As Ukraine approaches the two-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion, increasing attention is turning towards long-term strategies for the country’s security, recovery, and rebuilding. Ukraine has begun accession negotiations with the European Union and a NATO Summit in 2024 will likely discuss Ukraine’s future in this strategic alliance.
While Ukraine’s fight for democracy, sovereignty, and European integration continues, the reality on the ground is complicated. The country faces persistent missile attacks from Russia, has endured significant destruction of its infrastructure, lost thousands of lives, and roughly 15% of Ukraine’s territory remains occupied. How will Ukraine rebuild itself once the fighting concludes? What does the peace building and recovery process look like?
Global Minnesota hosted a timely discussion of Ukraine’s postwar outlook with two distinguished guests joining virtually: Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum and former Prime Minister of Ukraine and Oleksandra Matviichuk, Head of the Center for Civic Liberties and 2022 Nobel Prize Laureate. After their keynotes, the conversation continued with a panel of local human rights and Ukrainian experts.
About Arseniy Yatsenyuk
Arseniy Yatsenyuk is Chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum, Prime Minister of Ukraine (2014- 2016). Prime Minister Yatsenyuk has led the Government of Ukraine in 2014-2016, right after the Revolution of Dignity. In his time in the government, he has taken key strategic decisions that have strengthened democracy and provided the path to the European integration, including strengthening energy security, providing visa free regime with the EU, supporting Ukrainian Armed Forces that have been vital reform that became a part of Ukrainian sustainability in time of large-scaled war that Russia has launched against Ukraine in February 2022. Today, he is leading the national platform Kyiv Security Forum providing the opportunity for politicians, activists and international expert to discuss the current national and global geopolitical and security trends, as well as to develop the solutions for Ukraine’s post-war rebuilding.
About Oleksandra Matviichuk
Oleksandra Matviichuk is a Ukrainian human rights lawyer and head of Ukraine’s Nobel Peace Prize winning Center for Civil Liberties, which promotes human rights legislation, exercises public oversight over law enforcement agencies and the judiciary, conducts educational activities for young people, implements international solidarity programs, and works to foster democracy in Ukraine and the OSCE region. She also coordinates the work of Euromaidan SOS, a grassroots legal assistance initiative that was created in response to the violent dispersal of a peaceful student demonstration in Maidan Square, in Kyiv on November 30, 2013. Most recently, after Russia’s invasion in February 2022, Oleksandra and several partners created the Tribunal for Putin initiative to document international crimes under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court in all regions of Ukraine that have been targeted by Russian attacks. In 2022, she was recognized as one of the 25 most influential women in the world by The Financial Times.
Panelists
Eric Schwartz, Global Policy Chair, Humphrey School of Public Affairs
Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, Professor, Robina Chair in Law, Public Policy, and Society, University of Minnesota
Kathleen Collins, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Minnesota
Natalia Chermoshentseva, Human Rights Activist, Found of volunteer initiative Dignity
Maria Sheremeta, Board Member, Ukrainian American Community Center
Moderator: Iryna Drobovych, Humphrey International Fellow
Presented in partnership with the Ukrainian-American Community Center and the University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs.
Thanks to promotional supporters the Committee on Foreign Relations – Minnesota, East-West Connections, the United Nations Association of Minnesota, and World Without Genocide.
Photo credits – Kostyantyn Polishchuk, Ukrainian photographer and soldier.
Watch the recording below!
Or listen on the go with our podcast recording!