The International Renaissance Foundation helped to organize a regular meeting of civil society representatives with the leadership of the Office of the President of Ukraine. The key topic of the discussion was the negotiation process for a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.
Representatives of civil society organizations discussed the latest international initiatives, including the results of the meeting between the Ukrainian and American delegations in Jeddah. One of the most important issues was the discussion of the unconditional 30-day ceasefire proposed by the United States, as well as steps that could demonstrate Russia’s real readiness for negotiations. These included the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilians, and the return of deported children.
“It was an excellent working meeting in a partnership atmosphere, where substantive issues were discussed,” said Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak.
One of the most important issues of the meeting was the importance of monitoring the ceasefire and the need for clear and effective security guarantees for Ukraine. The Head of the Presidential Office confirmed that the neutral status and reduction of the Armed Forces cannot be negotiated, and the temporarily occupied territories remain Ukrainian.
Other topics of the meeting included further reform of the Ukrainian army. Civil society experts shared their best practices on technological strengthening of the defense sector, necessary changes in military strategy and approaches to national security.
The meeting was attended by Oleksandr Sushko, Executive Director of the International Renaissance Foundation; Alyona Getmanchuk, Director of the New Europe Center; Hanna Hopko, Chairwoman of the Board of the National Interests Advocacy Network ANTS; Maria Berlinska, Head of the Victory Drones project for strengthening Ukraine’s security and defense forces; Lyuba Shipovich, President of the Dignitas Charitable Fund; Mykola Bielieskov, Senior Analyst at the Come Back Alive Foundation and Chief Consultant at the National Institute for Strategic Studies; Oleh Honcharuk, Colonel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and a participant in the Russia-Ukraine War; Oleksandra Matviichuk, Head of the Center for Civil Liberties.
Also participating in the discussion were Pavlo Palisa and Ihor Brusylo, Deputy Heads of the Office of the President; Olha Kobylynska (Reshetylova), Presidential Commissioner for the Protection of the Rights of Military Personnel; Yulia Marushevska, Head of the Office for Support of Changes at the Ministry of Defense; Kateryna Chernogorenko, Deputy Minister of Defense for Digital Development, Digital Transformation, and Digitalization; Anna Gvozdiar, Deputy Minister for Strategic Industries; Oleksandr Karasevych, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
The meeting was another important step in the cooperation between civil society and the government in developing a common strategy to ensure sustainable peace and strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
