In June, we carried out another important advocacy trip and spent three intensive days at the GLOBSEC 2025 forum, which took place in Prague.

Our delegation included Olena Halushka, Lesia Orobets, and Iryna Krasnoshtan. During the forum, we held dozens of meetings with Western politicians, diplomats, and journalists, and were invited to several important discussions and diplomatic events to talk about the key challenges facing Ukraine and Europe.

We discussed how to further advance the idea of confiscating Russian assets and ensure that these funds start working for Ukraine, supporting its recovery and defense. We also talked about the Sky Shield initiative as a way to protect not only Ukrainian skies, but to strengthen the security of all of Europe.

Our representatives also actively participated in key panel discussions. Iryna Krasnoshtan joined a session focused on security challenges in the Black Sea region, energy stability, and regional connectivity. Together with Olena Halushka, she also took part in the event “Stolen Generations,” where they spoke about the mass deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia, one of the manifestations of the genocide that Russia is committing against Ukraine.

It’s not always easy to find opportunities to bring the Ukrainian voice to major international platforms. Today at GLOBSEC, one of the world’s leading security conferences, we have a chance to speak about Sky Shield and the need to protect Ukraine’s skies. But the real question is how do we build a coalition not only of the willing, but of the capable? And how can bold military decisions help shape the political will needed to win this war — and secure peace?

Lesia Orobets, a leader of Ukrainian civil society, former Member of the Ukrainian Parliament, and Head of the NGO “Price of Freedom.”

Together with our partners Price of Freedom and with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation, we organized a side event titled “Making Europe More Secure: Lessons from Ukraine.” The event brought together over 50 participants, including representatives of governments, parliaments, diplomatic institutions, think tanks, media, and civil society organizations.

We discussed our key priorities:

• The Sky Shield initiative over Ukraine;
• The use of frozen Russian assets to finance the defense of Ukraine and Europe;
• Joint production initiatives and enhanced cooperation in the field of defense technologies.

The event was moderated by security expert Benjamin Tallis, and among the international guests were diplomats, senators, members of parliament, and analysts from the Czech Republic, Finland, France, and the United Kingdom.

We held bilateral meetings with key leaders such as:

• Michael Vetter, a Lieutenant General in the German Air Force and Head of the Cyber ​​and Information Technology Department at the Federal Ministry of Defense;
  
• Martin Hojsik, Vice-President of the European Parliament;
  
• Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, Chair of the Defence Select Committee in the UK Parliament and others.

We had the honor of being invited to a diplomatic reception celebrating the birthday of the King of the United Kingdom, and also participated in a closed meeting organized by the British Embassy in Prague.

Our representatives spoke about the need for sustained military support for Ukraine, the path toward EU and NATO membership, challenges related to nuclear, energy, and food security, as well as the just and sustainable recovery of Ukraine after the war.

We held meetings with journalists from leading European media — Hospodářské noviny, Deník N, SME daily, Croatian Radio Television, and La Croix. During these conversations, we conveyed our key messages about the urgent need to implement the Sky Shield initiative to protect Ukraine and Europe, the confiscation of frozen Russian assets under the #MakeRussiaPay campaign, and the importance of decisive action from international partners.

We sincerely thank the organizers of GLOBSEC, our partners at Price of Freedom, the British Embassy in the Czech Republic, the International Renaissance Foundation for funding the side event, and everyone who supports Ukraine. This trip was another important step in our ongoing fight for victory, justice, and a strong, secure Europe.