DUB Contributes Five Panel Discussions to Café Kyiv 2026
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During Café Kyiv 2026, that took place on February 23rd in Berlin, the German-Ukrainian Bureau (DUB), in close cooperation with its partners, organised five expert panel discussions addressing key security, political, and societal challenges related to Ukraine and Europe.
The panels covered a broad range of topics:
Defining the European Way of Drone Warfare – Lessons from Ukraine for NATO and Europe (in cooperation with Quantum Systems)
The New Frontline: Civil Society’s Role in Modern Warfare and Ukraine’s Drone Revolution (in cooperation with International Centre for Ukrainian Victory)
Under Occupation: Repression and Dignity, featuring a keynote by Oleksandra Matviichuk (in cooperation with LIBERECO)
Deterring Authoritarians & Holding Russia Accountable: The Next Steps on #MakeRussiaPay (in cooperation with ERIC)
How Europe and Ukraine Can Win the Information War (in cooperation with DUG)
Across all discussions, a central message emerged: Ukraine is not only defending its sovereignty but is actively contributing to solutions for broader European and global security challenges. From innovations in drone warfare and resilience under occupation to strategic communication and accountability mechanisms, Ukrainian experience is shaping policy debates across Europe.
More than 500 participants attended DUB’s five panels. We are particularly grateful to the soldiers, experts, policymakers, and civil society representatives who contributed their perspectives. We extend special thanks to Oleksandra Matviichuk for her powerful keynote contribution and to Ambassador Oleksii Makeiev for emphasizing the importance of partnership between Ukraine and Germany.
As Ambassador Makeiev noted during the discussions:
“We are not asking for protection as the weaker side. We are offering partnership.”
Café Kyiv 2026 demonstrated a new level of political engagement and representation. Statements by Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz underlined the shift in Germany’s approach, describing Ukraine as “an independent and proud nation — freedom-loving and European” and emphasizing that “we are learning a great deal from Ukraine.”
The German-Ukrainian Bureau thanks the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and all partners who made Café Kyiv 2026 possible. We remain committed to ensuring that political commitments translate into concrete policy action and sustained support for Ukraine.
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