As delegates gathered at UN Headquarters in New York, US, for the 2026 session of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), Ukraine remained focused on defending itself against the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion. The contrast underscored a central challenge for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: conflict can halt or reverse progress across all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The war has caused loss of life on a scale not seen in Europe since the Second World War and has affected every aspect of life for Ukraine’s population. Rising poverty, energy insecurity, economic losses, higher healthcare needs, and extensive damage to roads, rail lines, schools, hospitals, and other critical infrastructure illustrate the breadth of the crisis. The human, social, and economic costs are both immediate and long term.

For HLPF participants, Ukraine’s experience offered a stark reminder that SDG 16 (peace, justice, and strong institutions) is integral to the achievement of the wider SDG framework. Without peace, efforts to end poverty (SDG 1), ensure healthy lives and well-being (SDG 3), and maintain essential services become more difficult. The Goals under in-depth review at the 2026 HLPF—SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy), SDG 9 (industry, innovation, and infrastructure), SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities), and SDG 17 (partnerships for the Goals)—are especially vulnerable to the impacts of war. When a country must devote a large share of national resources to defense, investment in sustainable development is constrained.

Before the full-scale invasion, Ukraine had made progress on several SDGs. Poverty had fallen to 5.5% in 2021, before rising sharply the following year. Food systems have been disrupted, education and healthcare facilities damaged or destroyed, and access to reliable electricity and safe water interrupted. Alongside deaths and injuries, millions of people are living with the psychological impacts of war.

In this context, SDG 17 is critical. Ukraine has received substantial bilateral support, including military assistance, financial aid, and humanitarian assistance. The European Union and its member States have played an important role in supporting Ukraine’s fiscal stability and humanitarian needs, while countries including Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and the Netherlands have provided significant assistance relative to population size. Continued international cooperation will be needed to support immediate needs, recovery, and long-term reconstruction.

Nearly a decade ago, UN Secretary-General António Guterres told the UN General Assembly, “We are a world in pieces. We need to be a world at peace.”

That message remains relevant. Peace in Ukraine is essential not only for the country’s recovery but also for the region’s ability to realize the promise of the SDGs.

[Sustainable Development in the UNECE Region: Trends and Actions in 2026][European Sustainable Development Report 2026]

Chris Spence is an associate of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and writes regularly about the UN, sustainable development, and climate change.