow to Russia through its fossil fuel exports. Cutting off Putin’s war profits means not only a quicker end to the war, but will also save thousands of Ukrainian lives, and stop the barbaric Russian rockets from raining down upon my country every day.”
Rebuilding Ukraine must not replicate the old fossil-fuel-based systems that left the world vulnerable to Kremlin blackmail. Instead, it must put cheaper and cleaner renewable energy at the heart of the recovery, turning Ukraine into a model of energy independence and climate resilience.
Razom We Stand calls for the European Union to ensure that climate criteria—Paris Agreement alignment and net-zero roadmaps—are a mandatory part of all MDB financing platforms moving forward. Ukraine would be among the biggest beneficiaries, with donors channelling new aid and reconstruction financing toward renewables, grid upgrades, energy efficiency, and clean energy infrastructure. This could help turn Ukraine into a global leader in rapid green transition, becoming a world model of energy security.
The World Bank and IMF need to invest in renewable energy and replace fossil fuels for the benefit of our planet and to stop petro-dictators like Putin from waging war with profits from oil and gas. Together, we can build a resilient renewable energy system that weakens Russia’s influence and strengthens global energy security.
Dr Romanko is available for interviews on the above topics all week. Please reach out to [email protected] to organise a suitable time.
