19th Kyiv Dialogue Annual Conference

The 19th Annual Conference of Kyiv Dialogue emphasized the vital role of decentralization, resilience, and international cooperation in Ukraine's recovery and path to EU accession.

One clear takeaway: Resilience and decentralization are deeply interwoven in Ukraine. Local communities are best positioned to understand and address their own needs and how to strengthen resilience, making it essential to safeguard these achievements of decentralization. Yet, the war and reconstruction efforts are pushing municipalities to their limits, underscoring the need for continued international support.

Municipal development thrives through international cooperation, which fosters the mutual exchange of expertise. As 70% of EU law is implemented on the local level, this embeddedness is vital, especially in light of EU accession as Poland's example shows, and recovery initiatives under the European Union's Ukraine Facility.

Defending Ukraine’s freedom and democracy remains the central challenge. Ambassador Oleksii Makeiev captured this urgency, calling on Western allies to act decisively: "Stop drawing circles around yourself, start drawing red lines for Russia." Structured and continuous military support aligned with strategic objectives is vital, alongside reliable security guarantees for Ukraine's future.

The 19th Kyiv Dialogue Annual Conference was made possible through the support and collaboration of the following organizations:

Hosts:
European Exchange gGmbH
Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom

Partners and Supporters:
International Renaissance Foundation (IRF)
Konrad Adenauer Foundation
Heinrich Böll Foundation
Foundation for German-Polish Cooperation
German Platform for the Reconstruction of Ukraine
Bertelsmann Foundation
German Association for East European Studies (DGO)
Center for Liberal Modernity (Libmod)