The Ukrainian Red Cross participated in the EU Preparedness Conference in Brussels

On 23–24 March 2026, the EU Preparedness Conference took place at the Egmont Palace in Brussels — a platform dedicated to strengthening resilience and response to contemporary crises.

A delegation from the Ukrainian Red Cross, led by Maksym Dotsenko, Director General of the Ukrainian Red Cross, took part in the event, presenting practical experience gained in the context of full-scale war and large-scale emergencies.

On the first day of the conference, members of the delegation contributed to strategic discussions on European preparedness — from climate-related challenges to military threats. These discussions also addressed issues of emergency response, coordination, and community preparedness for emergencies.

The second day of the conference focused on moving from strategy to practical solutions.

As part of the final day’s panel discussions, Maksym Dotsenko, Director General of the Ukrainian Red Cross, and Andrii Pozniakevych, Operations Headquarters Coordination Manager at the Ukrainian Red Cross, shared their experience of responding during the war in Ukraine. They emphasised the importance of effective coordination among partners and institutions in times of crisis and emergency.

The experience of the Ukrainian Red Cross, shaped in the context of war, represents an important contribution to the development of European approaches to preparedness and crisis response.