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.
Berlin: Ukraine Foundation Co-Organized Major Policy Conference in Berlin in Partnership with KIU / European University Viadrina, Freie Universität Berlin, and the Kyiv School of Economics
Ukraine Foundation led the charge in a major policy event “Rebuilding Ukraine: Security, Recovery & the Future of Europe”, co-organized with KIU / European University Viadrina, Freie Universität Berlin, and the Kyiv School of Economics, with the support of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and funding from Germany’s Federal Foreign Office (AA).
This international conference took place under the premises of the Free University Berlin, on 4 December 2025, from 10:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m.
Rebuilding Ukraine: Security, Recovery & the Future of Europe brought together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to reflect on post-war reconstruction, security challenges, governance, humanitarian recovery, and Ukraine’s role in the future of Europe.
Ukraine Foundation sent to Berlin a total of 7 keynote speakers, panelists and roundtable participants drawn from our leadership, International Advisory Board and Fellowship group.
Our European Advisory Board member Dr. Maryna Vorotnyuk opened the floor by offering her sharp analysis of Black Sea security and Russian-Ukrainian relations, underscoring the centrality of maritime security, alliance cohesion, and deterrence for Ukraine’s resilience.
Lt Col. Dr. Iryna Andrukh, our International Advisory Board member, brought an operational lens to discussions on defense and national resilience. Her experience in evacuation missions, psychological operations, and building Ukraine’s first military mental-health department added vital real-world insight.
Her fellow board member Julie A. Rushin contributed expert commentary on governance and digital transformation. Drawing on decades of U.S. federal leadership, she highlighted how modernised institutions and technology are essential to ensuring accountability and investor confidence in Ukraine’s recovery.
Our Chairman Dr. John M. (Jack) Albertine delivered the keynote on “Business in Conflict & Post-Conflict,” emphasizing the role of private investment, regulatory stability, and coordinated international support in driving Ukraine’s economic revival.
As moderator and academic co-organizer, our Distinguished Senior Fellow Prof. Theocharis Grigoriadis helped shape the day’s interdisciplinary debate. He drew connections between reconstruction, regional political economy, and the long-term reforms needed to secure sustainable growth.
International Advisory Board member Ambassador Pierre Andrieu added a seasoned diplomatic perspective at the closing roundtable. His analysis of Russia’s posture, China–Russia dynamics, and the broader geopolitical environment illuminated the strategic context in which Ukraine’s reconstruction will unfold.
Finally, our Vice Chairman Louis L. Voiron outlined the strategic choices facing Ukraine and its partners as the war enters a decisive phase, linking the day’s discussions to long-term leadership and alliance resilience.
The conference also featured panel discussions and a roundtable with representatives from the German Federal Parliament, as well as international experts working on Ukraine, European security, and post-conflict transformation.
Ukraine Foundation extends its deepest gratitude to Germany’s Federal Foreign Office (AA) and to DAAD – the German Academic Exchange Service for their essential support in making this conference possible. Together we continue working toward a secure, resilient, and prosperous Ukraine.
Ukraine Foundation’s Senior Fellow Nick Krohley Publishes in War on the Rocks on AI, Intelligence, and Ground Truth
We are proud to highlight the latest publication by our Senior Fellow, Irregular Warfare and Human Dynamics of Conflict, Dr. Nicholas Krohley, in War on the Rocks. In his commentary, “Anchoring Intelligence: Ground Truth in an Age of Synthetic Deception,” Dr. Krohley examines how the rapid rise of artificial intelligence and emerging agentic AI capabilities are transforming the information environment and challenging traditional understandings of military intelligence.
Dr. Krohley argues that while AI‑enabled platforms promise unprecedented speed and precision in processing battlefield data, they remain fundamentally dependent on the quality of their inputs. Without structured, human‑generated “ground truth,” even the most advanced systems risk producing a distorted picture of reality — especially as adversaries leverage synthetic content and automated disinformation at scale. To address these challenges, he calls for a two‑pronged response: developing machine‑based defenses against synthetic deception and, crucially, ensuring that human‑sourced insights are systematically integrated into analytical workflows to anchor AI analysis in the real world.
This publication draws on Dr. Krohley’s deep expertise at the intersection of intelligence, conflict dynamics, and the evolving role of AI in security environments. His work underscores the enduring importance of human judgment and ground‑level insight amidst rapid technological change — a theme that resonates with our Foundation’s commitment to rigorous, context‑aware analysis in support of Ukraine’s defense and broader democratic security.
Read the full article on War on the Rocks and join the conversation on how emerging technologies are reshaping strategic realities.
Geneva: Ukraine Foundation’s Vice Chairman, Louis L. Voiron addressed the Geneva Forum
On December 11, our Vice Chairman Louis L. Voiron adressed the Geneva Forum, an event held since 2001 across UN headquarters and institutions throughout the city, to help chart new paths for sustaining International Geneva’s mission through innovative partnerships and deeper private-sector engagement.
In his intervention, “Geneva’s Relevance in an Age of Empire: Pragmatic Steps Toward Peace in Ukraine,” he reflected on how today’s geopolitical landscape is shaped less by competing visions within a shared order and more by the return of imperial logic -an evolution with profound implications for Ukraine’s security. He argued that, in a moment when global fragmentation is becoming increasingly plausible, Geneva offers unique assets for pragmatic diplomacy, including its neutral ground, convening power, and capacity to incubate concrete pilot projects that can anchor trust.
Ukraine Foundation is grateful to the Geneva Forum for hosting Ukraine Foundation, to FAGI and to the Swiss Confederation for their steadfast support in hosting this important gathering. Their commitment ensures that Geneva remains not only a historic center of multilateralism, but a living engine for creative, solutions-oriented engagement at a time when it is urgently needed.
Paris: Our International Advisory Board Member, H.E. Ambassador Pierre Andrieu gives major interview to Le Monde: “For China, Russia has become its junior partner or even its vassal”.
Ukraine Foundation highlights the latest analysis by Ambassador Pierre Andrieu, member of our International Advisory Board and one of Europe’s foremost specialists on Eurasian geopolitics. In an interview published by Le Monde, he offers a clear and uncompromising reading of the shifting balance within the Russia–China relationship -an evolution with profound implications for European and global security.
Drawing on decades of diplomatic experience and extensive scholarly work, Ambassador Andrieu explains that although Moscow and Beijing proclaim their ambition to build a new, “extra-Western” world order, their strategic partnership is far from equal. China’s rise as a consolidated economic and technological power, combined with Russia’s growing international isolation and dependence, has created what he calls a decisive asymmetry: for the first time in modern history, Russia has become the junior partner—if not the vassal—of China.
He situates this transformation in its historical context. While the 1950s alliance placed a then-weakened China in ideological and material dependence on the Soviet Union, Beijing never accepted the constraints of that unequal relationship. Today, the dynamic has been reversed. China is projecting long-term strategy and global ambition; Russia, weakened by its war of aggression against Ukraine and cut off from Western markets, is increasingly reliant on Chinese energy purchases, industrial goods, and political cover.
This does not amount to a formal alliance. As Ambassador Andrieu stresses, the Russia–China partnership remains pragmatic, transactional, and marked by lingering distrust. Their visions of world order differ, and divergences persist beneath the narrative of “friendship without limits.” Yet the relationship is sufficiently robust for Beijing to extract structural advantages that will shape Eurasian geopolitics for decades.
For Ukraine and its partners, this analysis is critical. It underscores that Russia’s strategic room for manoeuvre is narrowing, that its dependence on China is deepening, and that Eurasia’s geopolitical future will increasingly be defined by Beijing’s calculations rather than Moscow’s ambitions. Understanding this imbalance is essential for designing long-term strategies that strengthen European security and support Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Ambassador Andrieu’s expertise -developed as Senior Fellow on China–Russia relations at the Asia Society and through his academic work, including Géopolitique des relations russo-chinoises (PUF, 2023)- is an invaluable contribution to the Foundation’s mission. At a moment when global power dynamics are being reshaped, his insights help illuminate the constraints, risks, and opportunities that lie ahead.
For China, Russia has become its junior partner or even its vassal – August 20, 2026
Ivano-Frankivsk: Ukraine Foundation’s Senior Fellow for Irregular Warfare and the Human Dimension of Conflict, Dr. Nicholas Krohley, addressed a high-level conference on the protection of critical infrastructure
Our Senior Fellow, Irregular Warfare and the Human Dimension of Conflict, Dr. Nicholas Krohley, represented Ukraine Foundation at a high-level conference on the protection of critical infrastructure in Ivano-Frankivsk.
The event was organized by a broad coalition of Ukraine’s leading national institutions working at the intersection of security, governance, and resilience. Key organizers include the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, the Verkhovna Rada Committees on Energy and on Environmental Policy, the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection (DSSZZI), the State Emergency Service (DSNS), the State Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development, and the National Academy of the Security Service of Ukraine—alongside prominent academic institutions from Ukraine, Poland, Romania, and the Czech Republic.
This collaborative format brought together government leaders, security experts, emergency-response agencies, research universities, and international partners to address one of the most strategic challenges facing Ukraine: how to strengthen national resilience in an era of hybrid threats and systemic instability.
Nick Krohley contributed to the discussion by examining how European countries structure societal resilience within the “total defense” paradigm, comparing centralized, state-driven frameworks with more decentralized, bottom-up approaches led by civil society and the private sector. His intervention explored practical pathways for Ukraine to build a durable culture of resilience through cross-sectoral cooperation and international experience.
We are proud to support this important platform for dialogue at a moment when reinforcing resilience across all layers of Ukrainian society has never been more vital.
We look forward to publishing a detailed summary of key take-aways from the event and how these may be applied to advancing Ukraine’s economic resilience.
Ukraine Foundation Fellows Publish with the Institute of World History of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
On 8 November, three leaders of Ukraine Foundation — our International Advisory Board member Ambassador Pierre Andrieu, our Scientific Committee member Professor Valentin Yakushik, and our Vice President for Policy, Dr. Mariya Heletiy — published important new research in the annual volume of the Institute of World History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
Their contributions, produced through years of diplomatic experience, academic rigour, and policy expertise, offer timely insights into Ukraine’s evolving geopolitical landscape and the global implications of the country’s struggle for security and sovereignty. This recognition by one of Ukraine’s foremost academic institutions underscores the calibre of leadership within the Foundation and our shared commitment to advancing knowledge, strengthening institutions, and shaping a more resilient future for Ukraine.
Click on each article’s cover to read the full text.
Paris: Ukraine Foundation’s International Advisory Board Member, Ambassador Pierre Andrieu, gives landmark interview in Le Monde des Cartes, –Le Monde’s special annual edition on “Imperial Time”- about China, Russia, and the Future of Eurasian Power Politics
In a wide-ranging interview recently published in Le Monde des Cartes, Ambassador Pierre Andrieu — Senior Fellow on China-Russia Relations at the Asia Society, former French ambassador, and professor of international relations at Sciences Po, Inalco, ISIT, ESCP, and several foreign universities — offers a precise, historically informed, and sobering assessment of the evolving relationship between Moscow and Beijing. Drawing on decades of diplomatic and academic experience, and on research developed in his 2023 book Géopolitique des relations russo-chinoises, Andrieu outlines a partnership that is far from equal, shaped by deep strategic ambivalence, divergent imperial legacies, and the shockwaves of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Ambassador Andrieu stresses that despite the rhetoric of a “limitless friendship,” Russia today has become China’s junior partner, if not its outright vassal. The dynamic has inverted dramatically since the 1950s, when Mao’s China was economically dependent on the Soviet Union and chafing under its authority. Today, China’s economic weight — with a GDP ten times larger than Russia’s — determines the parameters of the relationship. Beijing imports vast quantities of Russian energy and raw materials while exporting high-value industrial goods to a Russia isolated by Western sanctions. Trade between the two countries has surged to USD 245 billion, underscoring the Kremlin’s reliance on China to offset the economic consequences of its invasion of Ukraine.
Yet this partnership remains constrained by mistrust and historical memory. Beijing has not forgotten the immense territories seized by Tsarist Russia in the nineteenth century, nor does it fully align with Moscow’s revisionist aggression. Andrieu highlights that while both governments reject “Western hegemony,” their ambitions differ in nature and scale. China seeks to reshape multilateralism to secure its centrality; Russia seeks to overturn the table outright. Where Beijing pursues influence through economic power, global trade networks, and military modernization — notably to prepare for a future attempt to take Taiwan — Moscow is driven by a nostalgic and destabilizing imperial impulse. Andrieu reminds readers that for President Putin, the restoration of Russian greatness is inseparable from subjugating Ukraine: a conviction famously captured by Zbigniew Brzezinski’s dictum that “Russia without Ukraine is not an empire.”
Ambassador Andrieu underscores that China’s posture on the war remains one of “pro-Russian neutrality” — supporting Moscow sufficiently to prevent regime collapse, yet refusing to recognize the illegal annexations of Ukrainian territory. Beijing benefits strategically from the war: it absorbs Western focus in Europe, gains military and sanctions-evasion insights, and sees Russia grow more economically dependent. Meanwhile, U.S. policy oscillations — particularly under Donald Trump — have reinforced Beijing’s confidence and blurred Washington’s commitments both to Ukraine and Taiwan.
The interview also examines China’s rise as a technological and economic superpower, propelled not by ideology but by a sustained strategy of projecting economic influence abroad through the Belt and Road Initiative and its expanding digital presence. In contrast to Russia’s destabilizing adventurism, China seeks to “lock down” its environment: pushing expansive claims in the South China Sea, while maintaining stability in sensitive regions such as Central Asia, where it invests heavily in infrastructure and security cooperation.
Turning to Russia’s internal trajectory, Andrieu offers a stark assessment: the Kremlin remains trapped in an imperial mindset that stretches back to the Tsarist era and that continued, in different forms, under Soviet rule. Russia’s war against Ukraine — launched with the expectation of a swift victory — has instead revealed severe military limitations and an economy under growing strain. Its ambitions in the Black Sea, the Caucasus, and Central Asia are faltering even as it pursues hybrid provocations against NATO states. Ambassador Andrieu notes that drone incursions, territorial overflights, and other grey-zone activities remain below the threshold of open conflict but signal a deliberate campaign to test the cohesion and resolve of the Alliance at a moment of political divergence among its leaders.
Ultimately, Ambassador Andrieu concludes that Russia shows no genuine interest in negotiating a ceasefire. Its objectives remain unchanged: the capitulation of Ukraine and the erasure of its sovereignty. In this context, he warns, Europe and its partners must grasp the full implications of an emboldened China, a destabilizing Russia, and a Eurasian landscape increasingly shaped by asymmetric partnerships and imperial revisionism.
For Ukraine and for Europe, Andrieu’s analysis is a reminder that the future of Eurasian security will be determined not only on the battlefield, but also across the shifting tectonics of Sino-Russian relations, global economic influence, and the resilience of the international order itself.
Washington: Ukraine Foundation’s Senior Fellow, Economic Tradecraft & Transatlantic Relations, Dawson Law Briefs Global Experts on U.S. Sanctions Strategy at ISECS 2025.
Our Senior Fellow, Economic Tradecraft & Transatlantic Relations, recently participated in the annual fall event of the International Sanctions and Export Control Society (ISECS), held in Washington, D.C. on 21 October 2025.
During the event, Dawson Law delivered the update on behalf of the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s sanctions-policy portfolio, drawing on his experience as the former U.S. Treasury Representative to the United Kingdom and his prior role with the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
His presentation focused on the evolving sanctions and export-control landscape -including the interplay between U.S. economic-security tools and transatlantic cooperation- and highlighted implications for states and jurisdictions facing heightened geopolitical risk.
For Ukraine Foundation, Dawson Law’s engagement at ISECS underscores our commitment to connecting Ukraine’s security and resilience agenda with global regulatory and compliance forums. The insights he gathered will inform our ongoing work on economic-statecraft and export-control strategy.
We look forward to publishing a detailed summary of key take-aways from the event and how these may be applied to advancing Ukraine’s economic resilience.
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, Irregular Warfare and Human Dynamics of Conflict Co-Authors “Iran, Ukraine, and the Realities of “Resistance” & “Regime Change”” In Small Wars Journal.
Iran, Ukraine, and the Realities of “Resistance” & “Regime Change” – July 14, 2025
London: Watch our Vice President, Dr. Mariya Heletiy, interviewed on TVP World about European air defense and support for Ukraine
Brussels: Ukraine Foundation’s Alex Luna Appointed Advisor to Ukraine’s Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets
Ukraine Foundation is pleased to announce that our Vice President for Cultural Diplomacy, Alex Luna, has been appointed Advisor to the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, with a dedicated mandate to enhance cooperation with the Republic of Bulgaria. Confirmed on 17 October during official engagements involving Bulgaria’s parliamentary representation at the European Parliament, this appointment underscores the growing importance of close human rights coordination between Kyiv and Sofia.
In this role, Alex Luna will help drive key initiatives to protect the rights of Ukrainians residing in or displaced by the war to Bulgaria. His efforts will focus on strengthening advocacy, ensuring accountability for war crimes, advancing the return of deported children, and reinforcing cooperation with the Bulgarian government and civil society institutions to keep Ukraine’s human rights priorities high on both the national and European agenda.
Ukraine Foundation President Louis Voiron commended the appointment as an important step forward in amplifying Ukraine’s voice in European human rights dialogues. “Alex’s leadership, vision, and tireless commitment to the Ukrainian people make him uniquely suited for this vital responsibility,” he stated. “We are grateful for his dedicated service to Ukraine, and confident that his work will further deepen the bonds of solidarity and shared democratic values between Ukraine and Bulgaria.”
This milestone highlights Ukraine Foundation’s growing role in advancing international partnerships that protect human dignity and support Ukraine’s path toward a secure, just, and European future.
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, Stanford, 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.
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
Berlin: Read the latest publication with CATS Network of our European Advisory Board member, Dr. Maryna Vorotnyuk, on Ukraine–Turkey Strategic Partnership in Security and Defence.
Dr. Maryna Vorotnyuk, a leading expert within the CATS Network and a member of the Ukraine Foundation’s European Advisory Board for Black Sea Security, examines how Ukraine and Turkey have emerged as key strategic partners in navigating the rapidly shifting European security landscape. Her latest paper underscores the depth of their cooperation in defence and the shared objective of countering Russia’s destabilising aggression. Turkey’s role as a growing contributor to European security — and as a potential mediator and security guarantor for Ukraine — is highlighted as central to sustaining regional stability. Vorotnyuk emphasises that Ukraine sees this partnership not only as a response to the ongoing war, but also as a long-term foundation for a resilient security architecture across the Black Sea.
Yet, as her research notes, the path to full convergence is not without challenges. Different threat perceptions, Ankara’s pursuit of strategic autonomy from the West, and its complex security ties with Moscow continue to limit the partnership’s full potential. Vorotnyuk argues that deeper alignment between Turkey and Europe will be essential to unlocking the transformative promise of this bilateral relationship. With both Kyiv and Ankara serving as critical eastern outposts for European security, she concludes that reinforcing their strategic defence dialogue today will shape the future order of the Black Sea region and its contribution to a secure Europe.
Ukraine-Turkey Strategic Partnership in Security and Defence – June 26, 2025
Bern: Louis Voiron represented Ukraine Foundation at the Ukraine Forum, held on 23 September in Switzerland’s Federal Palace
Organized with the participation of the Swiss Federal Assembly, the Ukrainian Society of Switzerland, and partner institutions, the Forum gathered policymakers, parliamentarians, diplomats, journalists, business leaders, and civil society representatives to discuss Ukraine’s resilience, security challenges, democratic future, and European integration.
The event featured welcoming addresses by Maja Riniker, President of the National Council of Switzerland, and Iryna Venediktova, Ambassador of Ukraine to Switzerland, followed by contributions from Swiss and Ukrainian members of Parliament, senior analysts, and leading media voices. Louis Voiron’s presence underscored the Ukraine Foundation’s commitment to fostering dialogue and building enduring partnerships in support of Ukraine’s recovery, reconstruction, and cultural exchange.
Washington: Check out the latest media appearances of Ukraine Foundation’s International Advisory Board Member John Pennell
John Pennell on Russia’s Actions in Ukraine and Syria in The Cognitive Crucible by the Information Professionals Association – September 16, 2025
In the episode, Dr. John Pennell explores how Russia’s use of irregular warfare and information operations has evolved across Ukraine and Syria from 2014 to 2022, arguing that Russia has increasingly blended kinetic, cyber, influence, and hybrid tactics to shape outcomes. He discusses how the information environment has become a key domain in contemporary conflict, emphasizes the growing role of non-state actors (like criminal syndicates) in amplifying Russia’s messaging, and calls for better public literacy about information threats, more research into how adversaries adapt their strategies, and more integration between scholars, policymakers and practitioners in responding to this more complex character of war.
John Pennell on “Did Syria Prepare Russia for Hybrid Warfare in Ukraine?” in At the Boundary by the Global and National Security Institute of the University of South Florida – August 11, 2025
In the “Did Syria Prepare Russia for Hybrid Warfare in Ukraine?” episode of At the Boundary, Dr. John Pennell discusses how Russia leveraged its 2015 intervention in Syria as a proving ground for techniques later applied in Ukraine. He argues that operations in Syria allowed Moscow to test tools like drones, electronic warfare, information campaigns, and proxy forces under real combat conditions. Dr. John Pennell traces how Russia adapted those hybrid warfare methods—initially developed in the Syrian context—to the conflict in Ukraine, especially in its early phases (Crimea, Donbas), emphasizing plausible deniability, disinformation, and local proxies. He also highlights the importance of understanding this operational lineage for NATO, the U.S., and partners as they seek to counter Russia’s evolving toolkit.
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
We Are Team UA: Leadership with Purpose
The Governance of Ukraine Foundation is vested in a distinguished leadership whose collective record reflects decades of service at the highest levels of international law, global finance, diplomacy, public policy, and strategic philanthropy. They have counseled heads of state, shaped global trade and investment frameworks, steered major publicly traded companies, and advanced international development and humanitarian efforts in some of the world’s most challenging environments. Over the years, they have held senior roles in the White House and the U.S. Congress; represented governments in consequential negotiations; and guided some of the largest institutional investors in navigating complex global markets. Their legal, policy, and financial insights have been sought after by some of the highest-net-worth and most consequential individuals worldwide.
Anchored by this depth of experience, their governance provide the strategic vision, integrity, and disciplined stewardship that define the Foundation’s mission — forging enduring partnerships, strengthening institutions, and championing a free, secure, and prosperous Ukraine. United in purpose and principle, they are the driving force behind the Foundation’s impact.
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.
TVP World, UATV, National Public Broadcasting Suspline, Freedom TV, Kyiv24 News: Watch Dr. Mariya Heletiy’s latest media appearances
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.
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.
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 & 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
London & Kyiv: Ukraine Foundation and the Institute for War and Peace Reporting Launched Their By-Invitation-Only War and Truth Conversation Series With “Information Warfare: How Foreign Influence Shapes Today’s Conflicts” on October 2, 2025
Disinformation is no longer just a threat -it’s shaping modern conflicts, eroding trust in institutions, and challenging democracies worldwide.
Ukraine Foundation held a by-invitation-only online forum on “Information Warfare: How Foreign Influence Shapes Today’s Conflicts” on 2 October. Top experts and policymakers explored:
• How disinformation undermines security, institutions, and public confidence;
• The intersection of information warfare with modern military strategies;
• The power and responsibility of social media platforms, and;
• Risks of foreign interference in European elections.
Speakers included:
• Louis L. Voiron, Vice Chairman, Ukraine Foundation;
• Maryna Bezkorovaina, Ukraine Country Director, Institute for War and Peace Reporting;
• Dr. Iryna Andrukh, International Advisory Board Member, Ukraine Foundation;
• Ben Heap, Senior Expert, Ukraine Project Lead, NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence;
• Christodoulos Ioannou, Senior Fellow, Hybrid Threats, Counterintelligence and Cognitive Security, Ukraine Foundation, and;
• Jurjis Svirko, European Media Director, Ukraine Foundation.
The event was moderated by Dr. Mariya Heletiy, Vice President, Policy, Ukraine Foundation.
About IWPR
The Institute for War & Peace Reporting (IWPR) is a London and New York-based independent, international non-profit that empowers local voices to drive change in conflict-affected and fragile environments.
It supports journalists, civil society, and communities with training, resources, and platforms to promote accountability, counter disinformation, and strengthen democratic resilience.
Founded in 1991, IWPR operates globally to give people the tools and knowledge to shape their own futures.
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.
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.
Paris: Ukraine Foundation’s International Advisory Board Member Ambassador Pierre Andrieu Talks to Le Monde and The South China Morning Post.
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
Europe’s summer from hell bleeds into autumn as Trump and Xi turn the screws – September 5, 2025
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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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