FATF adopted the Ministerial Declaration of the Financial Action Task Force for the development of financial measures to combat money laundering

Ukraine welcomes the adoption of the Ministerial Declaration by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which confirms the international community’s unwavering commitment to combating illicit financial flows and protecting the integrity of the global financial system.

«Importantly, the Declaration explicitly highlights the threats caused by the war of the russian federation against Ukraine. The financial system must not be used as a tool to circumvent sanctions, finance aggression, or conceal illicit assets. We call on all jurisdictions to strengthen vigilance and practical measures to detect and block schemes linked to illicit russian financial flows. Ukraine will continue to actively cooperate with FATF and international partners to strengthen global financial security and ensure accountability of the aggressor state», said Ukraine’s Minister of Finance Sergii Marchenko.

The Ministerial Declaration was adopted on April 17, 2026, following the FATF Ministers’ meeting in Washington, D.C., United States. The document reaffirms FATF’s role as the leading international standard-setting body in combating money laundering, terrorist financing, and the financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and emphasizes the need for full and timely implementation of these standards across all jurisdictions.

The adoption of the Declaration sends a clear political signal on strengthening international financial oversight. Against the backdrop of rising cross-border crime, fraud, sanctions evasion attempts, and the use of new financial instruments, FATF member countries confirmed their readiness for coordinated action. This reinforces FATF’s role as a key institution in shaping global rules on financial transparency and integrity.

The document identifies financial security as a priority for governments at the highest political level. It addresses not only traditional money-laundering schemes but also emerging risks, including the use of digital assets, modern technologies, and complex cross-border structures to conceal the origin of funds, finance terrorism, and undermine sanctions regimes.

Special attention is given to strengthening public-private partnerships, expanding information sharing, and the responsible use of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, to detect and disrupt complex financial schemes while ensuring due legal process.

The Declaration also stresses the need to remain vigilant regarding threats to the international financial system linked to the war of the russian federation against Ukraine, referencing FATF’s February 2023 statement on suspending russia’s membership.

In addition, it reaffirms the importance of complying with United Nations Security Council resolutions concerning the North Korea and Iran in efforts to counter the financing of weapons of mass destruction proliferation. In particular, following the re-application of relevant UN Security Council resolutions on Iran due to non-compliance with nuclear non-proliferation commitments, ministers reminded all jurisdictions of their obligations under FATF standards to address weapons proliferation financing risks originating from Iran.

The Ministerial Declaration emphasizes that only coordinated cooperation between governments, international organizations, and the private sector can effectively counter modern financial crime.

The next meeting of FATF member ministers is scheduled for April 2028.