Reconstruction of Ukraine in the wake of Russia’s invasion must begin with the modernization of its western border infrastructure, especially checkpoints. These are crucial for the inflow of humanitarian aid, supplies of fuel, exports of Ukrainian products such as grain, and in relation to other key economic activities that are integral to Ukraine’s future.
To begin rebuilding and modernizing Ukraine whilst the war is on-going, it is important to choose areas and facilities with the lowest risk of attack. Checkpoints on the border with the EU and NATO are prime spots since they are unlikely to be targeted by Russian missiles for risk of attacking a neighboring NATO member state.
According to Article 5 of the Alliance Agreement, an attack on a NATO member is considered an attack on the entire Alliance, thus Russia is unlikely to dare a direct armed conflict with NATO.
On the Polish border, a separate lane has already been created for the passage of fuel trucks, while the Uzhhorod checkpoint on the Ukrainian-Slovak border has announced a separate lane for humanitarian goods. So, it is worth focusing on the principle of integrated border management and working to ensure the Ukrainian western border is more systematically effective in critical conditions.
On June 1, a joint meeting of the Governments of Ukraine and Poland explored issues of cooperation in the field of transport and logistics development between the two countries. In the context of the blockade of seaports, fuel shortages in the Ukrainian market and the threat of a food crisis, cooperation between Ukraine and Poland has become global is vital.
A current priority is to increase the capacity of checkpoints on the shared border. The two Governments agreed to speed up the process of checkpoint modernization and construction, as well as to intensify the search for funding.
To take this forward, Ukraine’s Government plans to establish a Working Group on the development of Open Border Checkpoints, which will include the heads of all key agencies. This format should result in a joint step-by-step plan to improve how checkpoints operate.
Dialogue on joint control at all checkpoints has also been intensified in cooperation with Polish colleagues, which is expected to yield reduced waiting times. A pilot program aimed at significantly increasing the capacity of the Korchova-Krakovets border crossing will start in June.
Special thanks to Polish colleagues for supporting the initiative of the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine to sign a Special Agreement on the liberalization of Ukraine-EU road transport. This will speed up negotiations with the European Commission, which began last autumn, and will hopefully lead to a scrapping of permits for Ukrainian carriers to cross the border between Ukraine and EU member states.
Checkpoint infrastructure facilities have the potential to attract international funds through a range of programs, not least the framework of the so-called Marshall Plan for Ukraine. Indeed, back in 2014, the EU allocated more than 29 million euros to six Ukrainian checkpoints on the western border of Ukraine.
Construction work on old and new checkpoints on the western border of Ukraine has been a priority for several years. In fact, almost all the necessary documentation and international agreements have been prepared. Moreover, a few months before the Russian invasion, the Ukrainian government announced “large-scale construction” on the western border. Certain checkpoints, such as Krasnoilsk and Dyakivtsi on the Romanian border, and the Uzhhorod checkpoint on the Slovak border, have a high degree of readiness.
The modernization of old and opening of new checkpoints on the western border have the potential to create much-needed new supply chains, as well as jobs in construction and an uplift in the currently under-supplied number of border guards.
Modernization is also a good reason to strengthen dialogue with neighbors in the interests of trade and regional development. Ukraine’s western regions have already become a humanitarian hub, therefore improving border infrastructure will create additional development opportunities.
As part of an integrated border management strategy, these various efforts will not only strengthen security, but send an important signal from Ukraine that reconstruction has begun.
Viktor Dovhan is a transport consultant and was Deputy Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine (2016 – 2019)
