While Russia talks tough as it wages war on Ukraine, Vladimir Putin knows the United States will very likely continue to provide Ukraine with critical support. Putin also knows the U.S. has almost inexhaustible resources.
In anticipation of a ceasefire, however, Germany is to host a conference on how to organize Ukraine’s reconstruction. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz plans to co-host the event with European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. They want to prepare a modern-day Marshall Plan to rebuild large parts of Ukraine’s physical infrastructure and reform Ukraine’s many corrupt institutions. The cost will likely range between $500 billion and $750 billion. One problem? There is no agreement on how to find the money to foot this big bill.
