Following a year of consultations with public and private stakeholders, the discussion focused on practical aspects of strengthening the public–private partnership (PPP). Participants were presented with a proposed governance model, a draft Memorandum of Understanding and a roadmap for its implementation. Particular attention was given to defining institutional responsibilities, improving information sharing and identifying shared priorities.

Key takeaways:

1. PPP governance structure: Participants emphasised the need to identify responsible institutions, clearly define their roles and responsibilities, and establish effective coordination mechanisms between the public and private sectors.

2. Information sharing: Banking sector representatives highlighted the importance of timely feedback from public authorities, particularly regarding suspicious transaction reports, emerging risks and financial crime schemes.

3. Practical cooperation: Participants supported the development of joint training initiatives and the exchange of experience in tackling financial crime. At the same time, they stressed that an effective partnership must deliver tangible results rather than remain limited to consultations.

4. Preparations for the MONEYVAL evaluation: Strengthening cooperation between public authorities and financial institutions was identified as a key priority in preparing Ukraine for its upcoming mutual evaluation of the anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing framework.

Next steps: Participants discussed the need to further refine the draft Memorandum of Understanding and identify practical areas of cooperation that can be pursued within the existing legal framework. The Independent Association of Banks of Ukraine expressed its readiness to support the development of the partnership and coordinate the banking sector’s participation.

The roundtable marked an important step in moving from initial consultations towards developing practical mechanisms for cooperation. Further efforts will focus on clarifying institutional roles, refining the proposed documents and laying the groundwork for an effective and operational PPP.

The roundtable was organised under the Ukraine Illicit Finance Capacity Development Programme, implemented by the Centre for Finance and Security (CFS) at RUSI and the Centre for Financial Integrity (CFI), in cooperation with DAI Global, with support from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).