On June 19 Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa and Deputy Foreign Minister, Chief Digital Transformation Officer Anton Demokhin held a meeting with UNDP Acting Administrator Haoliang Xu.

Mariana Betsa highly appreciated the dynamic development of cooperation between Ukraine and UNDP amid the unprecedented humanitarian challenges caused by the ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine. The Deputy Minister thanked UNDP for its significant contribution to Ukraine’s recovery, particularly in the energy sector, social services, and digitalization.

In connection with the completion of his mission in Ukraine, special gratitude was extended to the UNDP Resident Representative, Jaco Cilliers for his dedicated work in support of our country during the full-scale war launched by the Russian Federation.

Mariana Betsa emphasized the importance of the practical assistance provided by UNDP to communities in regions affected by Russian aggression, as well as its support for the Government of Ukraine’s efforts in demining, social inclusion, and the promotion of green technologies.

In turn, Deputy Minister Anton Demokhin highlighted the successful cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UNDP in the area of digital transformation, with particular emphasis on strengthening the institutional capacity of the Ministry in advancing the digitalization of consular services for Ukrainians abroad.

Anton Demokhin also underscored the importance of the work of the Open-ended Working Group on Security and the Use of ICTs in the context of developing the global digital economy and building a secure cyberspace. He emphasized that Ukraine remains fully committed to the principles of responsible state behavior in cyberspace and highlighted national efforts to enhance international cooperation and the exchange of best practices in the field of cybersecurity - particularly in light of the ongoing cyber aggression by the Russian Federation.

UNDP Acting Administrator Haoliang Xu introduced the key areas of support that UNDP provides to Ukraine and outlined priority areas of further assistance for both the Government of Ukraine and local authorities.

The parties discussed the preparations for the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC2025), as well as the ongoing efforts to reform the UN development system, emphasizing the importance of enhanced coordination among UN agencies in this context.