On 30 October, Ambassador of Ukraine to the Swiss Confederation Iryna Venediktova took part in the public panel discussion «Beyond the Headlines. Rethinking Ukraine since 2014: Academic Knowledge and Public Engagement», held as part of the celebrations marking the 10th anniversary of the Ukrainian Research in Switzerland (URIS) initiative and its Fellowship Programme.

At the beginning of the event, the Ambassador delivered welcoming remarks, highlighting the important role of URIS in advancing Ukrainian Studies in Switzerland, strengthening academic cooperation and fostering a deeper understanding of Ukraine within the international academic community. To mark the anniversary, the Ambassador presented the URIS team and Fellowship Programme with a congratulatory letter from the Embassy of Ukraine.

The panel discussion provided a platform for an open and multifaceted exchange of views on Ukraine since 2014, its historical trajectory, societal transformations and the challenges facing the country. The discussion brought together scholars and researchers, including Maryna Shevtsova, Tetiana Kyselova and Claude Wild. The panel was moderated by F. Benjamin Schenk.

Of particular value was the exchange between representatives of diplomatic and academic communities, who brought complementary perspectives to the discussion of Ukraine through the lenses of international relations, historical research, societal developments and their own professional experience.

Ukrainian Studies are important not only for advancing academic knowledge about Ukraine, but also for preserving historical truth, critically examining the country's past and present, countering historical distortions, and fostering a deeper understanding of Ukrainian statehood and national identity.

The sustained efforts of researchers, universities and academic institutions help strengthen the presence of the Ukrainian voice in the international intellectual space and provide a solid academic foundation for understanding Ukraine today and in the future.

The Embassy of Ukraine highly appreciates the contribution of the URIS team, its fellows and academic partners to the development of Ukrainian Studies in Switzerland and wishes the initiative continued success, new research discoveries and fruitful international cooperation.