**WIPO Standing Committee on the Law of Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications**
**48th session**
**24-27 March 2025**
**Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom,**
**Reactive statement on Ukraine**
Chair,
1. Poland is honored to deliver this statement on behalf of the group of likeminded states.
2. For over three years of Russia’s continued full-scale invasion of Ukraine we have witnessed unprecedented human drama and enormous destruction of the infrastructure. Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified aggression against Ukraine has caused profound suffering of the Ukrainian people, including children, women and most vulnerable ones. It has caused massive destruction as well as serious and – in some cases - irreversible - damage to civilian infrastructure. This war has entailed severe drainage of the intellectual human capital of Ukraine, which has and for years will have serious negative social, academic as well as economic implications. Its grave negative impact on the Ukrainian IP ecosystem has been reported by WIPO in document A/65/7. With no doubt Russia’s continued war affects our collective work towards strengthening IP globally, including within the framework of SCT.
3. We therefore, welcome the decision made during the 65th series of meetings of the Assemblies of the Member States of WIPO under agenda item 18, titled 'Assistance and Support for Ukraine's Innovation and Creativity Sector and Intellectual Property System'. At the same time, we are looking forward to the proper implementation of this decision and emphasize the need for WIPO’s continued assistance, which is critical for the recovery and rebuilding of the Ukrainian IP ecosystem damaged by the war.
4. The group of likeminded states, express solidarity with Ukraine. In this critical moment, we stand behind Ukraine and the Ukrainian people and re-emphasize our continued and unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. We once again demand Russia to immediately stop its invasion of Ukraine, withdraw its troops from the whole territory and cease all violations of international law.
5. For the countries on behalf of whom this statement is delivered no “business as usual” would be possible within the multilateral cooperation framework, unless Russia and its leadership are held fully accountable for waging a war of aggression against Ukraine and for other most serious crimes under international law, as well as for the massive amount of damage caused by its war.
6. The group of likeminded states support international efforts aimed at establishing a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, with Ukraine at the heart of any discussions. We look forward to the positive outcomes of this process leading to peace and Ukraine’s full recovery.
Thank you.