WIPO General Assembly Session Opens in Geneva
This week in Geneva, the 68th session of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) member-state assemblies got underway. Ukraine’s delegation submitted a sharply worded statement, stressing that over $587 billion is now needed for national recovery—an increase of $60 billion from last year’s estimate, highlighting the escalating destruction caused by Russian aggression.
Ukrainian officials called for the immediate shutdown of Russia’s WIPO representation, arguing that
“a country whose missiles kill Ukrainian families has no seat at the Assembly table.”They also demanded the revocation of all privileges and awards granted to Russia, and opposed any expansion of the Russian language as a working language in international registration systems.
National Intellectual Property Strategy Unveiled
Separately, Ukraine has finalized its National Intellectual Property Strategy in partnership with WIPO, and is actively advancing legislation covering key areas such as:
- trade secrets
- copyright
- trademarks
- patents
The delegation declared:
“The list of destruction grows. But our ability to rebuild grows faster.”Under the ‘Own Business’ program, Ukraine is working to align intellectual property regulations more closely with business needs and to expand digital services in this field.
The Geneva meetings underscore the critical role of international support for Ukraine amid ongoing aggression. By pushing for Russia’s exclusion from WIPO activities, the Ukrainian team emphasizes the need to safeguard global intellectual property rights and interests. At the same time, Ukraine continues to strengthen its own legislative framework, which could foster deeper integration into global economic systems and create a more favorable environment for domestic businesses.
As Ukraine strengthens its international partnerships, recent developments indicate a significant boost in financial support, with the country securing over €10 billion in agreements during the URC2026 event in Gdańsk. This influx of funds is crucial for Ukraine's recovery efforts and aligns with the ongoing discussions at the WIPO General Assembly regarding the impact of Russian aggression on national resources. For more details on how these agreements could shape Ukraine's future, see our coverage of the financial outcomes from the recent URC2026 summit.