News - UKRAINIAN DIALOGUES

UD meeting EU Commissioner Marta Kos

Ukrainian Dialogues — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 07:56:16 +0000

Ukrainian Dialogues (UD) had the honor of joining a warm and productive breakfast meeting with EU Commissioner Marta Kos at Europa Huset in Copenhagen, EU i Danmark.

Our co-founders Anastasia Krasnoshchoka and Liudmyla Waller proudly represented us. Together with our colleagues Lesia Ignatyk-Eriksen from Hjælp Ukrainske Børn, Anna Voloshchenko from WomenforUkraine, and the passionate Ukrainian violinist Natalia Gordeyeva, they engaged in a deep and insightful discussion.

Commissioner Kos and her team from EU Enlargement & Eastern Neighbourhood engaged in a meaningful exchange on the power of women in the fight for democracy, civic activism, and ways to ensure a stronger and more visible Ukrainian presence in the EU. They spoke about the role of culture and art as bridges between European nations and how personal involvement and political awareness are essential for building conscious and resilient societies.

The conversation also reflected on what is urgently needed today for better mutual understanding between Ukrainians and Europeans for long-lasting security.

Women’s solidarity, support, and faith in one another have always helped humanity through its darkest hours. Meetings like this one empower women’s initiatives, recognize women’s leadership, and their proactive contributions.

We sincerely thank Commissioner Marta Kos and Per Haugaard from the European Commission Representation in Denmark for the invitation and support that inspire our work. We hope, in return, that our team was able to share valuable insight and be a voice for the hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian women whose interests we strive to defend.

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Table of Memory 2025 in Copenhagen

Ukrainian Dialogues — Sat, 30 Aug 2025 09:40:36 +0000

August 29, 2014 – Ilovaisk, a city in the Donetsk region, east of Ukraine. Despite the agreement on a “green corridor,” Russian forces opened fire and shelled the columns of Ukrainian soldiers who were leaving the encirclement. Hundreds were killed, hundreds wounded, many went missing.

In 2019, Ukraine established the Day of Remembrance for the Fallen Defenders, forever tied to the crime and tragedy of Ilovaisk.

Today, we honor the memory of all those who, throughout these years, have given their lives in resistance to Russia for Ukraine’s freedom and sovereignty. We must not wait for the war to end to honor the heroes — we must act every single day with their names on our lips. We must support those who carry the future of our country on their shoulders, fighting for every inch of our land.

We are grateful to @la_madeleine_cph for setting a Table of Memory, commemorating in faraway Copenhagen those who paid the highest price for our safety. This table joins more than 3,000 other restaurants and public spaces in Ukraine and world in a common memorial initiative launched by Меморіал героїв and Благодійний фонд імені Іллі Грабара. By remembering our heroes, we affirm that our pain is shared, and we show and nurture our culture of respect and dignity.

“When they ask me what war is, I’ll answer without hesitation: it’s names.”, Maksym “Dali” Kryvtsov, Ukrainian poet and fallen soldier.

Remember. Every. Day.

Photos by @Anna Bovkun

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Ukrainian LGBTIQ+ at Copenhagen Pride Parade 2025

Ukrainian Dialogues — Sun, 17 Aug 2025 07:18:45 +0000

“Justice for Ukraine! Crimea is Ukraine. Donbas is Ukraine!”

With these calls, the Ukrainian group marched proudly at the Copenhagen Pride Parade 2025 on August 16.

For the community, Pride today is not only about the courage to build a free and equal society at home, but also about the fundamental right to exist. Today in Ukraine, each of them is a target for Russian missiles.

Not only war kills, the Russian war of aggression also slows down long-awaited reforms and laws so badly needed for the recognition of same-sex marriages in Ukraine. Yet organizations such as LGBTIQ+ Military and Veterans for Equal Rights Військові ЛГБТ+ find strength not only to unite through communication and mutual support, but also to stand as strongholds of civic values: freedom of choice and equality.

That is why this year’s Pride theme, “Equal for All,” resonates so deeply with us. We believe that equality is not only about rights and freedoms, but also about accountability and justice. We believe this is what true equality must be and that perpetrators will be held accountable for hate crimes. Because justice is the key to equality!

Deepest gratitude to everyone who marched, sang, and danced with us, especially Free Sky, and photographer Nick Russel, for capturing this powerful day!

Thank you to all of you who greeted us warmly on the streets and shared our beliefs. And a very special thanks to the organisers, Copenhagen Pride, for the opportunity to be part of the parade once again!

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UD at 3rd annual Nordic Ukraine Advocacy Summit

Ukrainian Dialogues — Sun, 08 Jun 2025 09:30:42 +0000

On June 6–7, the 3rd annual Nordic Ukraine Advocacy Summit, an initiative of the Nordic Ukraine Forum from Stockholm, took place. This year, it was held in the Norwegian capital of Oslo and became the largest in its history – with 90 participants, including the representative of Ukrainian Dialogues Liudmyla Waller.

This reflects the summit’s strong impact and growing demand, as well as the rising interest and expertise among Scandinavian and Baltic civil society organizations in defending democracy and Ukrainian freedom.

Among the speakers were: Mika Aaltola, Europarliament MP, Finland, Guri Melby, MP, Leader of the Venstre Party, Norway, Ann Linde, Former Foreign Minister, Sweden, Lene Wetteland, Den norske Helsingforskomité, Norway, Line Tresselt, Director of Defense & Security, Rud Pedersen, Norway, Celine Emma la Cour, Rasmussen Global, Denmark, Tor Bukkvoll, Senior Research Fellow, Defence Research Establishment, Norway, Hans-Petter Midttun, Non-Resident Fellow, Centre for Defense Strategies, Norway, Tore Walaker and Ole Kvale from Norwegian NGOs “Slava Ukraini” and “Ukrainian Freedom Convoy”, Ane Tusvik Bonde from Amnesty Norway and others.

Experts and analysts skillfully explored concepts and directions for joint Nordic cooperation, highlighting both shared goals and distinct features of foreign policy across the region.

Among the many insightful presentations, we especially want to highlight the contributions of Ukrainian speakers: Hanna Hopko, Chairwoman of the National Interests Advocacy Network, Lesia Orobets Леся Оробець, former Member of Parliament and civil society activist, founding director of NGO Price of Freedom, Mykola Bielieskov, Senior Analyst at Повернись живим/Come Back Alive Initiatives Center. They powerfully conveyed the needs and experiences of Ukrainian initiatives and civic leaders, showcasing a model of effective and deeply committed civic responsibility.

A particularly captivating session was the panel on cybersecurity featuring Michael Gentile, Professor of the University of Oslo, Lorena Carthy-Wilmot, Journalistic Security Engineer, Schibsted Media from Norway, and Jørn A. Sund-Henriksen from Norwegian-Ukrainian Friendship Association. We deeply believe that in hybrid warfare, media literacy and the ability to consume information critically are essential to defending democracy, and can help resolve freedom of speech vulnerabilities of information attacks.

A fitting conclusion to this topic – and the summit overall – was the closing lecture by Lars Erik Berg from Semaphore Consulting Partners on Digital Holistic Security. It left participants with a powerful message and food for thought: to win, we must not only talk about Russia’s war on Ukraine, but also ensure that we do not become a weapon in the enemy’s hands.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the co-organizers from Українська громада в Норвегії Den ukrainske forening i Norge and the Ukrainalaisten yhdistys Suomessa ry / Товариство українців у Фінляндії: behind these names are tireless, inspiring humans devoted to changing the world around them, engaging international partners, and securing Ukrainian victory.

And we hope that next year in Copenhagen, Danish activists and politicians will have the chance to share their strategies and secrets of effective diplomacy at the 4th Advocacy Summit.

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“Get out of the matrix”, – Anton Tymoshenko at DR during his European tour

Ukrainian Dialogues — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 07:26:55 +0000

The war leaves its mark on everything — it transforms Ukrainian culture and its role in the Ukrainian fight for freedom and democracy. But as always, we reflect and look for support and resources in it. Ukrainian stand-up comedy is a vivid example of this. In just one evening in Copenhagen, Anton Tymoshenko’s show raised about UAH 800K for the defense forces’ needs. This is all thanks to a wonderful mix of dark humor and a bright thirst for victory.

Anton Tymoshenko’s stand-up in Copenhagen was very warmly received. We laughed, we felt sad, and we got food for thought from a man who lives in Ukraine in times of war, sirens, and massive attacks. We thank Anton for allowing us to look behind the curtain—not from the news, but through his personal reflections—honestly, courageously, with humor and dignity.

We would like to thank the incredible audience who listened and actively participated in the charity auction. You were generous even for the АТБ-Маркет plastic bag – and this is the true power of solidarity.

But Anton is not only a stand-up comedian, but also a public figure and political scientist who impressed with a brilliant interview the day after the performance for the Danish radio DR P1. With Nanna van Toornburg, he touched on one of the most pressing topics for Europeans – accepting realities. “Get out of the matrix. Change the blue pill to a red pill. Recognize the reality that the war is ongoing and we need to act decisively, quickly, and without illusions. There will be no peace. Sooner or later, we will have to defend ourselves.”

Thank you, Anton, for your honesty, talent, and example of fighting for Ukraine. We appreciate it, and we look forward to seeing you again!

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Ukrainian Dialogues at Copenhagen Democracy Summit 2025

Ukrainian Dialogues — Wed, 14 May 2025 09:00:45 +0000

The Copenhagen Democracy Summit, organised by the Alliance of Democracies, has convened again in 2025.

This year, a strong emphasis was placed on defense – both military and intelligence-related – with the main message: #DefendDemocracy.

One of the key topics was artificial intelligence, which, while advancing rapidly, places a heavy burden on the general public’s media literacy, and the government’s lack of effective regulations and clear guardrails for AI deployment. At the same time, malicious use of AI can polarize society and threaten democratic practices and free speech, as we heard from Jacob Mchangama, Marietje Schaake (Marietje In Europa), and other strong advocates.

The struggle to take technologies under control and use them effectively as a tool for democracy was discussed broadly by Marie Bjerre, Danish Minister for European Affairs, who stressed the need for precise regulation and training in AI literacy.

On the other hand, growing digitalization has dramatically expanded opportunities, making democratic societies more inclusive and empowering local leaders and activists.

We were excited to witness the well-deserved recognition of Ukraine’s advancements in technological defense, represented by Kateryna Mykhalko from Tech Force in UA Технологічні Сили України and Ukrainian innovation projects in both offline and online security, such as OpenMinds and Dropla Tech, along with their leaders, Sviatoslav Hnizdovskyi and Viacheslav Shvaydak.

The democracy we all fight for is rooted in our clear understanding of the threats to freedom, as only by addressing these challenges can we secure our values.

But it also relies on our effort toward responsible and cohesive cooperation. Autocratic regimes are successfully using technology for collaboration and spying. In response, democratic powers must unite by being proactive, becoming the real team players in our common cause.

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“Power of the Free” event on Ukraine’s Independence Day

Ukrainian Dialogues — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 09:00:34 +0000

As part of the “Repower Ukraine” event commemorating Ukraine’s Independence Day on August 24th, the “Power of the Free” panel brought together inspiring voices dedicated to supporting Ukraine during wartime. The event took place at the The European-Ukrainian Hub, and the discussion, moderated by Julia Zaitseva-Kirk, a historian and educator from Ukrainian Dialogues, explored the motivations and experiences that drive individuals from diverse backgrounds in their tireless efforts to defend Ukraine.

Olena Herasymyuk, a Ukrainian poet and combat medic from the medical battalion Медичний Добровольчий Батальйон Госпітальєри • Hospitallers Paramedics (Hospitallers Batallion), shared her journey from literature to the frontlines. She emphasized the importance of understanding the nature of Russian aggression and highlighted how military literature serves as both a testament to personal experience and a counter to Russian propaganda. Olena stressed the value of protecting lives in a free society and advocated for the necessity of life-saving skills in challenging times. She reflected on the personal transformation brought by war and emphasized the importance of preserving the memory of war heroes in the ongoing fight for European democracy.

Andreas Foss from KOLO Nordic discussed how his 35 trips to Ukraine over the past two years have reinforced his belief in the necessity of supporting the Ukrainian people. He introduced the Repower project, successfully implemented in Denmark under KOLO Nordic’s patronage, helping war-torn paramedics heal from their traumas and rebuild their lives. Lesia Ignatyk-Eriksen of Hjælp Ukrainske Børn, a long-time advocate for Ukraine’s democratic development, spoke about how even small actions can make a big difference, literally saving lives and offering everyone involved the chance to become a part of something truly meaningful. Kenneth Rasmussen from Frihed for Ukraine concluded the discussion by addressing the vital role of information work in shaping Danish perceptions of the conflict, noting a growing awareness and shift in public opinion.

We are sincerely grateful to all the guests and visitors for their incredibly honest talks, for making Ukraine’s Independence Day 2024 so special, and for bringing Ukraine’s victory closer!

Thank you to our wonderful photographers – Давид Авакян Volodymyr Martynov and Anna Bovkun, and reliable partners WomenforUkraine Olga Melnyk and Anna Voloshchenko

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El Cheber: Opening Crimea Through Art and Memory

Ukrainian Dialogues — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 09:00:41 +0000

Crimea became the point of no return for Russian revanchism and the first challenge to the legal order of Europe. The events of 2014 changed us all forever, but they especially affected the Crimean Tatars, who had just begun to rebuild their lives after years of deportation and repression. Today, ten years later, they still cannot return to their homeland, the cradle of their nation.

However, the project that the NGO El Cheber team brought to Copenhagen has not leave an impression of tragic fate of Crimea’s population only. Magically, it captured the hearts of the audience with the Crimean Tatars’ passionate respect for their roots and love for Crimea. The Crimean Tatars have not lost their identity, but rather enriched their culture, infusing it with new meanings shaped by the realities of their time.

The incredibly profound mastery work of Ukrainian Crimean Tatar ceramist Skybin Rustem , born in deportation in Uzbekistan, is dedicated to reborn and develop the artistic heritage of the Crimean Tatars. Historian Gul’nara Abdulayeva’s academic and thorough knowledge crushes Russian myths about the Crimean Khanate’s supposed militancy and backwardness, proving the khanate’s role in the political ethnogenesis of Europe ( Gulnar Abdula). Zakhida Adylovas awareness and passionate determination are examples of how people dedicate their lives for the preservation of things that will outlive us all. Great thanks to Julia Zaitseva-Kirk for masterful moderation of the panel discussion!

For two hours, the audience in the Ungdommens Demokratihus was deeply moved, getting just a glimpse into the beautiful world of cultures art and the intertwined fates of the Crimean Tatar and Ukrainian peoples. El Cheber came to Copenhagen at the invitation of UaDialogues to open us Crimea we never knew. But in truth, they showed us an incredibly passionate love for their land, something we all share.

We thank everyone who was with us yesterday and who supports our guests in their research and educational mission!

Photos by Anna Bovkun and Safie Voennaya

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“Female Frontlines” event: How Ukrainian women transforming the society

Ukrainian Dialogues — Fri, 31 May 2024 09:00:49 +0000

On Wednesday, an impactful conference Female Frontlines: Ukrainian women transforming the society, took place in Copenhagen. It was a remarkable meeting with very inspiring and dedicated Ukrainian women who are taking giant steps to bring their society into a victorious democratic future, to heal and recover.

The evening was opened by a speech from the incredible Yuliia Paievska, also known as “Taira”(Julia Paevska), Ukrainian paramedic and veteran. Yuliia touched our hearts with her personal story and reflections on her service in the blockaded Mariupol and her days in russian captivity. She said, “One of the important lessons I learned in a russian torture chamber is that life without freedom is worth nothing. I felt so lonely, as if I were suffering for the whole world. Thanks to the support of the Ukrainian people and the international community, I was released. I discovered that the world has united to support Ukraine, and we are not alone. That was an immensely powerful feeling.” Taira emphasized how important it is to stay united today: “Russia counts on that we get into disagreements and distantiate from each other, then they will come after each of us individually – country after country”.

Louise Stougaard Gæde, a veteran and board member of Kvindelige Veteraner, reflected on the challenges female soldiers face and praised the honour of serving one’s country. She mentioned, “A basic soldier is a man, and the memory of female soldiers has been overshadowed. Being a female soldier means continuing that forgotten legacy.” Louise raised the crucial issue of suitable uniforms and body armor for women and remarked that Ukrainian women show essential lessons for all of us.

Olha Rudnieva (Olga Rudneva), venture philanthropist from Ukraine, shared her journey of establishing the Superhumans Center, a facility focused on the rehabilitation of civilian and military war victims who lost limbs. “When it all started, I just googled “prostheses,” unaware of this field”. However, after less than 2 years of work and numerous patients, the center is changing the very service of rehabilitation with the goal of discharging the patients in a better condition than they were before the trauma. “It is an honour to hear appreciation from the wounded soldiers who arrive at our modern facilities saying, “This is Ukraine we are fighting for,” shared Olha.

Tetiana Kostina (Tania Kos), publisher and author of the book on women’s stories during this war, spoke about the power of storytelling in capturing women’s bravery. “On February 24, we understood how much Ukrainian women can do and how loud our voices are. Every story gave me the power to keep going and believe.” Tetiana explained how complicated yet impactful the printing of Ukrainian books is today. She mentioned the damage of the recent strike on the Kharkiv printing house right before the biggest book forum in Ukraine, where 7 coworkers got killed, and 50,000 books were burnt, underscoring its nature as an attack on culture and national memory.

Robin May Schott, Doctor of Philosophy, author, and Senior Researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies, brought much-needed attention to the long-term effects of war on society. “You have to prepare for the war after the war. Traumas will impact families for generations”. She added that at the same time, war creates something new, shaping new values and identities. Dr. Schott urged us to focus on the transformative power of this experience.

The conference was a powerful reminder of Ukraine’s unique resilience and the high price paid for Europe’s security. As support of Ukraine must continue, we should pay attention to its voices and stories, ensuring that the efforts and sacrifices of Ukrainians are recognized and remembered.

Many thanks to everyone who participated in and contributed to this event – brilliant moderators Michael Jarlner and Lesia Ignatyk-Eriksen, valued partners Hjælp Ukrainske Børn, WomenforUkraine, and The European-Ukrainian Hub, as well as the numerous dedicated volunteers.

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“The Economics of the War” event: How to Invest in Peace in Europe

Ukrainian Dialogues — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 09:00:00 +0000

Yesterday evening, important discussions took place during the conference The Economics of the War: How to Invest in Peace in Europe organized by the AUD: Association af Ukrainere i Danmark and Ukrainian Dialogues in the Danish Parliament. The event brought together prominent speakers from Ukraine and Denmark and showed an example of how representatives of non-governmental organizations in Ukraine take responsibility and quickly react to the urgent needs of the country and work side by side with state institutions.

Anne Valentina Berthelsen from Socialistisk Folkeparti opened the discussion and stressed out the importance of timely support to Ukraine and the risks of delay in decisions.

Daria Kaleniuk from the ICUV – International Centre for Ukrainian Victory continued by bringing to the audience’s attention the increased military budgets of Russia and its quite successful transition towards the war economy. The sanctions applied showed limited efficiency, and Daria reminded of 300 billion Russian money frozen in European banks that can be used for supporting the Ukrainian military – the political will is required here.

Claus Mathiesen from the Royal Danish Defence College, outlined that corruption is a sensitive topic to the Danish taxpayers, and such news negatively impacts the decisions on support. He called on Ukraine to be better at bringing to the public successful anti-corruption cases. At the same time, Claus Mathiesen and Anders Overvad, the economic analyst in Think Tank Europe, recognized Ukraine’s progress in its anti-corruption fight.

War veteran Марія Берлінська representing Aerial Intelligence Support Centre and Victory Drones, gave an overview of the role of technologies in this war, and dedicated special attention to drone warfare. The newest technologies and methods of warfare are today applied on the battlefield, and Ukraine has a unique experience in the world in using war technologies at such scale and intensity. Military analyst from the Royal Danish Defence College Anders Puck Nielsen supported Maria’s words and added that drones benefit the defender more than the attacker. He also complemented Ukrainian military operations against the Russian navy and oil and gas objects in the rear. Maria encourages the Danish defense industry and other Western partners to advance Ukraine with existing technologies and commonly develop and test new ones. Ukraine needs a technical breakthrough that can drastically change the force’s balance on the battlefield and reduce the casualties. Ukraine is losing people, and this should be addressed immediately before its army faces a dramatic shortage.

Joachim Finkielman from the Danish Defence and Security Industries Association ensured that Danish companies are ready to collaborate with Ukraine on development and production. He also emphasized the importance of expanding the Danish defense forces. To move forward, Denmark needs political commitment and a long-term strategy.

Jacob Kaarsbo, security policy analyst at the Think Tank EUROPA, stressed that Russian ambitions go far beyond Ukraine, and the success of Ukraine in this war is defining for Europe’s security.

The speakers from Ukraine Daria and Maria closed the conference calling on the partners to work on strengthening the defence capacity at the overall EU and individual countries level in addition to NATO potential. Ukraine is open to sharing its expertise and passing the knowledge to the allies and is ready to support Danish businesses and initiatives at all levels.

Lesia Ignatyk-Eriksen, the head of the Association of Ukrainians in Denmark and co-organizer, expressed gratitude to the participants of the discussion and attendees, she emphasized the important role of civil society.

Today, it is exactly Ukrainian activists and volunteers who have ensured enormous progress in professional development and mastering the newest technologies. The civil society segment not only controls the actions of the Ukrainian government but also stimulates reforms, creating high-quality alternatives and raising the standards. More and more NGOs in Ukraine consult state institutions and directly cooperate with the Armed Forces in the rear and on the battlefield.

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