This is vital not only for the present, but also for future generations. Representatives of 60 countries and international organisations who joined the conference in Helsinki on Point 8 of the Ukrainian Peace Formula agreed with this today. Most participants stressed that environmental safety is a key component of a sustainable future. And Ukraine's experience in assessing and calculating environmental damage and bringing russia to justice for environmental crimes should become a global asset.

This was stated by Svitlana Grynchuk, Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, during a conference in Helsinki to discuss Point 8 on environmental safety of the Ukrainian Peace Formula.

The event was attended by the Prime Ministers of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal and Finland Petteri Orpo, the Head of the Presidential Office of Ukraine Andriy Yermak and Head of Cabinet of the President of Finland Lauri Tierala, Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission Maroš Šefčovič, former Deputy Prime Minister and former Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden Margot Wallström, former Vice-President of the European Parliament Heidi Hautala and other high-ranking officials. The event brought together over 135 online and offline participants from 60 countries and international organisations.

"We do not just need the world's support to recognise russia's environmental crimes and bring russia to justice for the destruction of Ukraine's environment through hostilities. Through the efforts of many states, organisations and institutions, we need to consolidate all the expertise in the field of environmental impact assessment of war in order to bring aggressors to justice around the world and leave a clean environment for future generations," said Svitlana Grynchuk.

As part of the event, the participants developed a communiqué to support Point 8 of the Ukrainian Peace Formula, which outlines a set of measures to achieve environmental safety in the world.

"This is vital because the environmental pollution caused by the hostilities extends far beyond Ukraine. Therefore, we need an unprecedented consolidation of the international community to address the environment during the war and the green principles of recovery," the Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources stressed.

According to her:

- Today, more than 6,000 environmental crimes have been documented those committed by russia, worth more than EUR 65 billion. These figures are not final and are growing as long as the hostilities continue.

- The liberated territories cannot be restored until they are demined. Today, 139,000 square kilometres of our territory are mined.

- In 2024 alone, fires destroyed more than 24,000 hectares of forest.

- Estimated environmental damage from russian criminal actions on the Seim and Desna rivers is already estimated at EUR 12 million.

- The Black and Azov Seas are also suffering from the effects of the war. The damage to Ukraine is currently estimated at EUR 345 million. This is only what has been calculated so far.

In addition to unified financial instruments, the environmental component of the Peace Formula envisages reconstruction according to the most modern green principles. This will ensure the green transition of our country and a new standard of living for all Ukrainians in line with European standards.

"I am grateful to Finland for co-organising this important event, and personally to my colleague Kai Mykkänen for his warm welcome in Helsinki. I thank all our partners who are with us today. We look forward to continuing our coordination and planning the next practical steps soon at the COP29 Climate Summit in Baku, where Ukraine will traditionally have its own pavilion," emphasised Svitlana Grynchuk.

The text of the joint communiqué approved by the participants of this conference can be found here.