About the event

Ukraine is not only defending itself with weapons; its self-defense is a struggle over identity, democracy, and the stories that define a people. Nearly four years into the invasion, Ukraine’s defiance is a testament to the power of its culture, its evolving historical consciousness, and its democratic conviction under fire. In this conversation, two leading thinkers will explore how Ukraine’s struggle illuminates the role of history, culture, and identity, the endurance of democratic values, and what it teaches Europe about the stakes of these forces in shaping our own strength and resilience.

Through a conversation between two leading public intellectuals, the discussion will examine what Ukraine’s experience reveals about Europe’s identity and the renewal of democratic values in a time of global uncertainty. It moves beyond geopolitics and military strategy, asking instead:

• How do societies defend meaning and trust under pressure?
• Why does democracy endure when everything else breaks down?
• What can Sweden and the Nordic–Baltic region learn from Ukraine’s struggle - and how can they become strategic partners in shaping Europe’s future?

Speakers

Peter Pomerantsev
Ukrainian-born British author, journalist, and Senior Fellow at the London School of Economics’ Institute of Global Affairs, where he co-directs the Arena program. Known for his works Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible and This Is Not Propaganda, he investigates how disinformation and information warfare shape modern societies - and the defense of truth in times of conflict.

Volodymyr Yermolenko
Ukrainian philosopher, essayist, and editor-in-chief of UkraineWorld. A leading intellectual voice on the intersection of ideas and politics, he writes about Ukraine as a frontline democracy and the moral and cultural foundations of resistance against authoritarianism.

Moderator

Stefan Ingvarsson, Analyst at SCEEUS
Background in publishing, cultural journalism and literary translation. From 2015-2020 he acted as Cultural Counsellor at the Swedish Embassy in Moscow. Before that, he worked as artistic director of the international festival Stockholm Literature at Moderna Museet in Stockholm. He is a board member of the Baltic Centre for Writers and Translators in Visby.

Registration

To attend the event, please complete your registration by [clicking here]. Venue details will be shared exclusively with confirmed attendees.

Should you have any questions, feel free to contact us at site@hhs.se.

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