Last week, European leaders marked a historic milestone by initiating accession negotiations with Ukraine, affirming Ukraine’s dedication to becoming a part of the European community and acknowledging its progress on reforms. Our partners, Ukrainian civil society organizations, are instrumental in driving this process, actively contributing to the establishment of a strong democratic society in Ukraine. In this edition, we delve into the Ukrainian sentiment regarding security guarantees and peace negotiations, while also bringing you uplifting updates from our partner organizations. Dive in for more inspiring insights!
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Ukrainians have varying opinions on the best security guarantees for Ukraine. According to an opinion poll by the New Europe Center, the most popular choice, supported by 33% of Ukrainians, is integration into NATO (with the understanding that NATO’s defense extends only to the territory under its control). Furthermore, 22% of citizens mention a defense alliance with the United States, and 19% a bilateral treaty and/or U.S. law on security assistance to Ukraine, including the provision of weapons, but without direct defense assistance by U.S. forces. Regarding negotiations with Russia, Ukrainians strongly reject such options as temporarily giving up reclaimed territories (76%); abandoning NATO membership (57%); reducing the combat strength of the Ukrainian army (83%); granting official state status to the Russian language (73%); renouncing EU membership (61%); reducing reparations from Russia (67%); and waiving criminal prosecution of Russian leaders and war criminals (77%).
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Civil Society News
New Europe Center’s Commentary on the EU Approval of the Start of the Accession Negotiations for Ukraine
On December 14, European Union leaders agreed to open membership talks with Ukraine and Moldova during a two-day summit of the bloc’s 27 member states. Leo Litra, senior analyst at the USAID/ENGAGE partner, New Europe Center, provided us with exclusive commentary on this significant event for Ukraine. Click the link below to read why the decision regarding Ukraine underscores Kyiv’s substantial reform efforts, gained even amid the ongoing war.
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International Center for Ukrainian Victory Organizes Demonstration in Brussels to Demand Confiscation of Russia’s Frozen Assets
On December 14, the International Center for Ukrainian Victory (ICUV), orchestrated the #MakeRussiaPay street demonstration in Brussels. Activists presented a meter-long check detailing Russia’s war crimes against Ukraine, including damages to the economy, culture, housing, education, and healthcare, amounting to 300 billion USD. The ICUV continues the #MakeRussiaPay protests in various cities across Europe and the U.S. throughout December, urging Western countries to confiscate frozen assets of the Russian Central Bank and transfer these funds to Ukraine for protection against Russia’s aggression and further reconstruction.
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GoGlobal Kicks Off Campaign to Spotlight Children Shaping Ukraine’s Future
The “Generation of Victory” campaign, launched by GoGlobal, features ten stories of children from Ukraine’s border regions to empower youth to contribute to the reconstruction of the country. Through photo and video narratives, the campaign spotlights the talents, inspirations, and efforts of children shaping Ukraine’s future. The first four stories are featured on YouTube, social media platforms, and traditional media outlets. The photo exhibition and video sketches about these children are displayed at the Gulliver shopping center in Kyiv.
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Association of Mothers and Wives of Ukraine’s Defenders Organizes a Street Rally to Draw Attention to the Challenges of Ukrainian Prisoners of War
On December 10, the Association of Mothers and Wives of Ukraine’s Defenders led the street rally “Do not be silent! Captivity kills!” in Mykolaiv. The event aimed to draw the attention of Ukrainian authorities and the global community to the fate of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs). Approximately 80 participants, including family and friends of POWs, as well as media representatives, joined the event. The campaign unfolded in 12 cities across Ukraine.
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Bohdan Hawrylyshyn Family Foundation Invites CSOs to Participate in the Responsibility Award 2023
Founded in 2021, the “Responsibility Award” by the Bohdan Hawrylyshyn Family Foundation recognizes civil society organizations that promote the values outlined in the Declaration of Human Responsibility, prepared by Professor Bohdan Hawrylyshyn. This year, the award aims to recognize CSOs that, amidst a full-scale war, contribute to strengthening Ukraine and exemplify responsibility across various spheres. Applications are open until December 31.
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Opportunities
More Opportunities! Check an Updated Request for Applications
We are pleased to introduce our updated and enhanced Request for Applications for civil society initiatives. It provides expanded institutional and project support, contributing to increased citizen participation in democratic processes, strengthening confidence in civil society, and advancing Ukraine’s drive towards victory. We encourage you to review its terms and conditions, submit your applications, and join us in empowering civil society in Ukraine!
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Join Us! Discover More Opportunities and Job Vacancies on Our Website
We invite qualified vendors to visit our website’s procurement section to access the latest consultant requests for USAID/ENGAGE – https://bit.ly/3u391QK
Qualified specialists interested in our job openings are encouraged to review the listings – https://bit.ly/3UKgGN7
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What We Read
From an Invisible Country to a Top Priority of the EU: the Evolution of Relations Between Ukraine and the EU Through the Eyes of Ukrainian Experts
Today, Ukraine is on the verge of opening membership negotiations with the European Union. How has the perception of the EU evolved in Ukraine during this time? We offer you to read the analytical brief by Kateryna Zarembo, Associated Fellow, the New Europe Center. It compiles insights from twelve comprehensive interviews with Ukrainian civil society representatives engaged in diverse facets of Ukraine’s European integration for periods ranging from ten to twenty-one years, covering areas such as political dialogue, security, economy, and human rights. The views presented allow us to trace trends that can be extrapolated to Ukrainian civil society.
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