Kateryna Chernoval00:18, 12.06.25

2 min.6

He recalled that when the Berlin Wall fell, the Ukrainian and Polish economies were the same, but now Poland’s economy is three times larger.

In 20 years, Ukraine’s economy could overtake Russia’s. This statement was made during a hearing in Congress by United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant. 

According to the American minister, a stable Ukrainian economy will be the best protection for Ukraine in the long term – this is what he and US President Donald Trump believe. He emphasized that national security is economic security. 

Bessent also recalled that when the Berlin Wall fell, the Ukrainian and Polish economies were the same, but now Poland’s economy is three times larger than Ukraine’s. 

“I believe that in twenty years, the Ukrainian economy, thanks to effective governance, a similar partnership (like that between Ukraine and the United States, – ed.) and global investments, can become larger than the Russian economy. And I think that this will be a very strong deterrent for anyone who will then lead Russia,” he emphasized.

Bessent added that a major conference will soon be held in Rome to discuss the restoration of Ukraine. Washington is urging the World Bank to focus on this issue. 

At the same time, the American minister emphasized that no country that helped Russia in the war against Ukraine – with money, military personnel, or equipment for Russian weapons – will have the right to participate in the reconstruction process of Ukraine. 

“You can’t destroy a country, destroy people, destroy lives, and then get paid to rebuild it,” Bessent stated.