What lies ahead for Ukraine this winter and how to prepare for it — these issues were discussed by members of the Security Council of the Kyiv Security Forum (KSF).Key topics of the discussion included the situation on the front line, new aerial threats, partner support, and ways to weaken the Russian economy. In particular, the discussion focused on increasing sanctions pressure on Russia, utilizing frozen Russian assets, and integrating Ukraine into the European defense-industrial complex.The KSF also announced the opening of its European office in Brussels. Its goal is to strengthen cooperation between Ukraine, the EU, and the Euro-Atlantic community, as well as to promote strategic partnerships and defense innovation.Participants in the discussion:Arseniy YATSENYUK, Prime Minister of Ukraine from 2014 to 2016, Chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum;General David PETRAEUS, Commander of U.S. Central Command (2008–2010), Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (2011–2012), member of the KSF Security Council;Ambassador Kurt VOLKER, U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine in 2017–2019, member of the KSF Security Council;Marcin BUZANSKI, Director of the KSF European Office.A recording of the conversation is available via the link.The Kyiv Security Forum (KSF), founded by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk “Open Ukraine” Foundation, is Ukraine’s leading international discussion platform on issues of war and peace. Prominent international leaders, politicians, diplomats, experts, activists, and journalists participate in KSF events. The platform operates on several levels simultaneously: keeping Ukraine in the spotlight of the global agenda; expanding our country’s circle of international partners; and building expertise on current security issues.

What Lies Ahead for Ukraine This Winter: Members of the KSF Security Council Discussed Key Challenges

<div class="raw-html-embed"><iframe width="100%" height="560" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FKLsMZwbo_o?si=aU6Q7DPxlQzeSBbv" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>📍 On May 8-9, 2025, the 17th annual Kyiv Security Forum will be held in Ukraine’s capital by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk Open Ukraine Foundation.The title of the Forum is "UA: UNITE AGAIN TO DEFEAT THE GLOBAL AGGRESSOR".This year's Forum is dedicated to two symbolic dates: the 80th anniversary of the Victory in World War II and the 40th anniversary of Europe Day as an official holiday of the European Union.These milestones hold a particular significance in light of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.The key topics of the Forum: &nbsp;&nbsp; - How to stop the Russian aggressor? &nbsp; - How to achieve a just peace for Ukraine and the world? &nbsp; - How to prevent the Third World War?The two-day event will feature discussions with high representatives of the Governments, Defense Ministries and General Staffs of partner countries, the international intelligence community, as well as prominent international figures, high level Ukrainian and foreign officials, parliamentarians, diplomats, intellectuals, security and foreign policy experts, and civil society activists.The Kyiv Security Forum, founded by Arseniy Yatsenyuk's Open Ukraine Foundation, is the main platform of our country for discussing issues of war and peace, national and global security.The Kyiv Security Forum partners: NATO, The Atlantic Council, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, CEPA, IndeX, Impact.The live broadcast will start at 10:00 a.m., May 8, on the media platforms of the KSF and our media partners: &nbsp; <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.facebook.com/ksfopenukraine">Kyiv Security Forum Facebook page;</a>&nbsp; <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.facebook.com/OpenUkraineFund">Open Ukraine Foundation Facebook page;</a>&nbsp; <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://ksf.openukraine.org/">Kyiv Security Forum website;</a> &nbsp; <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.youtube.com/@OpenUkraine">Open Ukraine Foundation YouTube channel;</a> &nbsp; <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.youtube.com/@YatsenyukOrgUaofficial">Arseniy Yatsenyuk YouTube channel;</a> &nbsp; <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.facebook.com/yatsenyuk.arseniy">Arseniy Yatsenyuk Facebook page.</a>Media partners of the Kyiv Security Forum: Espreso, Censor.net, NV, The Cipher Brief, Gazeta.ua, Іnterfax-Ukraine, Glavkom, Defense Express, Day, Grnt Media, Ukraine Media Center, Gordon, TVA, UkraineWorld, Ukraine Crisis Media Center.Official hashtags: #KSF #KSF2025

The 17th Annual Kyiv Security Forum on May 8-9 “UA: UNITE AGAIN TO DEFEAT THE GLOBAL AGGRESSOR”

“We are tired. The world needs to pay more attention to Ukraine”: How the Kyiv Security Forum managed to bring Prince Harry, NATO and EU leaders to the capital”

The NATO summit in Ankara was one of the key events of the year for Euro-Atlantic security. Amid Russia's war against Ukraine, the Alliance's member states had to address not only the issue of bolstering their own defences, but also determine the future format of support for Ukraine.What do the summit’s decisions mean for NATO’s future? Is transatlantic unity holding firm? How is Ukraine’s role in the West’s security strategy changing? These issues will be discussed by participants in a special online discussion organised by the Kyiv Security Forum, entitled ‘NATO Summit in Ankara: Decisions, Challenges, and the Way Forward’.The key topic of discussion is the new strategic reality, in which Russia’s war against Ukraine poses a challenge to the entire Euro-Atlantic security system.Participants of the discussion:Arseniy YATSENYUK, Chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum, Prime Minister of Ukraine (2014–2016);Danylo LUBKIVSKY, Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine (2014), Member of the Security Council, Kyiv Security Forum;Tanya HARTMAN, Head, Policy East Team, Political Affairs and Security Policy Division, NATO HQ;Ambassador William TAYLOR, Distinguished Fellow, Atlantic Council, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine (2006–2009; 2019–2020);Ambassador Kurt VOLKER, US Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations (2017–2019);Marcin BUŻANSKI, Director of the European Office of the Kyiv Security Forum (Brussels).The discussion will be moderated by Mark LOBEL, a journalist and BBC presenter.The discussion topics include:what political signals were sent by the NATO summit in Ankara;how the summit’s decisions will affect future support for Ukraine;whether the allies are prepared for a long-term strengthening of European defence.The Kyiv Security Forum’s special discussions are taking place as part of a new project – ‘Kyiv Security Forum: Deep Strike’. This is a series of expert discussions on current events and key trends in the fields of security, the economy and Ukraine’s foreign policy. The project aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the most significant challenges shaping the country’s future.The Kyiv Security Forum (KSF), founded by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk Open Ukraine Foundation, is Ukraine’s leading international discussion platform on issues of war and peace. Prominent international leaders, politicians, diplomats, experts, activists and journalists take part in KSF events. The platform operates on several levels simultaneously: keeping Ukraine at the forefront of the global agenda; expanding our country’s circle of international partners; and building expertise on current security issues.

What do the NATO summit decisions mean? The Kyiv Security Forum will host a special discussion

The Kyiv Security Forum EU Office has opened in Brussels (Belgium).Its aim is to help achieve Ukraine’s key objectives. These are, first and foremost, victory in the war; Ukraine's accession to the European Union and NATO; the reconstruction of the state; holding Russia to account and securing the payment of reparations; and full participation in shaping Europe’s new defence architecture.The KSF EU Office in Brussels will develop a systematic dialogue with European Union and NATO institutions, the governments and parliaments of partner countries, leading think tanks, civil society and the media. It will serve as a permanent platform for international meetings, negotiations, expert discussions and joint initiatives. The KSF EU Office’s work will focus on promoting Ukraine’s political and security interests, strengthening long-term international support, facilitating Ukraine’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration, engaging partners in the country’s reconstruction and cooperation in the defence and security sector, and developing mechanisms for utilising frozen Russian assets and recovering reparations from the aggressor state.The KSF EU Office will also promote the development of strategic cooperation within the European Union–Ukraine–United Kingdom framework and the deepening of cooperation with key NATO partners.The opening of the office in Brussels is a logical continuation of the work of the Kyiv Security Forum, which has been building ties between Ukraine and its international partners since 2007.“Ukraine today is defending not only itself – it is defending Europe. We are opening an office in Brussels so that Ukrainian interests are consistently represented where decisions on Europe’s future are made,” emphasised Arseniy Yatsenyuk, founder of the ‘Open Ukraine’ Foundation and the KSF EU Office, and Chairman of the KSF.The KSF EU Office in Brussels is established as an international NGO under a Royal Decree signed by King Philippe of Belgium. The office will become fully operational in 2027.Marcin Bużanski has been appointed Executive Director of the KSF EU Office. He is a political scientist and expert in foreign and security policy, with many years’ experience in international diplomacy, negotiations and conflict resolution.The Kyiv Security Forum (KSF), founded by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk ‘Open Ukraine’ Foundation, is Ukraine’s leading international platform on issues of war and peace. KSF events are attended by heads of state and government, politicians, diplomats, military commanders, experts, civil society leaders and journalists. The platform’s activities are aimed at keeping Ukraine at the centre of the global agenda, expanding its circle of international partners and building expertise on pressing security issues.

The Kyiv Security Forum EU Office opens in Brussels

Russia has chosen to escalate its aggressive war against Ukraine. Over the past month, Moscow has sharply intensified its strikes: relentless drone attacks and large-scale shelling of Kyiv have turned into a campaign of systematic psychological terror.The Kremlin’s objective remains unchanged: to break Ukraine’s spirit before winter comes, to destroy Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, to inflict damage on the economy and business sector, and to block Ukrainian ports.What does this mean for Ukraine and its Western partners? How should the international community respond to this blatant escalation? This was the subject of a special discussion held by the Kyiv Security Forum.The key focus of the discussion was the new strategic reality, in which Russia combines military escalation with a mimicry of diplomacy, testing both Ukraine’s resilience and the unity of the West.Participants of the discussion:Arseniy YATSENYUK, Chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum, Prime Minister of Ukraine (2014–2016);Danylo LUBKIVSKY, Member of the Security Council of the Kyiv Security Forum, Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine (2014);Brice ROQUEFEUIL, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Ukraine;Sir Neil CROMPTON, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom to Ukraine.Key issues included:the assessment of the current situation in Ukraine and the West;the international community’s response to Russia’s blatant escalation;Ukraine’s ability to remain resilient in the face of a difficult winter and the West’s role in strengthening its resilience.The KSF’s special discussions are part of the ‘Kyiv Security Forum: Deep Strike’ project. This is a series of expert discussions on current events and key trends in Ukraine’s security, economy and foreign policy. The project aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the most important challenges shaping the country’s future.The Kyiv Security Forum (KSF), founded by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk ‘Open Ukraine’ Foundation, is Ukraine’s leading international discussion platform on issues of war and peace. Prominent international leaders, politicians, diplomats, experts, activists and journalists take part in KSF events. The platform operates on several levels simultaneously: keeping Ukraine at the centre of the global agenda; expanding our country’s circle of international partners; and building expertise on pressing security issues.

How should the West respond to Russia’s escalation? The Kyiv Security Forum held a special discussion

Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum and Prime Minister of Ukraine from 2014 to 2016, met in Kyiv with a delegation of congressional staff and policy advisers who work directly on legislation, defence, national security and foreign policy.The meeting was organised in cooperation with the Atlantic Council. It was attended by representatives of the congressional staff and policy advisers from both political parties and both chambers of the U.S. Congress.The key topic of the meeting was the need to continue US support for Ukraine and to maintain a bipartisan consensus on aid to our country.“Without US support, we would not have survived. We are therefore grateful to both Democrats and Republicans for your strong and unwavering support,” emphasised Arseniy Yatsenyuk.The participants discussed the continued provision of military aid to Ukraine, in particular the strengthening of air defence, as well as the need for long-range weapons, drones, reconnaissance and satellite communications.Arseniy Yatsenyuk emphasised the need to uphold the principle that support for Ukraine must remain a matter of consensus between the leading political forces in the US — Democrats and Republicans.The discussion also covered the further intensification of sanctions pressure on Russia and the need to maintain international support for Ukraine.The meeting was also attended by Ambassador John E. Herbst, Senior Director of the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Centre, and Danylo Lubkivsky, Member of the Security Council of the Kyiv Security Forum and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine in 2014.

“Without your support, we would not have withstood”: Arseniy Yatsenyuk, at a meeting with representatives of the US Congress, expressed gratitude to Democrats and Republicans for their support of Ukraine

Ramina Shut, Director of the Arseniy Yatsenyuk ‘Open Ukraine’ Foundation, said in a statement marking the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence that her life is linked to several Ukrainian cities, each of which has borne the brunt of the war – from the occupied Donetsk region to Kyiv, which wakes up to the sound of explosions.“I was born in Donetsk Oblast. The town has been under occupation since 2014. I spent early years of my childhood in Kupiansk, Kharkiv oblast – a city that has been through so much... I grew up in Sumy Oblast. Where the war is felt every single day/hour/minute .. And Kyiv has been my home for more than half of my life. I have watched my city wake up to explosions and somehow find the strength to live again,” she said.Shut added that the years of war have worn Ukrainians down, yet she emphasised their resilience. “We have lost people we loved. We have lost homes, cities, years of our lives. But we are still here. Because there are things you cannot surrender. And there are people who make that possible – women and men who defend our freedom every single day, often paying the highest possible price,” she said.That is precisely why, Ramina Shut emphasised, independence for her means, above all, the right to return home. “When I think about independence, I don’t think about a word in a history book. I think about the right to come home. The right to know that your home is still yours. To speak your language. To choose your own future. To remain Ukrainian. Independence means that one day, we will be able to return to every Ukrainian city, every Ukrainian home, every place we had to leave behind – and know that it is ours. I am proud to be Ukrainian. Happy Independence Day, my brave Ukraine!” – emphasised the Director of the ‘Open Ukraine’ Foundation.

Ramina Shut, Director of the ‘Open Ukraine’ Foundation: Happy Independence Day, my brave Ukraine!

The defining metaphor of this new era is the inspirational, determined and innovative defense of Ukraine’s freedom in the face of unprovoked aggression. This was emphasised by members of the Security Council of the Kyiv Security Forum, headlined by the KSF Chairman, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, who served as Prime Minister of Ukraine from 2014 to 2016, in a joint article entitled ‘The Ukrainian Phenomenon’, published to mark the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s restoration of independence in The Wall Street Journal.The authors emphasise that, over three and a half decades, Ukraine has undergone an extraordinary transformation from a fragment of the Soviet empire into a nation that is a global symbol of the struggle for freedom and a cornerstone of Euro-Atlantic security.‘We believed that the defining metaphor of the new era would be the fall of the Berlin Wall. In reality, the defining metaphor of this new era is the inspirational, determined and innovative defense of Ukraine’s freedom in the face of unprovoked aggression — and, indirectly, Ukraine’s defense of Europe and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as well. Ukraine has shown the world what a nation is capable of when it refuses to submit to a murderous foreign regime and is prepared to fight for its freedom and its existence as an independent country.,’ they note.The authors describe Ukraine’s reaching and maintaining independence as one the greatest achievements of modern history, alongside the 250th anniversary of American independence, the establishment of the European Union, the reunification of Germany and the enlargement of a united Europe.A separate section of the article is devoted to the ‘hard truths’ that Western political leaders and societies must face. First and foremost, the authors call for abandoning the illusion that Russia’s war against Ukraine is taking place somewhere far away, beyond the boundaries of Europe and the NATO alliance. ‘Although Ukraine is on the front lines, this is ultimately a war against Europe and NATO, fought on European soil,’ emphasise the members of the KSF Security Council.The authors identify the hope for a swift peace as the second illusion. ‘The only genuine path to peace lies in Ukraine’s victory and in the maximum political, defense and societal mobilization of a united Europe and a united trans-Atlantic alliance. Mobilization must convince the aggressor that Ukraine will never surrender and that it is prepared to use force against any assault on our collective security, that of Ukraine and NATO.The third illusion is described as the belief that Russia can alter its aggressive historical trajectory without accountability and atonement for its crimes. “Western leaders often act as though totalitarian regimes will embrace peaceful coexistence in response to Western concessions and passivity, but that will never happen,” the article emphasises.Stressing that today's war cannot be won using yesterday’s methods, the authors conclude: “Ukraine’s fight against Russian assault isn’t an isolated regional conflict but a crucial defense of the Western democratic order. Allies’ support for Ukraine is essential, but in an era of authoritarian aggression, the West must do more than provide weapons and aid. It must learn to be as determined and inventive as Ukraine. These lessons are vital to a free Kyiv and the survival of the Ukrainian nation.”The article was signed by the Chairman of the KSF, Prime Minister of Ukraine from 2014 to 2016, Arseniy Yatsenyuk; Admiral Rob Bauer, Chair of the NATO Military Committee for 2021–2025; Ambassador Kurt Volker, U.S. State Department Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations for 2017–2019; Danylo Lubkivsky, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine in 2014; General David Petraeus, Commander of US Central Command from 2008 to 2010 and Director of the CIA from 2011 to 2012; Admiral Sir Antony David Radakin, Chief of the Defence Staff of the United Kingdom from 2021 to 2025; Taavi Rõivas, Prime Minister of Estonia from 2014 to 2016; Ramina Shut, Director of the ‘Open Ukraine’ Foundation; and Natalie Jaresko, Minister of Finance of Ukraine from 2014 to 2016.&nbsp;

Ukraine’s reaching and maintaining independence ranks among the greatest achievements of modern history: a joint article by members of the KSF Security Council in the WSJ

On October 31 - November 1, the Arseniy Yatsenyuk Open Ukraine Foundation will hold the 10th Kyiv Security Forum for Youth in Ukraine’s capital.The topic of the first Youth KSF since the beginning of the Russian full-scale invasion is "Gen W. Ukraine’s War Generation".The Forum will be attended by over 100 young leaders from all over the country.It is aimed to become a platform for discussing the challenges Ukrainian youth are facing during the war, the crucial mission that young people have undertaken in bringing victory closer and that awaits them after the war is over.<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YFRu2FpsI-I?si=GmVlL1UjiSL47x0_" width="800" height="450" frameborder="0"></iframe>Prominent Ukraine’s and international public figures, representatives of the military, prominent volunteers and civil society activists, experts on security and international relations will become speakers of the Youth KSF. Among the speakers of the Forum: Marie-Doha BESANCENOT, Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy, NATO; David PETRAEUS, Commander of the U.S Central Command (2008-2010), Director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency; Kurt VOLKER, United States Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations (2017-19); Oleksandra MATVIICHUK, 2022 Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Head of the Center for Civil Liberties; Natalie JARESKO, Chairperson, The Aspen Institute Kyiv, Ukraine’s Finance Minister (2014-16); Anton DROBOVYCH, Head of the Institute of National Remembrance; Vitaly PORTNIKOV, journalist.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/KSFY_311024_agenda_en_94e501827b.pdf">Forum program</a>.The 10th Kyiv Security Forum for Youth is organized by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk Open Ukraine Foundation in partnership with the NATO Representation to Ukraine and supported by the National Democratic Institute and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung in Ukraine. The institutional partner of the Forum is the Atlantic Council.Media partners: Espreso, Censor.NET, TVA, Gordon, Gazeta.ua, Interfax-Ukraine, Glavkom, Ukraine World, Ukraine Media Center, Ukrainian Crisis Media Center, The Day Newspaper. Telegraf, Defense Express, INDEX.<figure class="image"><img src="https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/gen_w_eng_b8a92c93dc.jpg" alt="gen_w_eng.jpg" srcset="https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_gen_w_eng_b8a92c93dc.jpg 245w,https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/small_gen_w_eng_b8a92c93dc.jpg 500w,https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/medium_gen_w_eng_b8a92c93dc.jpg 750w,https://ksf-openukraine.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/large_gen_w_eng_b8a92c93dc.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw" width="1000px"></figure>Live broadcast starts 11 a.m., October 31, at the KSF and our partner resources:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.facebook.com/ksfopenukraine/">Facebook KSF</a> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://ksf.openukraine.org/en">KSF site</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEBAPyQINZeF1XDNaIhhJsg">YouTube Open Ukraine Foundation</a> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.youtube.com/c/YatsenyukOrgUaofficial">YouTube Arseniy Yatsenyuk</a> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.facebook.com/yatsenyuk.arseniy/">Facebook Arseniy Yatsenyuk</a>Kyiv Security Forum for Youth is a leading platform for engaging young leaders in discussing issues of national security and international relations. Since 2012, 9 Kyiv Security Forums for Youth have been held. In September 2021, Kyiv Security Forum launched the initiative of youth meetings "West-East, North-South”.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;