Ukraine Foundation
Inspiring Change, Driving Impact
Inspiring Change, Driving Impact
Ukraine Foundation is an independent, non-profit research and impact organization based in Switzerland and the United States.
As a research-focused organization it focuses on peace processes and conflict resolution within the context of the war in Ukraine.
As an impact-driven organization it is committed to transforming lives and communities by fostering creativity, unleashing innovation, and strengthening cooperation across diverse fields.
New York: Read the latest publication with Asia Society of our International Advisory Board member, Ambassador Pierre Andrieu on China-Russia Relations since the Start of the War in Ukraine.
In his August 20, 2025 Asia Society report “China-Russia Relations Since the Start of the War in Ukraine,” our International Advisory Board Member, Ambassador Pierre Andrieu, Senior Fellow at Asia Society Policy Institute’s Center for China Analysis, scrutinizes how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has accelerated Sino-Russian cooperation -particularly through the rapid deepening of trade, sanctions circumvention, and the poignant asymmetry of the relationship despite the “no-limits” rhetoric that preceded the conflict.
China-Russia Relations Since the Start of the War in Ukraine – August 20, 2026
London: Our International Advisory Board Member, H.E. Ambassador Pierre Andrieu, shares his insights on the strengthening of the China-Russia axis with the BBC
On 30 August 2025, longtime French diplomat Pierre Andrieu shared a sobering analysis with BBC Russian Service: even if the U.S. ends the war in Ukraine and lifts some sanctions, this would not weaken the Russia–China alliance—but rather, could reinforce it
Key Takeaways from Ambassador Andrieu’s Perspective
• U.S. Strategy Misread: Attempts to drive a wedge between Moscow and Beijing—“a Kissinger-in-reverse”—are destined to fail because they underestimate the depth and multifaceted nature of this partnership.
• Unprecedented Alliance Dynamics: Ambassador Andrieu argues that Russia and China are now experiencing the closest bilateral relationship in their shared history—marked by aligned strategic interests encompassing ideology, military positioning, economic complementarity, and authoritarian governance traits.
• Economic & Military Synergies: China supplies industrial strength, tech, and consumer goods, while Russia offers resources, energy, and strategic geography—especially valuable for Chinese logistics and regional influence.
• Ideological and Personal Bonds: Beyond pragmatic necessity, this axis is sustained by shared worldviews and the longstanding personal rapport between Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. Both leaders embody similar authoritarian styles and mutual loyalty, which further fuels their alliance .
A Thought-Provoking Quote
“Переговоры США, призванные вбить клин между Москвой и Пекином… недооценивают глубину и многогранность этого партнерства.”
— Pierre Andrieu 
Why It Matters for Ukraine
• Diplomatic Implications: This analysis underscores how Western attempts to reshape global alliances through sanctions or negotiations might backfire—bolstering, not weakening, authoritarian coalitions.
• Strategic Repercussions: A stronger Russian–Chinese bond may recalibrate geopolitical balance, posing further challenges in diplomacy and security for Ukraine and its partners.
• Advocacy Insight: Highlighting this perspective enhances awareness among supporters and stakeholders about the evolving geopolitical landscape and the necessity for informed, nuanced strategy.
Our Editor’s Preferred Soundbite
“Even if the U.S. ends the war and lifts sanctions, it won’t weaken the Russia–China alliance—it could strengthen it. According to French diplomat Pierre Andrieu, Russia and China are closer than ever, bound by shared ideology, economics, military strategy, and the personal camaraderie of their leaders. Western attempts to wedge them apart are gravely misjudged.”
Pierre Andrieu via BBC Russian Service
Putin, after meeting with Trump, is going to China to celebrate his victory. What to expect from the visit and summit of the SCO? – August 20, 2026
Doha: Watch our International Advisory Board Member, Dr. John A. Pennell, commenting to Al Jazeera on the Alaska Summit
Washington: Ukraine Foundation’s Senior Fellow, Security and Eastern Europe, Maksym Beznosiuk to Atlantic Council: Putin’s hybrid war against Europe continues to escalate
Putin’s hybrid war against Europe continues to escalate – August 25, 2026
Russia’s hybrid war against Europe is escalating, from arson and sabotage to cyberattacks and disinformation. As Maksym Beznosiuk writes for the Atlantic Council, Europe must respond collectively to counter the Kremlin’s unconventional campaign.
London: Ukraine Foundation’s Senior Fellow for Technology and Cybersecurity, William Dixon, Published Commentary With RUSI.
On September 5, our Senior Fellow, Cybersecurity and Technology, William Dixon published an article with the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) examining how the United Kingdom can strengthen its institutional response to hostile disinformation campaigns. Drawing on his expertise in hybrid threats and information warfare, Dixon situates the issue within the broader context of national resilience, reflecting on the lessons of past reforms in UK cyber security as well as the experiences of close international partners.
In his article, William Dixon argues that the UK must move beyond fragmented approaches and establish a dedicated National Disinformation Agency with the mandate and capacity to integrate intelligence, coordinate responses, and engage society at large. He highlights examples from Ukraine, France, and the United States to show how allied nations are already embedding cognitive defence into their security architectures, while underscoring the urgency of a similar step for the UK. You can read the full article on RUSI’s platform [here].
At Ukraine Foundation, we strongly embrace this type of forward-looking research in the field of information warfare. Strengthening cognitive resilience is not only a matter of national security for individual states but also a shared imperative for Ukraine and its partners. By engaging with leading research and analysis, we aim to contribute to the development of innovative strategies that can confront disinformation as an integral part of modern conflict.
Geneva: Ukraine Foundation’s International Advisory Board Member Ambassador Pierre Andrieu Commenting In Le Temps that Putin Now Plays the Junior Partner to Xi
In an interview with Le Temps (2 September 2025), French diplomat Pierre Andrieu stressed that the balance of power between Moscow and Beijing has shifted decisively: Vladimir Putin is no longer the leading partner in this relationship, but increasingly dependent on Xi Jinping’s China.
Ambassador Andrieu notes that while Russia still offers energy resources, military weight, and geopolitical disruption, these assets are outweighed by China’s economic might, global influence, and strategic patience. For the first time in their shared history, Moscow’s leader stands in the “shadow of his big brother” Xi. This dynamic reflects not only the growing asymmetry between the two regimes but also the limits of Russia’s ability to independently shape the international order amid its ongoing war against Ukraine.
We Are Team UA: Voices of Impact
Our Policy and Research Fellowship Team brings together 20 outstanding individuals: 2 Distinguished Senior Fellows, 7 Senior Fellows, 2 Special Fellows, 4 Fellows, and 5 Associate Fellows. This powerhouse of expertise is building one of the most dynamic and impactful policy research communities focused on Ukraine today. To learn more about each of them, click on his or her image.
Our Fellows and our team hail from the world’s most prestigious universities — Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Berkeley, LSE, UCL and King’s College — and bring a wealth of experience from the front lines of government, international financial institutions, diplomacy, defence, intelligence, think tanks, and academia.
Their analysis and commentaries have been featured on CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera, Fox News, Bloomberg, Reuters, Financial Times, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, Politico, the Kyiv Post, Ukrainska Pravda, and on all major Ukrainian television channels.
Their research have been published in peer-reviewed publications including Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Harvard International Review, The National Interest, European Economic Review, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Journal of Strategic Studies, International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Survival, Journal of Conflict Resolution, and World Politics Review.
Together, they form a brain trust capable of shaping the next generation of policy solutions.
TVP World, UATV, National Public Broadcasting Suspline, Freedom TV, Kyiv24 News: Watch Dr. Mariya Heletiy’s latest media appearances
Washington, Tallinn, Krakow, Brussels, Oslo: Check out the latest media appearances of Ukraine Foundation’s Senior Fellow, Security and Eastern Europe, Maksym Beznosiuk
Kremlin Works to Erase Ukrainian Identity and Militarize Occupied Regions – September 3, 2025
Lithuanian Military Intelligence Assesses Low Risk of Russian Escalation After Zapad – August 28, 2025
Hybrid storm over the North: Russia’s grey zone offensive in the Nordic region – August 15, 2024
Rethinking NATO’s Defence in the Drone Era – August 14, 2025
Her skal de trene pa krig mot NATO brukt som skalkeskjul – September, 2024
Princeton University & Modern War Institute At West Point: Dr. Mariya Heletiy Publishes “The Balkans Model and Conditions for Peace in Ukraine” In the Irregular Warfare Initiative
We are proud to share the latest contribution from Dr. Mariya Heletyi, whose new article has been published by the Irregular Warfare Initiative, a joint project of Princeton University’s Empirical Studies of Conflict and the Modern War Institute at West Point.
In “The Balkans Model and Conditions for Peace in Ukraine,” Dr. Heletiy draws on the experience of the Balkan conflicts to analyze the irregular warfare nature of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and what it means for peace-building. Her analysis offers a sobering but necessary perspective: that peace in Ukraine cannot be built on traditional negotiations alone.
Using the backdrop of Russia’s repeated violations of ceasefire agreements -most recently its broken “Easter truce”- Dr. Heletiy argues that today’s hybrid conflicts require more than diplomatic handshakes. The war in Ukraine spans far beyond the battlefield, touching diplomatic, informational, economic, humanitarian, and military fronts. As she points out, ceasefires in irregular conflicts often serve less as a path to peace and more as a pause for regrouping and rearming.
Drawing lessons from the Balkans, Dr. Heletiy proposes that irregular warfare tools -such as economic pressure, information campaigns, and unconventional tactics- must be part of any comprehensive strategy for sustainable peace. Her article warns against the false comfort of conventional approaches that do not account for the ideological drivers, asymmetries, and non-state actors that continue to shape today’s conflicts.
We encourage everyone interested in peace and security in Ukraine and beyond to read Dr. Heletiy’s full piece, which brings deep insight and strategic clarity to one of the most pressing issues of our time.
Kyiv Post: Read the latest publications of Ukraine Foundation’s Senior Fellow, Security and Eastern Europe, Maksym Beznosiuk
The Kremlin’s Drone War Has Gone Strategic: Ukraine Must Brace Itself for an Onslaught – August 5, 2026
The Kremlin’s Drone War Is Now a War on Ukraine’s Resilience – July 26, 2025
Russia’s Drones Campaign Part of Its Hybrid Warfare Strategy – June 26, 2025
G7 NB: Kremlin’s Hectic Summer Offensive Preparation and Looming Humanitarian Crisis – June 16, 2025
Negotiating Under Fire: The Kremlin’s Offensive Diplomacy – June 1, 2025
Istanbul Deception: Kremlin’s Peace Talks’ Trap – What West Must Do About It – May 20, 2025
Why the Kremlin’s Peace Narrative Is Strategic Deception – May 12, 2025
Lviv: Ukraine Foundation’s Vice President for Cultural Diplomacy Alex Luna Leads the National Anthem Before the Final of the 2025 Ukrainian Football Cup.
Our entire teams at Ukraine Foundation were filled with immense pride to watch our Director of Cultural Affairs, Alex Luna, delivering a powerful a cappella performance of “Ukraine’s Glory Has Not Perished,” the national anthem, leading the entire Arena Lviv stadium at full capacity in unison on the opening of the Final of the 2025 Ukrainian Football Cup on May 24.
A Message from Louis L. Voiron
Founding President
“Ukraine Foundation is a research-focused and impact-driven organization at its core.”
At Ukraine Foundation, we believe that Ukraine’s path to peace, resilience, and prosperity depends on more than simply enduring the challenges of today—it requires shaping the future with vision, determination, and global solidarity.
Every initiative we lead is rooted in the conviction that Ukraine’s strength lies not only in its courage, but also in its ability to inspire partnerships, drive innovation, and share its cultural and intellectual contributions with the world. Whether advancing groundbreaking policy research, fostering cross-border dialogue, or mobilizing resources for humanitarian and development projects, our mission is clear: to turn shared values into lasting impact.
This is a time when the stakes could not be higher. Ukraine’s future is inseparable from the future of the international community, and the choices we make today will define generations to come. That is why Ukraine Foundation works at the intersection of policy, culture, and technology—bridging sectors, uniting allies and partners, and building solutions that outlast crises.
To our friends, partners, and supporters around the globe: thank you for standing with Ukraine. Together, we can transform resolve into results, hope into action, and vision into a future where peace and progress prevail.
Kyiv and Sofia: Alex Luna Taking Somnia Disaster -A Chernobyl-Fukushima Cultural Bridge- Across European Parliaments
Somnia Disaster Featured In ICTV News
Somnia Disaster Making the News in Korotko Pro
“Somnia Disaster”: Alex
Luna exhibition opened in the Verkhovna Rada
YEVHEN GORIN
April 29, 2025, Kyiv – On the days of the next anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, a unique art and documentary exhibition “Somnia Disaster” was solemnly opened in the building of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, under a glass dome. It became one of the central events of this year’s commemorative events and a symbolic reminder of the value of human errors and the responsibility for the future.
The exhibition takes place during the regular session of the parliament.
The Somnia Disaster project combines art, photography, film materials and modern audio installations in Ukrainian and German. Only the photographic part of the project, created by a prominent Ukrainian photo artist, a representative of the Kharkiv School of Photography, Vladyslav Krasnoshchek, is presented in the parliament building.
The photos are not only the iconic locations of the Exclusion Zone, but also the same age as the tragedy: the author of the project, opera singer Alex Luna, and Ukrainian supermodel Snizhana Onopko.
Today, the exhibition “Somnia Disaster” is shown in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Its ideologist Alex Luna, having implemented the project in 2021, sought to emphasize the fragility of life and the importance of remembering it. Probably, he had a “artist’s premonition,” says Tetiana Tsyba, MP and head of the subcommitteee on the protection of the rights of children who suffered as a result of military aggression. After all, today the relevance of this topic has not decreased, but on the contrary, it has acquired a new sound.
The exhibition “Somnia Disaster” will be available for viewing in the Verkhovna Rada during the week. From June 18, the exhibition will be hosted by the Parliament of the Republic of Bulgaria.
At a time when the world stands precariously close to the threat of nuclear catastrophe, Somnia Disaster emerges as a powerful cultural project that unites two of the most devastating nuclear tragedies in human history: Chernobyl and Fukushima. This exhibition serves not only as a bridge between cultures, but also as a stark reminder of our shared responsibility to prevent such disasters in the future.
Somnia Disaster is being presented in a highly symbolic setting — the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (Ukrainian Parliament) — from April 28 to May 2, during an active parliamentary session. Following this, the exhibition will move to the Parliament of Bulgaria from May 14 to May 21, where a major opening ceremony will be held. The event will bring together the Bulgarian Minister of Energy, Minister of Foreign Affairs, members of parliament from Bulgaria and Ukraine, as well as the Ambassadors of Japan and Ukraine, underlining the urgent international relevance of the project.
In an era when nuclear threats loom larger than ever, Somnia Disaster reminds us that memory, dialogue, and cross-cultural cooperation are vital for a safer future.
Listen to the Somnia Disaster podcast on Spotify
We are currently experiencing the greatest nuclear threat, which threatens not only Ukraine, but the entire world. What does it really look like in Ukraine’s largest nuclear power plant? What is the probability of a Chernobyl 2.0? This is what liquidators, military and scientists discuss in this podcast.
Watch Somnia Disaster’s making of featuring Snizhana Onopko and Alex Luna filmed on location
Sofia: Somnia Disaster: Alex Luna’s Haunting Exhibition Arrives in Sofia
Renowned visual artist Alex Luna continues his powerful exploration of the Somnia Disaster with a European tour, shedding light on the haunting legacy of this enigmatic event. Following its impactful debut, the exhibition makes its second stop in Sofia, Bulgaria, where it has already garnered significant media attention. Through a compelling blend of visual storytelling and immersive installations, Luna invites viewers across Europe to confront the surreal and often unsettling dimensions of memory, loss, and collective trauma.
Somnia Disaster Featured in
The accidents in Chernobyl and Fukushima are the focus of the documentary exhibition “The Catastrophe of Dreams”, which was opened at the National Assembly. The exhibition includes nearly 40 photographs by Alexander Tishchenko (Alex Luna) and Shigeru Yoshida, which touch on the psychological and aesthetic consequences of two of the largest nuclear accidents in the world. The event was organized on the initiative of MP Lyuben Dilov Jr. and the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Defense and the Bulgaria-Ukraine Friendship Group Hristo Gadzhev.
The exhibition is important for all Bulgarians because our country was one of the countries most affected by the Chernobyl accident, said Lyuben Dilov Jr. According to him, this is also the first artistic bridge of its kind connecting Chernobyl and Fukushima. Lyuben Dilov Jr. pointed out that after the horrific incidents, Japan has created another engineering miracle with the construction of a 400-kilometer wall with an average height of 15 meters to protect the coast, and the Ukrainian people have turned Pripyat and the Chernobyl region into one of the most exotic places in Europe. “The catastrophe of dreams” gives birth to new dreams, not despair, he added. Lyuben Dilov Jr. also recalled the words of Shigeru Yoshida, who says that only the one who knows the pain can cure it and protect others from it.
For his part, one of the authors of the documentary photographs, Alexander Tishchenko (Alex Luna), noted that in these days when the world is facing a nuclear war, there is no higher value than human life, because it defeats any catastrophe. The opening of the exhibition was also attended by MPs, public figures, representatives of the diplomatic corps and journalists.
У Болгарії відкрилася фотовиставка «Somnia Disaster»
У Народних Зборах Республіки Болгарія 18 червня відбулася церемонія відкриття фотовиставки «Somnia disaster» – спільного артпроєкту українських та японських митців, присвяченого ядерним трагедіям у Чорнобилі, Фукусімі, а також Хіросімі та Нагасакі.
Як передає Укрінформ, про це у Фейсбуці повідомило посольство України в Болгарії.
Експозиція унікальним чином об’єднала творчу команду під керівництвом Олександра Тищенка (Alex Luna) та японського фотографа Шіґеру Йошіди. Їхні роботи покликані привернути увагу міжнародної спільноти до проблеми протидії ядерним загрозам та спонукати до посилення міжнародної підтримки України.
Виставку вдалося реалізувати за підтримки голови Групи дружби “Болгарія – Україна” болгарського парламенту Христо Гаджева та депутата Любена Ділова.
Читайте також: Болгарія продовжила до березня програму підтримки українських біженців
Під час церемонії відкриття болгарські депутати та гості заходу хвилиною мовчання вшанували пам’ять жертв російського ракетного обстрілу України, що стався 17 червня. Внаслідок цього терористичного акту загинуло 28 людей, а понад 130 отримали поранення.
Нагадаємо, 12 червня на площі перед Народним театром ім. Івана Вазова у Софії відкрилася цифрова фотовиставка «Україна: любов + війна» – арт-документальний проєкт, який уперше представлено у Болгарії.
Somnia Disaster Featured In The Bulgarian Media
Kyiv: Alex Luna Honored with a Certificate of Appreciation by the Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament, Ruslan Stefanchuk.
On 12 June 2025, our Vice President for Cultural Diplomacy, Alex Luna, was honored with a Certificate of Appreciation by the Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament, Ruslan Stefanchuk, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to cultural diplomacy.
Together with acclaimed photographer Vladyslav Krasnoshchek and international supermodel Snizhana Onopko, Alex Luna has been at the forefront of Somnia Disaster—a powerful and thought-provoking exhibition that highlights the ongoing dangers of the Chernobyl disaster and its symbolic and strategic manipulation in the context of the war against Ukraine. The exhibition has already been showcased in the Parliaments of Ukraine and Bulgaria, raising critical awareness among lawmakers and the public alike.
As Somnia Disaster prepares to continue its journey to Prague, the Ukraine Foundation reaffirms its commitment to bringing this vital exhibition to all 27 national parliaments of the European Union—a symbolic and strategic effort to strengthen cultural ties and support Ukraine’s path to EU membership.
Paris: Ukraine Foundation’s International Advisory Board Member Ambassador Pierre Andrieu Defining In Le Monde the China-Russia Relationship as an Alliance Without Treaty.
Face à ce sud global dominé par la Chine qui n’existe pas, l’Occident sous la férule de Donald Trump existe de moins en moins – September 3, 2025
Kyiv: Ukraine Foundation’s Senior Fellow for Technology and Cybersecurity, William Dixon, Published in the Latest Edition of the Peer-Reviewed Ukrainian Policymaker Journal.
His article “Ukraine as the Cyber Spanish Civil War” offers an original contribution by applying Thomas Rid’s triad of cyber functions -espionage, sabotage, and subversion- to assess the evolving nature of cyber warfare in Ukraine, showing how each has transitioned from strategic theory to tactical implementation in an ongoing, high-stakes conflict.
Drawing parallels to the Spanish Civil War’s role as a proving ground for innovation, the article positions the Russo-Ukrainian war as a live-fire lab for cyber integration, where cyber capabilities only reach strategic effect when synchronized with kinetic operations -much like how tanks and aircraft in the 1930s only revolutionized warfare when used in coordination. Ultimately, the article argues that Ukraine’s success stems less from technical superiority and more from organizational agility, public-private fusion, and horizontal integration, marking a transformative model of cyber conflict with lessons far beyond the battlefield.
In the coming months, Ukraine Foundation‘s research will continue exploring how cyber operations evolve into a key element of combined arms tactics.
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Sofia: Our Advisory Board Member, Ellen Wasylina, Contributes Her Latest Research on Green Diplomacy to the Diplomatic Academy of Bulgaria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and to the Green Transition Forum.
On 12 June 2025, our Advisory Board member and President of the Trocadéro Forum Institute, Ellen Wasylina, presented a summary of her paper “Green Diplomacy in the Black Sea Region – Steps Towards Peace, Growth and Prosperity” before the Black Sea Conference on Energy and Climate Diplomacy organised by the Diplomatic Institute of Bulgaria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, often referred to as the Bulgarian Diplomatic Academy. This powerful contribution to the ongoing dialogue on sustainability and green diplomacy in one of Europe’s most geopolitically sensitive regions was first published in Foreign Affairs Research Papers in May.
She then went to present some of her conclusions before the Green Transition Forum 5.0 held in Sofia on June 18.
Ellen Wasylina argues that a robust green diplomacy agenda is urgently needed—not just to meet environmental targets, but to foster peace, resilience, and inclusive growth. Drawing attention to the Black Sea’s ecological degradation and the compounded effects of regional conflict, Ellen Wasylina advocates for policies that integrate environmental governance with economic development, emphasizing cooperation among riparian countries such as Türkiye, Bulgaria, Romania, and Ukraine.
Ellen Wasylina highlights Ukraine’s critical role, both as a frontline state in the geopolitical crisis and as a key partner in shaping a sustainable and secure regional future. Ellen Wasylina calls for stronger support for Ukraine’s environmental recovery and green reconstruction efforts as integral to regional stability.
Her work highlights the EU’s push for a global, just, and inclusive green transition, suggesting that Black Sea nations adopt a multilateral, tailored approach to meet shared challenges—from decarbonization and rare earth diplomacy to blue-green economic initiatives and environmental protection frameworks.
Ellen Wasylina’s decades of experience in geopolitical strategy, sustainable development, and education underpin her call for a new generation of sustainable leaders. Ellen Wasylina’s reflections at the conference reaffirmed the need to reimagine diplomacy—through the lens of sustainability, solidarity, and regional cooperation.
Brussels: Yevghen Shulga Addressed Atlas Network’s Europe Liberty Forum 2025
We were honored that our General Secretary, Yevghen Shulgha, was invited to address the 2025 Europe Liberty Forum, hosted by Atlas Network in Brussels on May 22-23.
Atlas Network, a nonpartisan, nonprofit foundation that supports the development and success of pro-freedom organizations throughout the world, connects with almost 500 think tanks in over 100 countries that drive change in ideas, culture, and policy; remove barriers to opportunities; and empower individuals to live a life of choice.
This major gathering brought together economists, policymakers, and leaders committed to advancing economic freedom, individual liberty, and open markets across Europe.
Yevghen Shulgha shared key insights from Ukraine’s Price of the State project, an initiative aimed at making economic policy accessible to everyday citizens. He emphasized the core challenge that even many policymakers struggle to understand basic economic concepts. His proposed rule was simple: always explain economics as if your audience were “a grandma from a village,” avoiding jargon, abstract statistics, and complex logic.
He presented several successful communication tools from the project: visual aids like the Price of the State Calculator and Sankey charts, relatable analogies such as the “$1,500 sandwich” to explain trade, and interactive tools like the Customs Meter Game. These approaches work because they simplify, visualize, and humanize abstract data—translating macroeconomic indicators into real-life impact, such as days of labor or years of development lost. By using surprise, humor, and intuitive comparisons, economic literacy can become not only achievable, but engaging for all.
At a time when Europe confronts new economic and geopolitical pressures, his perspective contribute vital ideas on how to foster growth, innovation and freedom in challenging environments in line with the 500+ member organizations’ commitment to build a freer and more prosperous future for all.
Milan: Natalie Shkarban At Ukraine Recovery Conference’s Milan Preparatory Business Forum
On 5 March 2025, Milan hosted the pivotal “On the Road to URC 2025” business forum, marking a significant milestone in the lead-up to the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC) scheduled for 10–11 July in Rome. This preparatory event convened over 550 representatives from 23 countries, including government officials, international financial institutions, and private sector leaders, to strategize Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction and economic revitalization.
Keynote speakers included Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal (via video message), First Deputy Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, and Lombardy Region President Attilio Fontana. Their addresses underscored the urgency of mobilizing international investment and fostering public-private partnerships to rebuild Ukraine’s infrastructure, energy systems, and industrial base.
Discussions at the forum focused on several strategic areas:
• Investment and Financing: Exploring mechanisms to attract foreign capital, including risk insurance and government incentives.
• Energy Resilience and Green Transition: Promoting sustainable energy solutions and the development of a green energy system in Ukraine.
• Industrial Production and SMEs: Enhancing local manufacturing capabilities and integrating Ukrainian small and medium-sized enterprises into global supply chains.
• Infrastructure and Housing: Reconstructing critical infrastructure and providing housing solutions for internally displaced persons.
The event also highlighted collaborative initiatives such as the partnership between Lombardy and Zaporizhzhia regions and the presentation of a master plan for Mykolaiv’s recovery.
This Milan forum set the stage for the upcoming URC 2025 in Rome, which aims to consolidate international support and secure tangible commitments for Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts.
Bern: The Federal Council Releases Ukraine Country Programme 2025-2028
The Federal Council plans to invest long-term in the reconstruction of Ukraine and is providing CHF 5 billion for this purpose in the period from 2025 to 2036. For the first phase up until 2028, CHF 1.5 billion has been earmarked. This will be financed as part of the IC Strategy 2025–28, and was approved by Parliament in late 2024. For the second phase (2029–36) the Federal Council is reviewing additional sources of financing for the remaining CHF 3.5 billion.
The Federal Council has approved this Ukraine Country Programme 2025–28 for the first phase. It is designed as a strategic framework for the support and reconstruction of Ukraine and implements the legislative program for the period 2023–27 (measure 91). It draws on Switzerland’s long-standing presence in Ukraine and combines established international cooperation instruments, such as humanitarian aid, development cooperation and peace-building with new approaches such as humanitarian mine action and targeted reconstruction. A focal point is Swiss private sector engagement in order to leverage expertise and innovation for the recovery and to mobilize investment.
Through our work, we are not just supporting initiatives — we are creating opportunities for transformative change spanning cultural creativity, economic resilience, public policy, and cross-border collaboration.
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