The Stockholm Ministerial Conference marked the official kick-off for the Forest Friends for Ukraine (FFU) initiative. Together with Taras Vysotskyi, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, Viktor Smal, Head of the State Forest Resources Agency of Ukraine, and FOREST EUROPE, a first information meeting was held already in May.

The initiative stems from the Bonn Ministerial Declaration to support Ukraine in building back better its forest sector during and after the war. This was also emphasized in the Stockholm Ministerial Declaration, signed by FOREST EUROPE Signatories on 2 June 2026.

The formation of a FFU working group is a strategic step toward turning political ambition into coordinated, long-term action. As highlighted by the Ukrainian Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture, such an instrument is essential to ensure that international support is transparent, effective, and aligned over time.

“The Forest Friends for Ukraine initiative was born out of strategic necessity. In the early years of the war, Ukraine received invaluable international assistance driven by deep enthusiasm and a sincere desire to help. However, this initial wave of support was sometimes accompanied by fragmentation and a lack of coordination. Today, it is absolutely clear that we need a new standard of coordination for supporting Ukraine’s forest sector. The Forest Friends for Ukraine working group, as a part of the FOREST EUROPE political process, is the ideal platform to develop and implement this standard,” Taras Vysotskyi emphasized.

Viktor Smal pointed to the key pillars of support needed for the Ukrainian forest sector: “Our strategic vision for Ukraine’s forest sector is built upon four fundamental pillars: navigating the challenges of the ongoing war, ensuring sustainable forest management amid climate change, aligning with the EU Acquis, and securing investments to ‘build back better.’ Our goal is the comprehensive restoration of the entire forest sector value chain, ensuring it emerges stronger and more resilient following our victory.”

What’s next?

The FFU will be co-chaired by Mariana Ostrovska from State Forest Resources Agency of Ukraine and Fredrik Silfwerbrand from FOREST EUROPE. The FFU working group will advance key tasks from June to December 2026, including:

• Developing the rules and terms of reference, including for a Multi-Donor Trust Fund
• Preparing the Forest Friends for Ukraine Support Strategy 2027–2031
• Organising a Donors’ Roundtable Meeting
• Planning a Donors’ Workshop in Kyiv

This marks a strong step forward in mobilising international cooperation to support Ukraine’s forests—not only in recovery, but in building a more sustainable and resilient future.

PHOTO: Mariana Ostrovska, Head of the International Relations, Science, and Public Relations Unit, State Forest Resources Agency of Ukraine; Fredrik Silfwerbrand, Head of Liaison Unit Sweden and Vasyl Masyuk, jointly appointed by LUS and Ukraine as a Working Group Secretariat Coordinator.