Hedberg, Schenkel and Wetter with first group of Ukrainian government participants.

Ukraine NEAR is a collaboration between the Stockholm School of Economics and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine. The project is funded by the Swedish Institute.

The project aims to strengthen Ukraine's ability to effectively negotiate its accession to the EU by providing negotiation training for Ukrainian civil servants, especially those included in Ukraine's negotiating cluster towards the EU. Two two-day workshops for different groups took place 2-5 December 2025 in central Kyiv.

The second group of Ukrainian government participants.

Program directors and participants

The training program is developed and delivered by Andrew Schenkel (DMO), Erik Wetter (HOI) and Per Henrik Hedberg (DMS) at the Stockholm School of Economics. The two training sessions had 99 registered participants from, among others, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister responsible for EU accession, the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament), several ministries (finance, foreign affairs, economy/agriculture, culture, etc.), the National Bank of Ukraine, the cyber defence agency (SSSCIP) and several anti-corruption authorities.

What they are defending. Ukrainian schoolchildren in front of the The Wall of Remembrance of the Fallen for Ukraine.

Visiting Kyiv

Visiting Kyiv is a surreal experience. Despite being in the third year of a full-scale war with an invading country daytime life largely goes on as normal, with the addition of a significant military presence and the scars of recent missile and drone attacks visible throughout the city. Children go to school, stores and restaurants are open, but everybody is always aware of where the nearest bomb shelter is and if the air raid alarm and mobile apps go off, the mood changes instantly.

Unlike previous trips in March and August on this occasion there were no daytime air raids, likely due to the ongoing peace talks that was on everybody’s mind and a constant topic of discussion in the coffee breaks. Leaving Kyiv by train is always emotional, seeing fellow travellers saying their goodbyes to loved ones in uniform not knowing if it is for the last time. Together with the continued impactful work of SITE, this project is a tangible show of SSE’s support for a free and sovereign Ukraine.