The discussion focused on the following key questions:

• How can civil society organisations from Germany support Ukraine in the third year of the war? What kind of concrete help is possible and necessary?
• How do geopolitical crises change the strategy of non-governmental organisations?
• How can Russian oppositional stakeholders from civil society in exile contribute to the debate on the war, to public information and to concrete support?

It was a grave and thoughtful discussion, with touching and chastening as well as encouraging moments. The challenges posed by the war for the people of Ukraine and for those who have fled the war in Ukraine over the past two and a half years are enormous.

It was repeatedly emphasised that the support and assistance of German civil society should not diminish. We must continue to support Ukraine with the means and methods at our disposal. In doing so, we must think and act adaptively, listen to the needs of our partner organisations on the ground, remain flexible and think in terms of solutions.

It was also emphasised that the people who have fled Ukraine should be recognised for the skills and experience they bring with them. We should not push them into the role of victims and overlook where and how they can enrich our society.

Furthermore, it became clear how much the Russian oppositionial civil society in German exile, which has taken a clear position against the Russian war and in favour of human rights, has to offer: valuable expertise on the mechanisms of Soviet and Russian oppression and dictatorship in the past and present, in order to develop a realistic picture of Russia and its strategy.

The panellists agreed that the diversity of crises often overwhelms us as civil society. But the Russian attack on Ukraine is an attack on the democratic, liberal and value-based order, an attack on Europe, and that is precisely why we must not slacken in our work.

Speakers:

• Tatjana Kiel, Co-Founder and Managing Director, #WeAreAllUkrainians gGmbH
• Dr Irina Scherbakowa, Co-Founder, MEMORIAL International | Chair of the Board, Zukunft Memorial e.V.
• Markus Lux, Head of Special Division Ukraine, Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH

The discussion was moderated by Gabriele Woidelko, Körber-Stiftung.
Further information and the complete programme of “Deutscher Stiftungstag” can be found here. (in German)