02 June 2025
A Remarkable Change in Cross-Border Enforcement: From July 2025, English Court Judgments Will Be Recognised in Ukraine under the 2019 Hague Convention
Starting 1 July 2025, Ukrainian courts will recognise and enforce judgments of English courts under the 2019 Hague Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil or Commercial Matters (“Hague 2019”). The Convention entered into force for Ukraine in September 2023 and will now become fully effective between the UK and Ukraine.
Why It Matters
Hague 2019 introduces a uniform, treaty-based standard for the enforcement of civil and commercial judgments, reducing cost, risk, and procedural complexity in cross-border litigation.
How It Works Today (Before 1 July 2025)
- Enforcement in Ukraine is based on reciprocity, not a treaty.
- Procedurally burdensome: Debtors can challenge enforcement by alleging lack of reciprocity. Creditors may face delays and need expert testimony.
- Unpredictable: Courts assess each case individually.
What Will Change
- Predictability & Uniformity: Treaty-based enforcement with limited, clearly defined grounds for refusal.
- Simplified Procedures: Less room for delay or challenge.
- Broad Scope: Applies to a wide range of civil and commercial matters.
What’s Excluded?
The Convention does not apply to:
- Carriage of passengers/goods
- Corporate validity and internal acts
- Sovereign debt restructuring
- Public registers
- IP, privacy, defamation
- Arbitration
- Certain antitrust matters
*A judgment is not excluded just because a non-covered matter arose as a preliminary issue or defence – unless that issue was the main subject of the case.
Practical Impact for Business
- Stronger enforcement prospects in Ukraine for English judgments.
- More reliability when choosing English courts in contracts.
- Better protection for cross-border claims and commercial strategies.
Now is the time to review your contracts and enforcement strategies in light of this important development.
For tailored guidance, please contact Victoria Ivasechko.
