The Youth Diplomatic Forum, organised by the Ukrainian Red Cross, started in Kyiv and was opened by Iryna Vereshchuk, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine
“Since the beginning of the full-scale war, I have rediscovered our youth. You volunteered to join the Defence Forces and selflessly contributed to efforts on the home front. I have witnessed not only great energy but also initiative and leadership—the ability to take responsibility,” stated Iryna Vereshchuk, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine.
The two-day event brought together more than 100 participants, including prominent diplomats, academics, parliamentarians, and representatives from humanitarian organisations. They took part in panel discussions on humanitarian diplomacy in the context of global change and the importance of upholding international humanitarian law during wars and armed conflicts.
“The future of Ukraine belongs to its youth. As the country’s largest humanitarian organisation, we recognise the crucial role you play in shaping that future. It is impossible to build tomorrow without those who will live in it. That is why we call on young people to collaborate in addressing humanitarian challenges and unite their efforts towards a common goal—creating a humane and just world,” emphasised Maksym Dotsenko, Director General of the Ukrainian Red Cross.
Participants had the opportunity to engage with and ask questions of the forum guests, including:
- Dr Hugo Slim, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Oxford and Advisor to the British Red Cross;
- H. E. Martin Harris, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom to Ukraine;
- Maciej Janczak, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine;
- Lesia Vasylenko and Roman Hryshchuk, Members of Parliament;
- Rory Moylan, Head of Region for the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe, British Red Cross;
- Joanna Garbalinska, Director of the Humanitarian NGO Platform in Ukraine;
- Anton Korynevych, Ambassador-at-Large in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, among others.
The event is supported by the British, Danish, Norwegian and German Red Crosses.
