The article considers the principles of public procurement in Ukraine. The significance of the principles of public procurement for the procurement process and the development of the national economy has been studied. The principles of public procurement established by the Law of Ukraine “On Public Procurement” are analyzed and it is established that the system of legally established principles of public procurement is inconsistent. Scientific approaches to understanding the principles of public procurement are studied. The main principles of public procurement are highlighted, namely the principle of fair competition among participants, which is closely related to the principle of non-discrimination of participants and equal treatment, the principle of maximum economy and efficiency, the principle of openness and transparency at all stages of procurement and the principle of environmental friendliness. It is established that these principles are aimed at regulating the procurement process, and other principles, in particular, the principles of professionalism, responsibility, stimulation of innovation, etc. are derived from the basic principles. The inexpediency of allocating the principle of prevention of corruption and abuse as a principle of public procurement is substantiated. The interconnectedness, interdependence and derivative nature of separate principles of public procurement are established. It is determined that the system of principles of public procurement is quite dynamic and imperfect, and does not correspond to the current state of development of public procurement in Ukraine. The necessity of supplementing the principles of public procurement with the principle of environmental friendliness is substantiated. A low level of practical implementation of the principles of public procurement in the procurement process has been established. It is proposed to enshrine at the legislative level the key principles of procurement, namely the principle of fair competition and equality; the principle of maximum efficiency; the principle of openness and transparency; the principle of environmental friendliness.