Outcome Declaration on Ukraine’s Recovery Adopted at Conference in Lugano

The participants in the international conference on Ukraine’s recovery, held in the Swiss city of Lugano, adopted the outcome declaration. It was signed by representatives of more than 40 countries and international organisations.

The signatories, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Japan, condemned Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine “in the strongest possible terms” and called on the Kremlin to withdraw its troops immediately.

Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal said that the declaration “unequivocally marks the beginning of our long process.”

“Heads of state and government, ministers and high-ranking representatives pledged to support Ukraine on its path to recovery — from the beginning to long-term recovery. On behalf of the entire Ukrainian people, I want to thank them for that,” the PM said.

The declaration was published on the website of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. Its wording states that it is a political document that imposes obligations on its signatories.

The declaration, in particular, states that its signatories recognise that Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine has led to significant human losses; catastrophic destruction of infrastructure, schools, hospitals, citizens’ housing, and cultural heritage; inflicted large economic and financial losses on Ukraine; destabilised global value chains; and threatened global food security.

“By the present political, legally non-binding document, we fully commit to supporting Ukraine throughout its path from early to long-term recovery, and linking this to Ukraine’s European perspective and EU candidate country status; encourage and welcome all commitments to provide coordinated political, financial and technical support to this end; endorse the guiding principles for the recovery process annexed to this document (‘Lugano Principles’); recognise the Ukraine-led draft of the Recovery and Development Plan as an overarching framework guiding the recovery process, allowing for coordinated multi-stakeholder participation and partnerships, and look forward to engaging on refining and implementing the plan,” reads the document.

The declaration also enshrines seven principles that determine the criteria for restoration:

1. Partnership. Ukraine will lead the recovery process and implement it in partnership with its international partners
2. Reform focus
3. Transparency, accountability, and rule of law
4. Democratic participation
5. Multi-stakeholder engagement
6. Gender equality and inclusion
7. Sustainability

According to the Prime Minister of Ukraine, the implementation of this plan should begin immediately.

Bohdan Marusyak