Annual Conferences
10–11 November 2026
Berlin
21st Kyiv Dialogue Annual Conference
Ukraine's path towards EU membership has begun, even as the country continues to defend itself against Russia's aggression. While the war impedes necessary reforms and recovery, it has also fostered remarkable resilience, innovation and civic engagement.
The 21st Annual Conference of Kyiv Dialogue will bring together policymakers, experts and civil society representatives from Ukraine and EU countries to discuss Ukraine's EU accession, wartime reforms, democratic resilience and local recovery. The conference will also explore how Ukraine's experience can contribute to strengthening Europe's resilience and security.
For enquiries:
info@kyiv-dialogue.org
The 21st Annual Conference of Kyiv Dialogue is hosted by the European Exchange and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and is supported by the International Renaissance Foundation (IRF), the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, the Heinrich Böll Foundation, the Foundation for German-Polish Cooperation, the Stefan Batory Foundation, the German Platform for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, the Bertelsmann Stiftung, and the German Association for East European Studies (DGO).
Agenda
Agenda | Day 1
Tuesday, 10 November
16:30 – 17:00
Registration and Coffee
Networking
17:00 – 17:15
Welcome & Opening
Plenary
17:15 – 17:45
Keynote
Keynote
17:45 – 19:15
Opening Panel: Ukraine’s path to the EU between reforms and security priorities – how Germany and Poland can contribute
Poland and Germany have a strong interest in ensuring that Ukraine emerges from Russia’s war of aggression as a victor and an independent state and becomes a full member of the EU through a performance-based, yet proactively designed and time-bound accession process. The panel examines the opportunities and risks of the EU accession process, identifies key thematic challenges, and discusses concrete proposals for Ukrainian-Polish-German cooperation.
In cooperation with the Stefan Batory Foundation
Panel
19:15
Reception
Networking
Agenda | Day 2
Wednesday, 11 November
09:00 – 09:30
Registration and Coffee
Networking
09:30 – 10:45
The role of communities in civil protection and comprehensive defence. How to build an ecosystem of a resilient society?
The Ukrainian experience shows that resilience stems from the ability to engage in decentralized cooperation with state and non-state actors capable of acting independently, as well as from the ability to sustainably integrate government action with civil society, economic, and local capacities. The panel aims to highlight Ukraine’s successful strategies and examine their applicability to countries such as Poland and Germany. It will showcase successful examples of cooperation among the three countries and initial steps toward moving away from ad hoc measures toward a more strategic approach to coordinating and sustaining civil protection.
In cooperation with the German Platform for the Reconstruction of Ukraine
Panel
11:00 – 12:15
Fight against disinformation and cognitive war – The role of civil society and media
In cooperation with ECPMF and the Heinrich Böll Foundation
Panel
12:15 – 13:30
Lunch Break
Networking
13:30 – 14:45
BREAK-OUT SESSIONS
Parallel
RT Session I: What if war ends? Transitional Justice and human rights
Any negotiated end to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine may come at the cost of painful concessions on holding war criminals accountable, dealing a blow to justice and international humanitarian law. How can civil society work together to shape the agenda on international accountability mechanisms and contribute to a more just peace?
In cooperation with Heinrich Böll Foundation, Owen e.V., and Ideas for Change
RT Session II: Local Partnerships for Resilient Communities: How Civil Society and Local Governments Can Shape Ukraine's Recovery
Across Ukraine, municipalities and civic initiatives are developing innovative ways of working together to respond to the war, strengthen communities, and lay the foundations for sustainable recovery.
This panel brings together practitioners who have built effective partnerships on the ground. They will discuss which governance models foster trust, how local authorities and civic actors can complement one another, and what lessons other municipalities in Ukraine and beyond can learn.
In cooperation with Commit
RT Session III: From Local Action to Collective Impact: Strengthening Environmental Initiatives through Cooperation
The session will explore how local environmental initiatives in eastern and southeastern Ukraine can become stronger, more sustainable and increase their impact. Through practical examples and group discussions, participants will identify common challenges and opportunities for cooperation, knowledge exchange, advocacy and future partnerships.
In cooperation with Austausch e.V.
14:45 – 15:15
Coffee Break
Networking
15:15 – 16:30
Can Europe afford Ukraine – and can it afford not to?
The panel will examine how to secure predictable, sustainable financing for Ukraine in the years ahead – across defense, recovery, and reform – at a moment of geopolitical volatility and competing budgetary pressures. Building on the experience of the Ukraine Facility and the ongoing debate around the next MFF (Multi-annual Financial Framework), the discussion will also ask how private capital and investment can complement public support, and what role European and international institutions play in facilitating this. Ukraine’s EU path serves as the framework for reform and strategic direction throughout this process.
In cooperation with Bertelsmann Stiftung
Panel
16:30 – 17:45
Is Europe ready for civilian defence? – emerging threats, new technologies and the role of civil society
The war in Ukraine has become a live laboratory for 21st-century conflict. AI-enabled targeting, cyber operations, and hybrid tactics are reshaping how security is contested and defended on the battlefield, but also heavily affecting civilians. Is Europe able to learn from Ukraine and set up its military and civilian defence?
In cooperation with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation
Panel
17:45 – 18:00
Wrap up and closing remarks
Plenary
Media about us
