The Future of Ukraine: A Princeton Conference
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, launched in February 2022, has raised urgent questions about the country’s future. Two central issues demand attention, shaping both Ukraine’s trajectory and the broader geopolitical landscape.
The first concerns the outcome of the war itself: can Ukraine defend its independence against Russian aggression? This depends not only on the resolve of the Ukrainian people and the tactical balance on the battlefield but also on the sustained commitment of its partners in Europe, North America, and beyond.
The second issue involves Ukraine’s long-term relations with the countries currently supporting it. How much assistance can it expect? Will European nations embrace deeper integration? Will the United States maintain its support? And what role will Ukraine occupy within the global system?
Both trajectories ultimately depend on domestic consensus within Ukraine. The country faces extraordinary tasks: reaching difficult compromises with Russia, safeguarding democracy, combating corruption, adopting the EU acquis, and transforming its economy to meet the demands of a modern European state. Without broad domestic support for these reforms, neither military success nor deeper integration with the West will be sustainable.
This conference—the second in a Princeton series on Ukraine—will convene on November 13–14, 2025, bringing together leading scholars and policymakers to examine the internal and external challenges shaping Ukraine’s future. It will open with a keynote conversation featuring Andrzej Duda, President of Poland (2015–2025), and Dmytro Kuleba, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (2020–2024), moderated by Professor Andrew Moravcsik, Director of the Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination.
The program will continue with two closed thematic panels: one exploring potential diplomatic and military scenarios in the war—including possibilities such as a negotiated peace, a frozen conflict, or continued escalation—and the other addressing Ukraine’s prospects for integration with the West. Together, these discussions aim to provide a comprehensive, forward-looking analysis of the choices and challenges that will define Ukraine in the years ahead.
Sponsorship of an event does not constitute institutional endorsement of external speakers or views presented.