A meeting of the Aspen-community with Dmytro Kuleba, diplomat and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (2020-2024): Ukraine’s positioning in the world and international policy

Calm, balanced, and sincere — these words could describe the conversation with Dmytro Kuleba, diplomat and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (2020-2024), organized by the Aspen Institute Kyiv for members of the Community.

We received the proposal to hold this meeting back in June 2024. The key topic was to discuss the essay book “War and New Horizons: Thought Leaders on the Present and Future of Ukraine and the World,” edited by Mr. Dmytro. The diplomat explained that the idea for this collection arose from the understanding that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine would fundamentally change the world. “From the flames of this war, the worst in Europe since World War II, a new global security architecture, diplomacy, and rules of coexistence will emerge,” said Dmytro Kuleba.

However, the conversation covered a much broader range of topics.

We discussed Ukraine’s global positioning, sanctions against Russia, interaction with African and Asian countries, and the qualities diplomats should possess. Mr. Dmytro shared insights from negotiations he participated in and the shift in global leaders’ attitudes toward Ukraine in the third year of the full-scale invasion. Naturally, the U.S. elections and their impact on Ukraine were also discussed.

“During my entire tenure, I never encountered ‘quiet’ work at the ministry,” Dmytro Kuleba said with a smile at the end of the meeting. He noted that ten days after his appointment, the COVID pandemic began, and a year later, Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

We are grateful to Mr. Dmytro for the candid conversation and the meeting. Thanks also to the #Knigolav publishing house for supporting its organization. Additionally, we thank Mr. Dmytro for all his efforts in developing Ukraine’s diplomatic service and defending the interests of our country on the global stage.

Yuliya Tychkivska, the Aspen Institute’s Kyiv Executive Director, moderated the meeting.