“Ensuring EU Leadership in Sanctioning Russia’s Aggression Against Ukraine”

27.5.2025

On May 26, teachers of the Department of Political Science and International Relations participated in the political dialogue “Ensuring EU Leadership in Sanctioning Russia’s Aggression against Ukraine.”

Sanctions policy is gaining new momentum on the geopolitical agenda, with the Trump administration still sending mixed signals regarding its sanctions policy related to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. To address the new challenges, the EU needs to further review its strategies for strengthening sanctions policy. Leading experts and politicians from the EU, Ukraine and the US joined the political dialogue to reflect on further developments regarding the joint sanctions efforts of international partners, as well as to discuss targeted recommendations for strengthening the EU’s sanctions policy, as well as its economic security and resilience. The participants of the event are the Honorable Svitlana Taran, Political Analyst, EPC; Dr. Ilona Khmeleva, Secretary of the Economic Security Council of Ukraine (ESCU); Representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine; Denys Gutyk, Executive Director of the Economic Security Council of Ukraine (ESCU); Tetiana Khutor, Head of the Institute of Legislative Ideas; Tomasz Schindelar, Deputy Chief of the Sanctions Division (POL.1), European External Action Service; Jim Mullinax, State Department Fellow at the Wilson Center, Senior Fellow in the Foreign Service, U.S. Department of State; Daniel Fried, Distinguished Fellow of the Weiser Family of the Atlantic Council.

The discussion also addressed the critical role of civil society in shaping sanctions policy. Emphasis was placed on fostering close cooperation, along with the use of international networks, to strengthen cooperation between governments and civil society, advance common goals, and ensure a coordinated global response. The tools of direct democracy and citizen engagement have proven highly effective, as evidenced by the success of the Ukrainian platform “War and Sanctions”.

Department of Political Science and International Relations