Changes around us have gained an unprecedented pace and scale – Alexander Kwasniewski

“The changes around us have gained unprecedented pace and scale, and it is important to find time to realize and take note of this”, said Alexander Kwasniewski, President of Poland (1995-2005), Chairman of the Board of YES, at the opening of the 15th Yalta European Strategy Annual Meeting (YES), themed “The Next Generation of Everything” and organized by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation.

“The changes that we have been observing, especially at the beginning of the 21st century and in the recent years, are absolutely unprecedented in terms of their pace. We see a new generation in almost everything and everywhere... We propose to you a short pause – a break for two days – to take note of those changes and new everything“, he said.

Kwasniewski added that taking time to consider these changes would be especially interesting and exciting.

“The situation reminds more of Formula 1, and I think that a short pause for an intellectual debate and exchange of views is necessary for all of us“, concluded the YES Board Chairman.

Ukraine must stay on European path regardless of 2019 elections - Klitschko

“Ukraine needs to continue moving towards its European democratic future regardless of results of the elections due in 2019,” Kyiv mayor, Vitali Klitschko said at the opening of the 15th Yalta European Strategy (YES) Annual Meeting “The Next Generation of Everything”, organized by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation.

“A lot depends on the next year, on how we will deliver on Ukrainians’ huge expectations. After all, we want to see our country wealthy, to see new standards of living […] Next year we are also having the presidential and parliamentary elections. Regardless of their results, we hope our European course will remain unchanged,” he said.

According to Klitschko, there are forces looking to divert Ukraine from its European path and “reverse everything”. “We must deliver on public expectations to live in a modern and democratic country […] I said this many times and would like to repeat it again: our success, the success of Ukraine, is the best answer to our friends as well as enemies,” he concluded.

Discussion about future requires good imagination and inspiration - Victor Pinchuk

In addition to expert knowledge, a discussion about the future requires good imagination and great inspiration, said Victor Pinchuk, the founder of the Yalta European Strategy (YES), the Victor Pinchuk Foundation and EastOne Group at the opening of the 15th YES Annual Meeting “The Next Generation of Everything”. The event is organized by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation.

“Here we have remarkable Western and Ukrainian politicians. I am not a politician but I would like to say a few words as a collector of art. A dialogue about the future requires good imagination and great inspiration,” he said.

As part of the opening ceremony of the 15th YES Annual Meeting, Victor Pinchuk presented the Wave UFO installation by artist Mariko Mori. It is a symbol of future, showing a world in which connections surpass its boundaries, and people are connected with one another. Mori’s work is an insight into the universe of human spirituality.

The interactive installation can fit three people inside who can hear sounds and see images visualizing their brain activity which are being read and analysed as they sit inside the capsule.

The official Twitter handle of the 15^th YES Annual Meeting is @yes_ukraine, and participants and followers can include the hash tag: #YESUkraine2018

Partners of 15th YES Annual Meeting:
Arawak Energy, Hillmont Partners, lifecell, International Renaissance Foundation, Western NIS Enterprise Fund (WNISEF).

Media partners of 15th YES Annual Meeting:
Dzerkalo Tyzhnya (DT.UA), European Pravda, ICTV, Liga.net, Novoye Vremya Strany (NV), PRYAMIY Channel, Radio NV, The Kyiv Post.