Institutional convergence of Ukraine’s international public procurement under the European integration

Type of the article: Research ArticleAbstractThe relevance of this study derives from the strategic role of international public procurement in Ukraine’s public finance system and its critical importance for post-war reconstruction. The purpose is to assess how the transformation of Ukraine’s procurement through institutional convergence with the EU acquis, a shift toward public-value creation, and readiness for value-oriented recovery affects its effectiveness under wartime conditions. The methodology combines a systemic and comparative approach with historical-institutional analysis and regulatory examination, drawing on more than forty Ukrainian legal acts, EU directives, OECD and Transparency International reports, and procurement data from ProZorro and TED for 2019–2025. Quantitative evidence indicates a marked increase in international donor financing, rising from €1.1 million in 2019 to €20.2 million in 2025, signaling intensified support for reconstruction and institutional alignment. The results indicate that institutional convergence, public value creation, and recovery readiness operate as mutually reinforcing processes. The findings partially confirm all three hypotheses: convergence enhances transparency, competition, and public trust; value transformation is reflected in procurement’s evolution from a procedural function to a mechanism integrating economic, social, and innovation objectives; and readiness for value-driven reconstruction depends on combining accelerated procedures with legality, integrity, and digital oversight. The study concludes that further advancement requires sustained digitalization, professionalization, and continued adherence to EU standards.