Participants of the visit included:

• Kurt Bratteby, Director of the Department for International Relations at the Swedish Institute (Svenska Institutet), responsible for the Cooperation Programme with Ukraine;
• Jitka Panek Jurkova, Director General of Česká centra – Czech Centres. Cultural diplomacy researcher and practitioner;
• Tereza Sidlova, Director of External Relations at the Česká centra – Czech Centres;
• Yaroslav Godun,  Director General of the Polish Institute in Kyiv;
• Heili Jõe, Cultural Counsellor at the Estonian Mission to the EU in Brussels;
• Jakob Racek, Head of Information Services at Goethe-Institut in Munich.

The programme included meetings with Ukrainian cultural figures, journalists, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, artists and civil society activists, and a visit to the de-occupied towns of Kyiv region. In particular, the delegation visited Borodyanka, Kyiv region, where they saw firsthand the consequences of the Russian-Ukrainian war.

The delegation visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, where they met with Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa, who outlined the main aspects of Ukraine’s public diplomacy policy. The parties discussed opportunities for further cooperation and agreed to continue sustainable cooperation in the cultural sphere.

‘Ukraine’s cultural diplomacy reflects the priorities of our foreign policy. Soft power instruments help us achieve strategic goals, through cultural events we convey the truth about our fight against the aggressor. We are not only working to raise awareness of Ukraine among millions of foreign citizens abroad, but effective cultural diplomacy helps to maintain consolidated support for our country and bring about a just and sustainable peace’, the Ukrainian diplomat said. 

Representatives of European cultural institutions met with Ukrainian artists at the Ukrainian-Danish Youth House to discuss opportunities for cooperation and support for Ukraine’s cultural sector.

The delegation also visited the National Conservation Area St. Sophia of Kyiv, Mystetskyi Arsenal National Art and Culture Museum Complex, and the Goethe-Institut Ukraine.

‘During my three days in Kyiv, we had the opportunity to reconnect with the cultural environment of Ukraine. This is crucial for understanding how vibrant the contemporary Ukrainian cultural context is – even in such a challenging environment. Talking to artists, writers and creative people gave me a deeper understanding of the challenges we have to work with in these times’, – Kurt Bratteby (Swedish Institute, Stockholm).

Jakob Racek (Goethe-Institut, Munich), shared his impressions of his trip to Borodyanka: ‘It’s hard for me to find the words to describe what I saw. It was a shocking experience, and it will take time to process it. It is important to see not only the destruction but also how the city continues to live. This is especially noticeable on an acoustic level – you can hear the sounds of construction, movement, and change everywhere.’

‘This trip has become a real inspiration for us as specialists in the field of public and cultural diplomacy. And I am absolutely convinced of that the Ukrainian Institute really does an incredible job. Its activities are very rational, strategic, comprehensive and integrated. In my opinion, this is exactly how public diplomacy should work. It is a combination of value-based approaches, strong communication and effective coordination with various sectors of society,’ said Jitka Panek Jurkova (Czech Centres, Prague).