The Minister of Economy of Ukraine, Oleksiy Sobolev, has signed the BBNJ Agreement at the UN headquarters in New York, enhancing international environmental cooperation.

This has been reported by the Ministry of Economy.

With this agreement, Ukraine joins a new international mechanism for the protection of oceanic ecosystems and sustainable use of marine resources in international waters.

Based on the Presidential Order of Ukraine dated August 28, 2025, Oleksiy Sobolev was authorized to sign the document under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

«This agreement is another important step towards Ukraine's European future. We affirm that the preservation of oceans and seas is part of our integration into European and global environmental policies. Our location by the Black and Azov Seas makes marine security and ecosystem protection strategic issues for our country and region. Even in times of war, we demonstrate our ability to care for the global environment and tackle ecological challenges», emphasized Sobolev.

The document also supports the goals of the Convention on Biological Diversity, which aims to protect 30% of marine areas and oceans by 2030, and aligns with the Paris Agreement concerning discussions on Blue Carbon – the carbon absorbed by marine ecosystems.

This agreement allows Ukraine to participate in shaping international marine policy and draws global attention to the negative impact of Russia on the environment of Crimea and the Black Sea.

The BBNJ Agreement was adopted in 2023 and is the third implementation agreement under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Its goal is to establish unified global rules for biodiversity protection covering two-thirds of the world's oceans.

140 countries have signed the agreement, with 54 signatories having ratified it within their national jurisdictions. All countries have 120 days from the signing date to complete the ratification process, after which the document will come into force.