Ukrainian Lunch at Munich Security Conference focuses on war, security and EU integration

Organizers said Ukraine has become the frontline where Europe’s future security architecture is being shaped and where the continent’s ability to defend its values and interests is being tested. As that frontier faces ongoing attacks, they stressed the need for sustained and decisive support.

The discussion centered on prospects for ending Russia’s war against Ukraine, strengthening European security together with Kyiv and integrating Ukraine into the European space as a source of security, innovation and long-term economic growth.

Leaders from across Europe took part in the event, including Czech President Petr Pavel, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.

Other participants included Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger, Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, Moldovan Foreign Minister Mihai Popșoi, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos and European Commissioner for Economy and Productivity Valdis Dombrovskis.

Military officials and lawmakers also joined the discussion, including Dutch Chief of Defence Gen. Onno Eichelsheim, head of the German Army staff Christian Freuding, Joachim Käske of Germany’s Federal Defense Ministry’s Ukraine task force and U.S. Representatives Richard McCormick, Sarah McBride and Brian Fitzpatrick.

The panel was moderated by Zanny Minton Beddoes, editor-in-chief of The Economist.

For the first time this year, the Victor Pinchuk Foundation, in partnership with the Munich Security Conference, the Office of the President of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Defense Industry Association, opened a special Ukrainian House in Munich.

On Feb. 13, the foundation unveiled an exhibition at the Ukrainian House curated by Björn Geldhof, artistic director of PinchukArtCentre. The exhibition highlights the security threats facing Europe and the need for rapid adaptation.

Among the featured works is Oleksiy Sai’s installation “Change or Die,” described as a symbolic Ukrainian message to Europe that is urgent yet forward-looking.

The Ukrainian Lunch has become an annual platform for world and Ukrainian leaders to discuss the security situation in Ukraine and its broader implications for Europe and the international order.

Over the years, speakers have included President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, former Estonian President Alar Karis, former Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, former Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, and former U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, among others.

For more than six decades, the Munich Security Conference has served as one of the world’s leading forums on security policy, bringing together more than 500 senior officials each February, including heads of state, ministers, business leaders, media representatives and civil society experts to address current and future security challenges.