The NATO Summit is taking place in Vilnius this week, representing a crucial milestone for Ukraine and its pursuit of future membership to safeguard its freedom and democratic values. In this edition, we delve into the attitudes of citizens of NATO member states towards Russia’s war against Ukraine, highlight the dedicated efforts of civil society in advocating for Ukraine’s NATO membership, and invite you to learn more about the effects of wartime and present you with job and grant opportunities. Stay informed!
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How do the opinions of Ukrainians and citizens of NATO member states reflect Ukraine’s NATO membership aspirations, the threat to global security, and ongoing support for Ukraine? NATO Audience Research, commissioned ahead of the 2023 NATO Summit in Vilnius, revealed that Allied citizens overwhelmingly support their countries’ continued assistance to Ukraine (65%) and believe that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has impacted the safety and security of their own countries (64%). Furthermore, 66% hold an unfavorable opinion of Russia (66%), while almost a half (49%) express trust in their countries` media to provide truthful coverage of Russia`s invasion. At the same time, according to the National Democratic Institute (NDI) poll, more Ukrainians express a desire for their country to join NATO by 2030 (85% in May 2023 compared to 65% in May 2022.)
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Civil Society News
New Europe Center Becomes the Institutional Partner for NATO Public Forum in Vilnius
With its significant contributions to Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic integration and recognized sectoral leadership, the New Europe Center (NEC) was selected as the institutional partner of the NATO Public Forum and granted the exclusive responsibility of broadcasting and communicating the event in Ukraine. Stay updated on the latest news and live Forum coverage by following NEC`s Facebook page.
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International Center for Ukrainian Victory Organizes a Series of Rallies in Support of Ukraine`s NATO Invitation
On July 9, the International Center for Ukrainian Victory (ICUV) started a series of rallies in support of Ukraine’s invitation to join NATO during the Alliance’s Summit in Vilnius. As Ukraine could become the 33rd member of NATO, the CSO will host 33 rallies across Europe and USA to emphasize the importance of securing Ukraine’s membership status as the only reliable guarantee of sustainable peace and broader safety.
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Transparency International Ukraine Presents Platform on Confiscation of Russia’s Assets in Ukraine
On July 11, Transparency International Ukraine (TIU) presented an online platform on the proposed confiscation of assets belonging to Russia in Ukraine. The platform is developed based on research on sanctioned individuals and their property. It provides an understanding of available and recommended confiscation mechanisms that could be utilized to secure funding for the state budget of Ukraine.
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Center for Policy and Legal Reforms to Discuss Challenges of Local Self-Governance During Wartime
The Center for Policy and Legal Reforms invites experts, government representatives, and civil society members to participate in a discussion on the challenges of local self-governance and military administrations during wartime. The participants will also analyze the government’s activities in the Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Sumy regions over the past six months. The event will take place online on July 20.
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Opportunities
Explore Our Opportunities
We are excited to offer a variety of opportunities for job seekers, civil society actors, and service providers:
- Qualified specialists interested in our job openings are encouraged to review the listings – https://bit.ly/3UKgGN7
- Request for applications for civil society initiatives to provide even greater institutional and project support – https://bit.ly/3GUdk4e
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Request for Proposals for Adaptive Mentoring and Training for CSOs (Round 2) – https://bit.ly/3XP3Puv
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Bohdan Hawrylyshyn Family Foundation Launches Program for Young Changemakers
The Bohdan Hawrylyshyn Family Foundation invites young changemakers to participate in the “Youth Changing Ukraine” program. This program aims to bring together individuals who are actively involved in projects and initiatives that contribute to Ukraine’s development, defense, and resilience. Participants will connect with like-minded peers, receive a small grant for their projects, and take a week-long educational trip abroad. Applications are open until July 18th.
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What We Read
No Longer a Mésalliance: How Well Prepared Are NATO and Ukraine for Each Other?
Today, Ukraine is the only country with substantial battle experience with Russia and its armed forces have arguably developed into the strongest in Europe. In addition, the full-scale invasion has paused some but promoted other reforms in the defence and security sector. This dispels one of the popular objections that Ukraine is still technically unprepared to join NATO. Read the material by Marianna Fakhurdinova, a research fellow at New Europe Center, to find out about the prospects, potential and challenges of Ukraine’s NATO membership.
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