Governance of Artificial Intelligence Technologies and Systems in the EU and Ukraine: Legal Foundations and Institutional Mechanisms

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming economic, managerial, and legal systems, creating new opportunities and risks for sustainable development and social equity. Within global digitalisation and Ukraine’s integration into the European legal and technological framework, the study of AI development management becomes a key element of national digital transformation. The topic holds significant scholarly and practical importance as it bridges law, economics, management, and sustainability. The aim of this study is to identify and systematise the legal and institutional mechanisms governing AI development in the European Union and Ukraine, and to assess their alignment with the global sustainable development agenda, based on three hypotheses: (1) the interdisciplinary nature of AI and law; (2) the integration of the UN Sustainable Development Goals into the EU AI Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689); and (3) the normative and institutional convergence between Ukraine and the European Union. The methodology applies a triangulated approach combining bibliometric analysis (PRISMA protocol), formal content analysis, and SWOT analysis, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of legal and managerial aspects of AI governance. The findings show that the EU model balances innovation and accountability through ESG principles, digital ethics, and human-centred governance. Ukraine demonstrates growing alignment with EU law via strategic documents, enhanced digital governance, and participation in international harmonisation programmes. The theoretical contribution lies in conceptualising AI development management as part of a sustainable digital regulation model, reflecting the evolving roles of the state, academia, and business in responsible technology governance. The practical implications include recommendations for developing a national strategy for AI regulation and management, drafting AI legislation harmonised with the EU AI Act, and improving digital governance in the public sector.