Skopje / London / Berlin, 26 February 2026 — On 24 February 2026, marking four years since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine, the Defending Democracy Global Initiative (DDGI), within its flagship programme the Westminster Alliance for Ukraine (WA4U), convened an international online conference titled Four Years of Aggression: Ukraine’s Resistance and the World’s Responsibility.
Bringing together policymakers, diplomats, journalists, analysts, and civil society leaders from across Europe and beyond, the conference delivered a clear and urgent message: this is not a moment for commemoration, but for responsibility.
Ukraine at the Frontline of a Global Struggle
Opening the conference, Xhabir Deralla, President of CIVIL – Center for Freedom and Co-founder of the Defending Democracy Global Initiative (North Macedonia / Western Balkans), and Roger Casale, Director of the Westminster Alliance for Ukraine and Co-founder of DDGI (United Kingdom), emphasized that Ukraine’s resistance is not only a national struggle, but a defence of democratic values globally.
Among numerous analyses and interventions, participants emphasized that:
– There is one victim — Ukraine — and an axis of aggressors
– The war represents a systemic challenge to democracy, human rights, and international law
– Europe remains insufficiently prepared for long-term confrontation with authoritarian threats
A video address by Larysa Dir, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of North Macedonia, highlighted the human cost of the war, particularly the suffering of children and the urgent need for justice.
Resilience Under Fire: Society, Survival, and Solidarity
Speakers from Ukraine and across Europe pointed to the extraordinary resilience of Ukrainian society.
Kateryna Pavlova, Coordinator, Ukraine2Power (Ukraine), speaking from Kyiv, described how Ukrainians continue to endure attacks on critical infrastructure — including the weaponization of winter — while maintaining social cohesion and hope.
Wolfgang Ressmann, President of Media Dialogue and Co-founder of the Defending Democracy Global Initiative (Germany), spoke with both emotion and determination, stressing that the war has shattered illusions about economic interdependence as a guarantee for peace. He called for sustained military and political support for Ukraine, alongside its integration into the European Union.
Eglė Celiešienė, Professor at the Lithuanian College of Democracy Education, underlined that the war against Ukraine is a war against freedom itself — a defining confrontation between tyranny and democracy, in which Ukraine stands on the frontline of defending Europe’s values and democratic civilization.
The Invisible War: Disinformation as a Strategic Weapon
The second thematic section focused on disinformation, hybrid threats, and the erosion of truth.
Lina Kushch, First Secretary of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, speaking from Kyiv, highlighted the conditions faced by journalists in frontline regions — from destroyed newsrooms to cyberattacks — stressing the essential role of local media in providing life-saving information.
Lesia Horodenko, Professor at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (Ukraine) and Researcher at the University of Mannheim (Germany), analyzed how information warfare shapes perceptions of legitimacy, warning that the normalization of manipulated narratives and the instrumentalization of “terrorism” discourse threaten democratic systems by shifting public attention away from accountability.
Mika Beuster, President of the German Union of Journalists (Germany), pointed to the growing role of AI-driven disinformation and deepfakes, warning that democratic societies must invest in digital sovereignty and resilient media ecosystems to withstand external manipulation.
From Discussion to Action: The Declaration
A central outcome of the conference is the Declaration “Ukraine’s Resistance and the World’s Responsibility,” developed within the framework of the Defending Democracy Global Initiative.
The Declaration affirms that:
– Peace must be just, not imposed, grounded in Ukraine’s sovereignty and international law
– Accountability is non-negotiable, including for war crimes and the crime of aggression
– Neutrality in the face of aggression is not neutrality, but alignment
– The defence of Ukraine is inseparable from the defence of democracy, truth, and human dignity
The Declaration is accompanied by three strategic documents addressing security and defence, cultural renewal and resistance against erasure, and reconstruction and recovery of Ukrainian society.
Participants called on the international community — including political leaders, institutions, media, civil society, academia, and the business sector — to endorse the Declaration and translate its principles into concrete action.
Read and endorse the Declaration here.
The Strategic Choice: What Must Be Defended
The final thematic section addressed the fundamental question: what must be defended — and by whom.
Emanuele Errichiello, Director of Centro Studi Internazionali (Italy), stressed the need to defend the prohibition of wars of aggression, the integrity of international humanitarian law, and the democratic character of European and transatlantic institutions.
Heather Roberson, Human Rights Expert and International Advocate, University of Virginia (USA), warned of dangerous misunderstandings within parts of the U.S. political and public space, while expressing cautious optimism about continued long-term support for Ukraine.
In addition to these remarks, Deralla highlighted that early warnings from regions such as the Western Balkans were overlooked, underscoring the need to take hybrid threats seriously before they escalate.
The conference also brought together a wide range of European participants and partners, including Olivier Védrine, Director of the Jean Monnet Association (France), and Gian Paolo Accardo, Editor-in-Chief of Voxeurop (Belgium), reflecting the breadth of international engagement around the issues addressed.
A Clear Message
The conference concluded with a clear and uncompromising message: Support for Ukraine must not weaken. Democracy must not retreat. Responsibility cannot be outsourced.
The call to action was unequivocal — endorsing the Declaration is not symbolic. It is a commitment to act.
More than a symbolic observance, the conference stood as a platform for serious exchange — bringing together frontline testimonies, rigorous analysis, and strategic reflection. It delivered a comprehensive and structured call for decisive action, grounded in democratic values and the recognition that the consequences of this war extend far beyond Ukraine.
This press release is issued within the framework of the Defending Democracy Global Initiative (DDGI), in cooperation with its partner organizations: European Youth4Media Network / Media Dialogue, New European People’s Forum, and CIVIL – Center for Freedom.
Media contact: info@defendingdemocracy.global
About the Initiative
This event is part of the Defending Democracy Global Initiative (DDGI), implemented within its flagship programme, the Westminster Alliance for Ukraine (WA4U).
DDGI is a transnational, civil society–led platform dedicated to advancing democratic resilience, media freedom, and countering disinformation and hybrid threats across Europe and beyond.
The initiative is carried out in cooperation with its founding members and partner organizations:
CIVIL – Center for Freedom (North Macedonia / Western Balkans),
European Youth4Media Network / Media Dialogue (Germany),
New European People’s Forum (Germany),
Jean Monnet Association (France), and
Centro Studi Internazionali (Italy).
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