Perspectives on Ukraine

In 2026, two alumni – 1 from the Humboldt University, one from Andrássy who became friends during the program, applied for the annual HU grant, offering a 2000 EUR Alumni grant for an event focusing on Central European current events and challenges.

Outcome was a Budapest-Berlin 2 part event series on Ukraine in Senate Hall at the Humboldt University and Mirror Hall at the Andrássy University.

Main ideas of the discussion:

Over 1 500 days of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine – and despite Trump’s promise to end the war in 24 hours, no end is in sight even after the Easter ceasefire. How likely is peace at the negotiating table? What tactics do Russian diplomats use, and how should we interpret them? And overall: How can the European Union, the United States and our civil society better understand Russian behaviour to build a resilient post-war security architecture?

Key note by Iuliia Osmolovska, Head of GLOBSEC Kyiv Office. She is working for the Office of the President of Ukraine and assessing reforms in the field of international economic and European integration, as well as with the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, channeling the communication between the government and expert community/civil society with regard to reforms in Ukraine.

Followed by a discussion with Marharyta Blyzniuk, CLP Alumni from the University of Warsaw. The discussion was about the European support for Ukraine – especially in the light of Hungary’s parliament elections – and its implications for the Ukrainian civil society, viewed personally by both speakers.

Moderation by Joel Keller, CLP Alumni from the Andrássy University.

Supported by the Ambassador Robert Klinke and the team at the Andrássy University Budapest.

The second event focuses on aspects of civil society such as trauma, strategies against disinformation, exhaustion and the question of how societies remain capable of action under prolonged pressure.

Speakers: