Safe AI for Ukrainians: Ukraine Signs Human Rights Convention

Ukraine joins the world’s first international convention on artificial intelligence regulation

On May 15, during the EURODIG 2025 conference in Strasbourg, France, Ukraine signed the Council of Europe Convention on Artificial Intelligence, Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law. This is the first international treaty to establish foundational standards for the governance of AI technologies. The announcement was made by the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.

What it means

The Convention sets out core principles for the responsible development and use of AI, with a strong emphasis on protecting human rights and upholding democratic values. While it doesn’t impose direct obligations on private businesses, the Ukrainian government plans to promote the adoption of these principles in the private sector. One of the tools to support this will be HUDERIA — a Council of Europe methodology designed to assess AI systems for compliance with human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.

It’s worth noting that the Convention does not apply to military or defense-related uses of AI.
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Why it matters

“AI is already being integrated into services like Diia and Mriia. That’s why we must establish safety and ethical standards now. Ukraine is moving toward full digital integration with Europe and aligning with global approaches,” said Oleksandr Bornyakov, Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation, who signed the Convention on Ukraine’s behalf.

Back in 2024, the Ministry introduced the "White Paper on AI Regulation in Ukraine" — a strategic document outlining the country’s approach to AI governance. Ukraine has adopted a bottom-up model: starting with support tools and adaptation mechanisms, and only then moving to enforceable legal frameworks.
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What’s next

So far, 15 countries have signed the Convention, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Israel, and several EU member states.

Ukraine is already preparing for the next step — drafting a national AI law modeled after the EU’s AI Act. This legislation will aim to restrict AI use in high-risk areas and introduce significant penalties for violations — up to €30 million or 6% of a company’s annual global turnover.

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