In June 2024, a Ukrainian court recognised and granted leave for the enforcement of an arbitral award in favour of a French international trading company. The arbitration arose from the Ukrainian seller’s failure to supply the goods under the contract.   

During the recognition proceedings, the respondent attempted to resist enforcement by raising several objections, including:   

• the absence of a valid arbitration agreement between the parties;  

• improper notification of the arbitration proceedings; and  

• the alleged non-existence of the award creditor due to corporate restructuring.  

The Ukrainian court dismissed all objections, finding that the award fully met the formal and substantive requirements of the 1958 New York Convention. The court also confirmed that enforcement would not contradict Ukraine’s public policy.   

This decision reaffirms the pro-enforcement and arbitration-friendly stance of Ukrainian courts. 

The matter was handled by Partners Iryna Moroz, Ivan Kasynyuk and Counsel Pavlo Lebediev.