How can Ukraine protect its territorial integrity in peace negotiations?

What role does the international community play in ensuring that no territory is lost? In this episode, Ambassador Elayne Whyte Gómez of Costa Rica and member of PILPG’s Circle of Former Ambassadors, and Professor Kushtrim Istrefi of Utrecht University and PILPG Senior Peace Fellow, join the conversation.

Ambassador Gómez and Professor Istrefi explore questions relating to Ukraine’s territorial integrity and the central importance of maintaining its rightful territorial claims during peace negotiations.

Negotiations to end Russia’s war have gained momentum in recent weeks. However, the question of Ukraine’s occupied territories and their future status remains a key concern for Ukraine and its allies as they consider what a future peace agreement may look like.

Russia continues to deny the validity of Ukraine’s rightful claim to its internationally recognized borders as of 1991, and seeks to portray its war of aggression as . However, as our guests demonstrate, Ukraine’s claim is firmly rooted in international law. Our experts discuss the risks of unresolved territorial disputes, the role of international law, and outline practical tools at Ukraine and its allies’ disposal to maintain Ukraine’s territorial claim during peace negotiations, including international administration and non-recognition strategies.

In a war which Russia consistently claims is based on self-defense and self-determination, our guests remind us that it is crucial to keep focus on the reality of Russia’s invasion as a war of aggression against the territorial sovereignty of Ukraine. Tune in for a compelling discussion on how Ukraine can push back against historical distortions, build alliances, and secure its future.

----------------------- Ukraine and its allies stand at a critical juncture as they pursue a just and lasting peace and an end to Russia’s war of aggression. The road ahead is fraught with difficult issues that will arise during a future peace process, from territorial integrity and post-war security frameworks to EU accession and justice and accountability.

In this special mini-series, Prospects for Peace In Ukraine, we sit down with Ukrainian and international experts in law, diplomacy, and peace negotiations to explore some of these key issues. Together, we examine the strategies, options, and opportunities ahead as Ukraine and its allies navigate the peace process against a shifting international landscape.

In this episode of Lawyering Peace, we are joined by Mykola Stetsenko, President of the Ukrainian Bar Association, who speaks about the pivotal role of private sector investment in Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction. The conversation explores key industries primed for growth—agriculture, manufacturing, IT, energy, and logistics—as well as investment mechanisms such as public-private partnerships and industrial parks.

Stetsenko explains how Ukraine’s natural resource ownership model simplifies foreign investment, the government’s push to modernize industries rather than merely rebuild, and efforts to align with EU regulations. He also addresses common misconceptions about investing in Ukraine, the challenge of balancing economic development with environmental sustainability, and the policies designed to attract foreign investors by streamlining bureaucracy and fostering innovation.

With major multinationals already operating in the country and digital transformation reducing red tape, Ukraine presents compelling opportunities for forward-thinking investors. Tune in to discover how businesses can play a vital role in post-war recovery while seizing high-impact investment opportunities.

----------------------- Ukraine and its allies stand at a critical juncture as they pursue a just and lasting peace and an end to Russia’s war of aggression. The road ahead is fraught with difficult issues that will arise during a future peace process, from territorial integrity and post-war security frameworks to EU accession and justice and accountability.

In this special mini-series, Prospects for Peace In Ukraine, we sit down with Ukrainian and international experts in law, diplomacy, and peace negotiations to explore some of these key issues. Together, we examine the strategies, options, and opportunities ahead as Ukraine and its allies navigate the peace process against a shifting international landscape.

Our second guest in our Series on Prospects for Peace in Ukraine is Dr. Ivan Horodyskyy, Vice-President of the Ukrainian Bar Association and Director and Cofounder of the Dnistrianskyi Centre for Law and Politics, where he manages projects related to compensation for Ukrainians for damages caused by Russian aggression.

Since Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion, Ukraine and its allies have called for Russia to bear responsibility for its illegal acts, including making reparation, to widespread international support. In this episode, we discuss the question of reparations for Russia’s extensive war damage in Ukraine, as well as the closely related issues of frozen Russian assets and postwar reconstruction.

Significant challenges lie ahead in negotiating reparations for Ukraine: what might a compensation mechanism look like, how should reparations be funded, what role should Russia’s frozen assets play, and how can Russia be made to pay? With Ivan, we explore these questions and more and consider the challenges and strategies for the future negotiation of reparations for Ukraine. -------------------------- Ukraine and its allies stand at a critical juncture as they pursue a just and lasting peace and an end to Russia’s war of aggression. The road ahead is fraught with difficult issues that will arise during a future peace process, from territorial integrity and post-war security frameworks to EU accession and justice and accountability.

In this special mini-series, Prospects for Peace In Ukraine, we sit down with Ukrainian and international experts in law, diplomacy, and peace negotiations to explore some of these key issues. Together, we examine the strategies, options, and opportunities ahead as Ukraine and its allies navigate the peace process against a shifting international landscape.