On 3 December in Brussels, Canada, Lithuania, Sweden, and Ukraine signed a Joint Declaration on the creation of the new Ukraine Transport Support Fund (UTSF).
This initiative comes from the Group of Common Interests on Ukrainian Transport within the framework of the International Transport Forum.
The declaration was signed by Sweden’s Minister for Infrastructure and Housing Andreas Carlson, Lithuania’s Minister of Transport and Communications Jūras Taminskas, Canada’s Assistant Deputy Minister of Transport Policy Craig Hutton, and Ukraine’s Deputy Minister for Communities and Territories Development Serhiy Derkach.
The new Fund is designed to meet Ukraine’s urgent needs in restoring and modernising transport infrastructure across all modes of transport — road, rail, maritime, aviation, urban mobility, and logistics. The Fund will operate through grants for project implementation. A High-Level Dialogue is expected in February next year, where other countries will be invited to join the Declaration and contribute to the Fund.
“The creation of the Ukraine Transport Support Fund is an extremely important step toward the recovery and modernisation of Ukraine’s transport system. Our country faces unprecedented challenges, and support from partners allows us not only to rebuild what has been destroyed but also to lay the foundations for a modern, resilient, and European-integrated transport network. We highly appreciate the leadership of Canada, Lithuania, and Sweden, as well as the support of all countries joining these joint efforts. This is a true example of international solidarity. The new Fund should become an effective tool to help Ukraine recover faster, work more efficiently, and build a transport system that meets the needs of citizens and the challenges of the future,” said Oleksiy Kuleba, Deputy Prime Minister for Ukraine’s Restoration – Minister for Communities and Territories Development.
Welcoming the signing of the Joint Declaration, the Secretary-General of the International Transport Forum, Young Tae Kim, stated:
“This Joint Declaration underlines the commitment of ITF members to help the member country Ukraine meet its urgent transport-related needs through the Ukraine Transport Support Fund. These efforts continue with the release of detailed recommendations for the long-term recovery of Ukraine’s road and rail freight sectors based on recent ITF studies. I cannot imagine a clearer example of our principle of global dialogue for better transport in action. I thank our first signatories and look forward to additional support to address Ukraine’s urgent transport needs.”
During the signing of the Declaration, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister Serhiy Derkach emphasised:
“The Ukraine Transport Support Fund is not only a political commitment but also a practical tool that will allow us to implement real, tangible projects on the ground. Ukraine’s transport system requires both urgent repairs and strategic modernisation, and the Fund provides a clear mechanism for directing assistance precisely where it is most needed. Our priority is to ensure that every contribution turns into completed projects: restored roads and bridges, more efficient border crossings, resilient logistics routes, and modern public transport systems. Through transparent procedures, coordinated donor cooperation, and well-justified project selection, the Fund will help move from planning to implementation. We are grateful to our partners for supporting Ukraine. Together we can accelerate recovery, strengthen connections with Europe, and build a transport system ready for the challenges of the coming decades.”
The meeting also focused on Ukraine’s long-term transport needs. Secretary-General Young Tae Kim moderated a high-level roundtable presenting preliminary results of the first CIG4U research project: “Shaping Policy for Freight Transport Development in Ukraine.”
In addition to the signatories of the Declaration, representatives from more than 15 countries and organisations joined the discussion, including Magda Kopczyńska, Director-General of the European Commission’s Directorate for Transport and Mobility; Norway’s Minister of Transport Jon-Ivar Nygård; Poland’s Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Stanisław Bukowiec; Denmark’s Ministry of Transport Secretary Jacob Heinsen; and representatives from Austria, Canada, Lithuania, Ireland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Republic of Korea, and others.
The discussion presented findings on potential ways to restore and modernise road and rail transport in the context of reorienting Ukraine’s foreign trade following Russia’s invasion.
