Discussion on the EU priorities for Ukraine's support

Past event In person

Peace, Security & Defence

14Oct2024

starts 15:30

ends 17:30

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What happened?

As Ukraine faces its third and potentially most challenging winter under Russia’s relentless aggression, Western aid is more important than ever to its survival. With increasing support for Russia from Iran, North Korea and China, the EU’s steadfast backing is essential for Ukraine’s victory and the preservation of its statehood and democracy.

On 14 October, the International Centre for Ukrainian Victory (ICUV), in cooperation with Friends of Europe, provided its insights into Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. The discussion emphasised the urgent need for broader international support and implications for European security. Key issues included lifting restrictions on deep-strike capabilities, mobilising frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine’s economy and military, and strengthening energy security to help Ukrainians survive the winter despite the destruction of much of the country’s energy infrastructure.

“The strategic value of Ukraine is its people. We need to finish the war with Ukraine’s victory faster– to save more lives and have more changemakers after the war to continue reforming the country,” stressed Hanna Hopko, ICUV Co-Founder and Chair of the National Interests Advocacy Network.

“There are three successful security guarantees: NATO, nuclear weapons and the boots on the ground… NATO invitation should go without conditions. If there are concerns like with the EU candidacy status, give us NATO invitation and five tops steps that Ukraine must implement, realistic steps… in less than half a year, I guarantee it will be done,” concluded Daria Kaleniuk, ICUV Co-Founder and Executive Director at the Anti-Corruption Action Centre.

Key themes covered include:

Ukraine’s fight for European security: beyond its immediate survival, Ukraine is also fighting for long-term security, which could be guaranteed through NATO and EU memberships. Allies should lift restrictions on deep-strike capabilities in order to prevent Russia from attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and populated areas;
Ukraine’s reforms: Ukraine remains committed to reforms, particularly in areas such as anti-corruption and the rule of law. There has been significant progress since 2014, and the successful implementation of reforms has played a critical role in mobilising global support for Ukraine’s victory;
International support and challenges: speakers underscored Ukraine’s reliance on international partners for military and financial support, with 80% of its weapons supplied by NATO allies. Existing challenges include continued attacks on energy infrastructure and grain export facilities;
Energy security and war tax proposal: while the EU has reduced its imports of Russian gas (seaborne and via pipelines), imports of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) have increased – bringing billions to Russia’s war chest. The ICUV proposed a ‘war tax’ or customs duty on Russian LNG, which could generate funds to support Ukraine’s defence industry and economic recovery;
Reconstruction and governance: there is a need for professional governance and competent leadership in the time of war. Civil society is a key player in monitoring and advancing government reforms on the path towards EU membership.

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Schedule

Speakers

Dr. Olena Halushka is Head of Board of the International Centre for Ukrainian Victory (ICUV), Board Member of Anti-corruption Action Centre (AntAc). Previously, she worked as a chief of international advocacy at the post-Maydan coalition of 80 CSOs “Reanimation Package of Reforms” (2015-2017). Before that she served as advisor to the Member of Parliament of Ukraine (2012-2014). Olena has experience in local-level politics as she served as the Kyiv City Council member, and deputy chair of the Council’s Commission on Housing and Energy (2014-2015). Olena is a contributor to the Atlantic Council. She also wrote op-eds for the Washington Post, the Foreign Policy, and the EU Observer. Olena Halushka obtained a PhD in International Economics from the Kyiv National University in 2016.

Prior to her current roles, Hanna Hopko served as Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Ukrainian Parliament, first as a representative of the Self-Reliance party, then as an independent MP. She received the ‘Certificate of Merit’ from Georgetown University’s Leadership Seminar and was awarded the National Democratic Institute Democracy Award for promoting democracy in Ukraine. Hopko was notably named a “leading global thinker” by Foreign Policy magazine and is a Member of the International Advisory Council of the Warsaw Security Forum.

Daria Kaleniuk is the co-founder of the International Centre for Ukrainian Victory (ICUV) and executive director of Anticorruption Action Centre (AntAC), a NGO that has shaped Ukraine’s anti-corruption and judicial reforms. AntAC ensured the adoption and implementation of strong anti-corruption legislation, including the laws on the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine, the Special Anti-corruption Prosecutor’s office, the High Anti-Corruption Court, the High Council of Justice, open property registers and electronic asset declarations. In 2023, Daria was included in the annual TIME100 Next list of people who shape the future and define the next generation of leaders. She is a member of the Young Global Leaders and Munich Young Leaders networks. Daria holds an LL.M degree in Financial Service Law from Chicago-Kent College of Law.

Andrii Mikheiev is an international law expert of the International Centre for Ukrainian Victory (ICUV). He provides legal and analytical background for all advocacy campaigns conducted by ICUV namely: bringing Russia and Russian military servicemen/politicians to liability for committed violations, Ukraine’s EU and NATO membership, confiscation of Russian assets for the purposes of funding Ukrainian victory and post-war reconstruction. Andrii is an author and co-author of a number of analytical papers devoted to confiscation of Russian sovereign assets and private assets of Russian citizen engaged in organisation and support of aggression in Ukraine. He is actively involved into advocacy campaigns on justifying the legitimacy of full confiscation of Russian assets according to the international law.

Victoria Voytsitska is the International Center for Ukrainian Victory (ICUV)’s Energy Expert and Advocacy Director, former Member of Parliament of Ukraine (2014-2019), Secretary of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Fuel and Energy Complex, Nuclear Policy and Nuclear Safety. She was actively involved in key reforms related to the Ukrainian Energy Sector, including the Law on Gas Sector, the Law on Independent Energy Regulator, etc. She was elected to the parliament in 2014. Voytsitska is known for her anti-oligarch stance, having opposed the strengthening of the oligarchs in the economy, especially regarding oil and gas trade and supply. Her working experience includes senior positions as auditor and financial director in top international companies like PricewaterhouseCoopers and Concorde Capital. She is an Edmund S. Muskie’s fellow and received her MBA in International Finance at Brandeis International Business School and worked as Fundraising Events Coordinator at Harvard University. Victoria is in the list of top 100 most successful women of Ukraine according to Novoye Vremya and Focus magazines.

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