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Ukrainian
Central
European
Forum 2025
16-17 December, Kyiv
In 2025, for the fifth time, UCEF will bring together prominent thinkers and pundits from all over the region to spot common challenges and craft common visions for a prosperous Central European future.
8
sessions
100+
Participants
14
countries
UCEF Position Papers
NO TIME TO DIE
Chaos and Time of Responsibility for Central Europe
The certainty of the world, or of its projection, has become a thing of the past. The current system of order is weakening, and centers of power are shifting. Interstate alliances and organizations retain their external integrity, but are being tested by centrifugal powers that are only gaining strength. Europe, which has carefully built stability and prosperity over the past eight decades, is no longer a bystander to these processes.
FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY AND TRANSPARENCY
Once again for Central Europe
The Russian full-scale attack on Ukraine became a crush-test for the numerous forecasts, theories and concepts that were aiming at explaining regional context, driving forces of reforms within the region as well as regional identity attributes. People-to-people contacts, solidarity and common values, common perception of threats and resilience became more than theoretical constructs and were approbated on ground.
ARSENALS AND
ALLIANCES
Unprecedented Focus on CEE in the Face of Adversity
Paradoxically, the Russian war against Ukraine alongside the emerging threat has also opened a window of opportunity for the region of Central and Eastern Europe. Never since the end of the Cold War, had the region been so much in the focus of global attention.
The 2025 Presidential Elections in Belarus: Implications and Prospects
The current electoral campaign is unique for the Belarusian dictator's regime
It is already quite clear that the 2025 presidential elections will end with the victory of Aliaksandr Lukashenka, for whom the next presidential term will be the seventh of his political career.
Speakers/Day 1
Hennadiy MAKSAK
Executive Director of the Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism” (UA)
Oleksandr SUSHKO
Executive Director of the International Renaissance Foundation (UA)
Felix HETT
FES Representative for Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova (DE)
Yuliya KAZDOBINA
Senior Fellow at Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism” (UA)
Rostyslav OGRYZKO
Deputy State Secretary, Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (UA)
Sergiy GERASYMCHUK
Deputy Executive Director at Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism” (UA)
Florent MARCIACQ
Research Associate, French Institute of International Relations (FR)
Michal LEBDUŠKA
Research Fellow of Association for International Affairs (AMO) (CZ)
Oleksandr KRAIEV
Americas Program Director of the Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism” (UA)
Mateusz M. PIOTROWSKI
Head of the Americas Programme at PISM (PL)
Maksym SKRYPCHENKO
President of Transatlantic Dialogue Center (UA)
Lyndon ALLIN
Senior Advisor for CMI (US/MD)
Hanna SHELEST
Director of the Security Studies Program of the Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism” (UA)
Lesia OGRYZKO
Director of the Sahaidachnyi Security Center (UA)
Klara LINDSTRÖM
Analyst at the Stockholm Centre for Eastern European Studies (SCEEUS) (SE)
Zintis SILS
Researcher at the Center for Geopolitical Studies (LV)
Oleksandra AZARKHINA
Head of the Defence Industries at the Economic Security Council (UA)
Pavel HAVLICEK
Research Fellow at the Association for International Affairs (AMO) (CZ)
Sergiy KOSHMAN
Yuliia SHAIPOVA
Affiliated Expert at Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism” (UA)
Roman NITSOVYCH
Research Director at DiXi Group (UA
Balazs JARABIK
Founder of Minority Report, Partner at R.Politik (SK)
Yehor VALIARENKO
Analyst at Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism” (UA)
Agenda/Day 1
09:30-10:00
Registration. Welcome coffee/ tea
09:45
Opening of the photo exhibition “War Through the Voices of Children”, speech by the authors of the photo exhibition
- Olena ROZVADOVSKA, Ukrainian human rights defender, specialist in the field of child rights protection, co-founder and chairman of the board of the "Voices of Children" foundation.
10:00-10:45
Opening remarks
- Hennadiy MAKSAK, Executive Director of the Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism” (UA)
- Oleksandr SUSHKO, Executive Director of the International Renaissance Foundation (UA)
- Felix HETT, FES Representative for Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova (DE)
10:45-12:15
Geometry of Regional Alliances: Weimar Triangle, Lublin Triangle, Odesa Triangle?
Moderator:
- Yuliya KAZDOBINA, Senior Fellow at Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism” (UA)
Speakers:
- Rostyslav Ogryzko, Deputy State Secretary, Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (UA)
- Sergiy GERASYMCHUK, Deputy Executive Director at Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism” (UA)
- Florent MARCIACQ, Research Associate, French Institute of International Relations (FR)
- Michal LEBDUŠKA, Research Fellow of Association for International Affairs (AMO) (CZ)
12:15-12:45
Coffee/Tea break
12:45-14:15
Is America Still In? How can Europe fill the Gap? Consequences for Regional Stability?
Moderator:
- Oleksandr KRAIEV, Director of North America Programme of the Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism” (UA)
Speakers:
- Mateusz M. PIOTROWSKI, Head of the Americas Programme at PISM (PL)
- Maksym SKRYPCHENKO, President of Transatlantic Dialogue Center (UA)
- Lyndon ALLIN, Senior Advisor for CMI (US/MD)
-
Hanna SHELEST, Director of the Security Studies Program of the Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism” (UA)
14:15-15:15
Lunch break
15:15-16:45
The Evolving Defense-Industrial Complex Strategies in Europe
Moderator:
- Lesia OGRYZKO, Director of the Sahaidachnyi Security Center (UA)
Speakers:
- Klara LINDSTRÖM, Analyst at the Stockholm Centre for Eastern European Studies (SCEEUS) (SE)
- Zintis SILS, Researcher at the Center for Geopolitical Studies (LV)
- Oleksandra AZARKHINA, Head of the Defence Industries at the Economic Security Council (UA)
- Pavel HAVLICEK, Research Fellow at the Association for International Affairs (AMO) (CZ)
- Sergiy KOSHMAN, Head of Partnerships and Strategic Engagements at Helsing AI (UA)
16:45-18:15
Building Societal Resilience Under Threat of War
Moderator:
- Yuliia SHAIPOVA, Affiliated Expert at Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism” (UA)
Speakers:
- Roman NITSOVYCH, Research Director at DiXi Group (UA)
- Balazs JARABIK, Founder of Minority Report, Partner at R.Politik (SK)
- Yehor VALIARENKO, Analyst at Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism”
Speakers/Day 2
Maksym YAKOVLYEV
Director of the School for Policy Analysis and Head of the Department of International Relations (UA)
Vadym HALAYCHUK
Deputy Head of European Integration Committee at Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (UA)
Katalin CSEH
Member of Parliament (HU)
Andreas UMLAND
Analyst at the Stockholm Centre for Eastern European Studies (SCEEUS) (DE)
Igor KOGUT
Director of the Ukrainian Parliamentary Institute (UA)
Hennadiy MAKSAK
Executive Director of the Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism” (UA)
H.E. Victor MICULA
Ambassador of Romania to Ukraine (RO)
Elena SLATINSKA-OVANEZOVA
Chargée d’Affaires of Bulgaria in Ukraine (BG)
Olha SKRYPNYK
Head of the Board of the Crimean Human Rights Group (UA)
Suat KINIKLIOGLU
Former Member of the Turkish Parliament (TR)
Olga BRUSYLOVSKA
Chair of the Department of International Relations at Odesa I. I. Mechnikov National University, (UA)
Maryna YAROSHEVYCH
Deputy Chair, Ukrainian Prism Europe (UA)
Felix HETT
FES Representative for Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova (DE)
Daniel HEGEDÜS
GMF regional director, Transatlantic Trusts Central Europe (DE/HU)
Mante MAKAUSKAITE
Team Lead at Ukraine2EU (LT) (TBC)
Olga CHYZHOVA
Communication Director at Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism” (UA)
Iuliia OSMOLOVSKA
Head of the GLOBSEC Kyiv Office
Jakub JANDA
Executive Director at the European Values Center for Security Policy (CZ)
Valeriu PAȘA
President of Watchdog.MD (MD)
Anayit KHOPERIYA
Deputy Head of the Center for Countering Disinformation (UA)
Agenda/Day 2
09:00-10:30
The Role of Mainstream Political Parties in Stabilizing International Turbulence and Shaping the EU’s Response to the Emerging Challenges
Moderator:
- Maksym YAKOVLYEV, Director of the School for Policy Analysis and Head of the Department of International Relations (UA)
Speakers:
- Vadym HALAYCHUK, Deputy Head of European Integration Committee at Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (UA)
- Katalin CSEH, Member of Parliament (HU)
- Andreas UMLAND, Analyst at the Stockholm Centre for Eastern European Studies (SCEEUS) (DE)
- Igor KOGUT, Director of the Ukrainian Parliamentary Institute (UA)
10:30-11:00
Coffee/tea break
11:00-12:30
Black Sea Region: Peripheral or Central?
Moderator:
-
Hanna Shelest, Security Studies and Global Outreach Program Director, Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism” (UA)
Speakers:
- H.E. Victor MICULA, Ambassador of Romania to Ukraine (RO)
- Elena SLATINSKA-OVANEZOVA, Chargée d’Affaires of Bulgaria in Ukraine (BG)
- Olha SKRYPNYK, Head of the Board of the Crimean Human Rights Group (UA)
- Suat KINIKLIOGLU, Former Member of the Turkish Parliament (TR)
- Olga BRUSYLOVSKA, Chair of the Department of International Relations at Odesa I. I. Mechnikov National University, (UA)
12:30-13:30
Lunch break
13:30-15:00
Soft Power After American Retreat: Who Shapes Minds Now?
Moderator:
-
Maryna YAROSHEVYCH, Deputy Chair, Ukrainian Prism Europe (UA)
Speakers:
- Felix HETT, FES Representative for Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova (DE)
- Daniel HEGEDÜS, GMF regional director, Transatlantic Trusts Central Europe (DE/HU)
- Mante MAKAUSKAITE, Team Lead at Ukraine2EU (LT)
15:00-15:30
Coffee break
15:30-17:00
Hybrid Threats Unpacked: Implications for the Region
Moderator:
- Olga CHYZHOVA, Head of Brussels Office, Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism” (UA)
Speakers:
- Anayit KHOPERIYA, Deputy Head of the Center for Countering Disinformation (UA)
- Jakub JANDA, Executive Director at the European Values Center for Security Policy (CZ)
- Valeriu PAȘA, President of Watchdog.MD (MD)
- Iuliia OSMOLOVSKA, Head of the GLOBSEC Kyiv Office
17:00-17:30
Closing Remarks
17:30
Commemoration at The Wall of Memory of Fallen Defenders of Ukraine in the Russian-Ukrainian War at St. Michael's Gold-Top Cathedral
How it was before
Organizers
Ukrainian Central European Forum is organized by the Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism, in partnership with the International Renaissance Foundation within the EU-funded "European Renaissance of Ukraine" Project. The Forum enjoys the support of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Representation in Ukraine.
Additional information:
info@prismua.org
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