Kyiv hosts the sixth International Cultural Diplomacy Forum, highlighting Ukraine’s global voice
On October 6, Ukraine’s capital hosted the sixth International Cultural Diplomacy Forum expert conference, bringing together representatives from government institutions, international organizations, cultural institutions, and civil society to discuss the growing role of cultural diplomacy amid global change and Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine.
Organized by the Ukrainian Institute in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the annual forum has become a key event for experts exploring how culture shapes international perception and influence.
“It’s not only professional diplomats – every Ukrainian today is an ambassador of Ukraine when they speak about us and our defense,” First Lady Olena Zelenska said in her address. “What does this mean in practice? It means that thousands of students and young scholars in different countries will study Ukraine’s history, language, culture, and contemporary life at their universities. When signing memoranda with each new participant, we always stress: this is not only for Ukraine’s benefit. Truth and knowledge are essential for anyone who wants to think freely.”
Opening the forum, Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrii Sybiha, underlined that culture is a matter of national security. “Our cultural diplomacy is part of our overall diplomacy and influence. In many cases, the world sees our country not through embassies’ verbal notes, but oftentimes through the poems of Viktoria Amelina. Our cultural diplomacy is the translation of our strategic narratives into the universal language of humanity and culture.”
Volodymyr Sheiko, Director General of the Ukrainian Institute, said Ukraine must proactively sustain global interest in its culture through competence and long-term engagement. “We must independently sustain and fuel interest in Ukrainian culture by speaking from a position of experience, not victimhood. Abroad, there is a growing demand for consistency, competence, and a willingness to play the long game, not heroic stories or one-off actions. Currently, many partners still view Ukraine through the lens of war rather than the lens of the future. They find it easier to sympathize with us than to collaborate with us. However, we are starting to be seen not as the periphery but as an independent voice. The scale of our narrative must be commensurate with our geopolitical and security ambitions.”
Panel discussions throughout the forum explored new approaches to cultural and scientific diplomacy, as well as Ukraine’s long-term strategies in global cultural relations.
This year’s event also featured the inaugural “Hvylya – Dalğa” Award ceremony, honoring contributions to the promotion of Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar languages worldwide.
The Ukrainian Institute also unveiled its 2026 program, which includes Le Voyage en Ukraine, a season celebrating Ukrainian culture in France from December 2025 to March 2026, and the first international contemporary art exhibition dedicated to Crimea, titled What We Talk About When We Talk About Crimea.
The 2025 Forum was organized with support from the Hennadii Udovenko Diplomatic Academy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the MHP-Gromadi Foundation, and in partnership with the Media Center Ukraine.
Photos: Sergii Khandusenko