On February 15, 2025, on the margins of the Munich Security Conference, the Yalta European Strategy (YES) and the Victor Pinchuk Foundation hosted the 8th Ukrainian Lunch under the theme YOUR COUNTRY FIRST — WIN WITH US.

The discussion at the Ukrainian Lunch in Munich focused on the impact of the U.S. administration’s approach to ending the war launched by Russia against Ukraine. Participants explored ways to achieve a sustainable and lasting peace in Ukraine and across the European continent, as well as strategies to deter Russia from violating peace agreements.

Speakers at the 8th Ukrainian Lunch included: Victor Pinchuk, businessman and philanthropist, founder of YES; Keith Kellogg, Special Representative of the President of the United States for Ukraine and Russia; Alar Karis, President of the Republic of Estonia; Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Denmark; Andrej Plenković, Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia; Olha Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine – Minister of Justice of Ukraine; Maria Stenergard, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Sweden; Kristrúnar Frostadóttur, Prime Minister of Iceland; Anna Kyrnychna, tactical medicine instructor, Armed Forces of Ukraine; Oleksii Krymeniuk, Deputy Head of the Strategic Planning Group (S3/5) of the 13th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine “Khartia”;
Dmytro Finashin, Hero of Ukraine, Adviser to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine on Veterans’ Policy; and other distinguished guests.

The discussion was moderated by Zanny Minton Beddoes, Editor-in-Chief of The Economist.