INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

International cooperation of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) is grounded in humanitarian principles, advocacy, and humanitarian diplomacy. Through strategic partnerships and international engagement, URCS strengthens principled humanitarian action and contributes to Ukraine’s recovery, reconstruction, and resilience-building efforts.

In addition to managing an unprecedented humanitarian response, URCS supports capacity building of local actors and the transition from emergency relief to sustainable, accountable services, particularly for vulnerable and crisis-affected communities.

As an auxiliary to the public authorities in the humanitarian field, URCS ensures principled access to affected populations while upholding the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement — humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

In the coming years, international cooperation will support the implementation of URCS strategic priorities, including strengthening civil protection, expanding medical services (particularly mental health and rehabilitation), and further developing social services for vulnerable communities.

Through partnerships, the Ukrainian Red Cross Society enhances its institutional capacity and ensures a sustainable, community-based approach to problem-solving.

A key international initiative of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society is the High-Level Event on Preparedness and Response to International Armed Conflicts, held in Kyiv in 2025 — a platform for exchange on response to armed conflicts. The event has been scaled to the European level, with its next edition scheduled for 2026 in London, United Kingdom.

The development of humanitarian diplomacy, including youth humanitarian diplomacy, is a strategic priority. This facilitates youth engagement in international dialogue and humanitarian policy discussions, particularly through the annual Youth Diplomatic Forum as a platform for interaction between youth, state institutions, and international partners.

Key international partners include ECHO, GIZ, FCDO, NORAD, U.S. Department of State, and WFP. The Ukrainian Red Cross Society also cooperates with EU institutions, public authorities, diplomatic missions, international organizations, think tanks, academic institutions, and civil society partners. A dedicated area of cooperation is the interaction with the Red Cross EU Office, which ensures coordination with EU institutions and strengthens the representation of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society at the European level.

Ukrainian Red Cross directs its efforts towards raising awareness among stakeholders, civil society, and components of the International Movement in Ukraine through quarterly Educational Digests. These digests contain practical information about key tools, processes, and mechanisms in the fields of advocacy, humanitarian response, and broader humanitarian action.

This leaflet is aimed at raising awareness about the nature, structure, and features of the components of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, as well as the role of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society as a National Society in Ukraine, its interaction with government bodies, its auxiliary role, and other important aspects of its activities.