Ukraine submits updated OECD bid, seeks candidate status this autumn

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Tuesday that Kyiv has submitted an updated bid for membership in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, telling the organization's secretary-general that the step marked a critical advance toward integration with the bloc. Zelenskyy said in a statement on the social media platform X that the membership bid was "very important to us," adding that Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal had formally submitted the updated application during his meeting with OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann in Kyiv.

"And today, we are taking a step in this direction – the Prime Minister submitted Ukraine’s official updated application for OECD membership. We hope to receive candidate status as early as this autumn," Zelenskyy said, noting that the two leaders had discussed a roadmap toward full membership. The next stage involves a detailed roadmap for Ukraine's accession to the organization, which coordinates economic policy among advanced economies.

Reforms and European Integration

The Ukrainian leader stated that talks with Cormann also focused on progress toward European Union integration and the implementation of reforms necessary for advancing Kyiv's EU accession process, according to the presidential statement. "We also spoke about the implementation of the European Union’s financial support package, the strengthening of sanctions against Russia, and engagement with partners," Zelenskyy said, expressing gratitude to Cormann and the OECD for supporting Ukraine's reform path and peace efforts.

Background and Bilateral Talks

Despite not being a member state, Ukraine has maintained cooperation with the OECD through a four-year country program initiated in June 2023, designed to align Kyiv's economic policies with the organization's standards. The OECD, which adopted its current name in 1961 and comprises 38 member states including Türkiye, seeks to stimulate economic progress and global trade through policy coordination among advanced economies.

Cormann also held talks on Tuesday with Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, and Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal to discuss reform implementation and financial support mechanisms, as Ukraine aims to synchronize its OECD candidacy with its broader European integration trajectory ahead of the autumn decision deadline.