Approval of the Türkiye-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (July 2026)

Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has adopted a bill approving the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed between Türkiye and Ukraine on 14 July 2026. This marks the completion of one of the stages necessary for the agreement to enter into force, following Türkiye’s prior completion of its ratification process.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye stated that the Verkhovna Rada’s approval is one of the most concrete indications that relations between the two countries continue to develop in all areas despite the challenging conditions caused by the war. Trade Minister Ömer Bolat, meanwhile, noted that Ukraine’s approval signifies “a historic milestone in the Türkiye-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement” and emphasized that the agreement will usher in a new era for economic and commercial relations.

The Free Trade Agreement between Türkiye and Ukraine was signed on 3 February 2022 during President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Kyiv. The agreement aims to liberalize trade between the two countries, improve the investment climate, and establish economic cooperation on an institutional foundation. Due to the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine War, the ratification process took longer than originally planned, with Türkiye ratifying the agreement in October 2024.

Under the Free Trade Agreement, customs duties on industrial and agricultural products are to be significantly removed or gradually reduced. The agreement targets the mutual liberalization of approximately 90 percent of trade between the two countries. Additionally, it seeks to reduce the customs duty burden on exporters, facilitate trade, and enhance investment opportunities.

Bilateral trade volume between Türkiye and Ukraine reached approximately USD 6.6 billion as of 2025. Both parties anticipate that the entry into force of the Free Trade Agreement will enable them to achieve the jointly set target of USD 10 billion in trade volume more rapidly.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the entry into force of the agreement will constitute a significant turning point in the Türkiye-Ukraine Strategic Partnership established in 2011, strengthening commercial and economic ties and expanding cooperation opportunities in investment. With the Verkhovna Rada’s approval, a major step has been taken to sustain economic cooperation between the two countries despite the conditions of war, and the necessary domestic ratification procedures for the agreement’s entry into force have been largely completed.