Ukraine and European Security – What Lies Ahead?

Overview

On January 27, the EastWest Institute and The Hanns Seidel Foundation will host a roundtable debate on the political future of Ukraine and European security.

Following the presidential and parliamentary elections in Ukraine in 2019, hopes and expectations towards the new Ukrainian political leadership have been on the rise. Since his election, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has taken some initiatives, including carefully negotiated prisoner exchanges, to ease tensions with Russia and deliver on his top electoral promise to end the conflict in the Eastern part of the country. In December, after more than three years, a further meeting in the Normandy-Format took place in Paris. Many argue that it produced limited outcomes, while nonetheless inducing hopes that Russia and Ukraine might be returning to a path of resolving the conflict politically.

Peace in Ukraine continues to be essential for European security. With the next Normandy-Format meeting envisioned for March, the question is: What lies ahead for Ukraine and European security? How is the current situation perceived by political actors and people in Ukraine? What is the role of the Ukrainian parliament? What can the EU do to facilitate a peaceful solution to the conflict?

Agenda

15.30 | Coffee and Registration

16.00 | Welcome and Introduction

H.E. Amb. Dr. Wolfgang Klapper, Vice President; Director of the Regional Security Programme; Head of Brussels Office, EastWest Institute

Daniel Seiberling, Head of Projects, Hanns Seidel Foundation in Ukraine, Republic of Moldova and Romania

16.10 | Keynote Speeches

Serhiy Taruta, Member of the Ukrainian Parliament (“Fatherland”), Former Governor of the Donetsk Region (in 2014)

Iryna Vershchuk, Member of the Ukrainian Parliament (“Servant of the People”), Chair of the Sub-committee on National Security and Defence of the Verkhovna Rada

16.40 | Discussion and Q&A

Serhiy Taruta, Member of the Ukrainian Parliament (“Fatherland”), Former Governor of the Donetsk Region (in 2014)

Iryna Vershchuk, Member of the Ukrainian Parliament (“Servant of the People”), Chair of the Sub-committee on National Security and Defence of the Verkhovna Rada

Rustem Umerov, Member of the Ukrainian Parliament (“Voice”), Chair of the Committee on Human Rights, De-occupation and Reintegration of the Temporary Occupied Territories in Donetsk and Lugansk Regions and Crimea Republic, Sevastopol, National Minorities and Cross-National Relations of the Verkhovna Rada

Dr. Oleksii Semenii, Adviser to the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine

Moderation: Dietrich John, Policy Officer, Brussels Office, Hanns Seidel Foundation

Closing remarks: Dr. Markus Ehm, Director, Brussels Office, Hanns Seidel Foundation

17.30 | End of Conference

How to Join

Kindly note that registration to this event is mandatory due to limited space.

Please register here by January 24, 2020.

Event Venue

EastWest Institute

Rue de Trèves 59-61, 1040 Brussels