Joint Statement by and Between The United States Departments of Commerce and Transportation and The Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine On Supporting Ukraine’s Infrastructure Resilience and Reconstruction Through Enhanced Bilateral Cooperation

by United States Department of Commerce, United States Department of Transportation, Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine

Joint Statement
by and Between
The United States Departments of Commerce and Transportation
and
The Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine
On Supporting Ukraine’s Infrastructure Resilience and
Reconstruction Through Enhanced Bilateral Cooperation

In the face of Russia’s unjust and unprovoked war, and in recognition of the immense damage Ukraine has sustained, the United States Departments of Commerce and Transportation and the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine today announce their intent to create a U.S.-Ukraine Infrastructure Task Force to help address both Ukraine’s immediate and longer-term reconstruction needs.

Building upon the September 2021 Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. Department of Commerce and Ministry of Economy of Ukraine and the May 2022 Memorandum of Cooperation between U.S. Department of Transportation and the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine, we intend to work together to strengthen the Government-to-Government relationship to facilitate the planning and design of infrastructure that is both resilient and sustainable.

Planning, Governance, Transparency: Reconstruction requires transparent and good practices for planning, financing, delivery, and maintenance. We plan to work together with the public and other stakeholders to prioritize projects that meet the needs of Ukrainian communities, to analyze standards and best practices needed to attract financing, to mitigate adverse impacts on the environment, and to monitor and maintain the utilization and condition of the infrastructure.

Resilience and Sustainability: Infrastructure undergirds every sector, in particular transportation. Rebuilding, implementing new technologies, and incorporating best practices are vital to Ukraine’s resilience and success in defending against Russia’s continued aggression. It is imperative to ensure the resiliency of the country’s critical infrastructure and to address short-term as well as long-term needs to provide services and support the country’s economy. We also anticipate that sustainability will be an important consideration in the near, medium, and long-term, including moving to net zero carbon emissions consistent with Ukraine’s national determined contribution to the Paris Agreement.

Both sides recognize many similar and aligned priorities in Ukraine’s infrastructure needs, including some detailed in Ukraine’s draft National Reconstruction Plan, and the U.S. Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment. The intended aims of the U.S.-Ukraine Infrastructure Task Force include cooperation to identify and prioritize climate-resilient infrastructure and maximize use of clean technologies in Ukraine as part of the country’s rebuilding.

INTENDED ACTIONS:

To advance strategic goals and expand bilateral cooperation, the U.S.-Ukraine Infrastructure Task Force is expected to hold an inaugural working-level meeting in the coming months. Subject to available resources, we intend to undertake actions to provide technical assistance, facilitate private sector involvement, and implement the best of American and Ukrainian innovation. Both sides intend to identify and reinforce best practices to create a positive business climate with an emphasis on enhanced good governance, transparency, and countering corruption.

We intend to coordinate with and involve other Departments and Agencies of the United States Government and Ministries of the Government of Ukraine, as appropriate; to coordinate with other actors in the international donor community in order to avoid duplication of efforts and take maximum advantage of assistance already underway; to build on public and private sector support for the work of the U.S.-Ukraine Infrastructure Task Force, including through public diplomacy and outreach.

This Joint Statement, signed in triplicate, becomes operative on the date of the last signature.

	For the United States Department of Commerce: Gina M. Raimondo Secretary of Commerce Place: Date:		For the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine: Oleksandr Kubrakov Minister of Infrastructure Place: Date:
	For the United States Department of Transportation: Pete Buttigieg Secretary of Transportation Place: Date: