A panel discussion dedicated to international law, sanctions, and the future of Ukraine in a global context took place on 10 December at HSG SQUARE (St. Gallen), with the participation of the Ambassador of Ukraine to Switzerland, Iryna Venediktova.

The event was moderated by Michael Domeisen (HSG Foundation), who set a dynamic and in-depth tone for the discussion.

Franziska Tschudi Sauber shared insights into the historical and economic aspects of Ukraine from a business perspective, emphasizing the importance of understanding context for long-term cooperation and recovery.

The Ambassador focused on the topic of sanctions, stressing:

“We cannot yet say that the sanctions regime is a fully established institution, but we can state that it is in the process of formation.”

In conclusion, she noted that if international law is the language through which the world defines its borders, then sanctions after 2022 have become the instrument through which the world, for the first time in many years, has begun to defend those borders.

Prof. Leena Grover spoke about the creation of a special tribunal and legal accountability for the crime of aggression, emphasizing the key role of international justice.

Prof. Ulrich Schmid outlined possible scenarios for Ukraine’s future, which formed the basis for a lively general discussion between the panelists and the audience.

The event concluded with a Q&A session, demonstrating a high level of interest and the depth of the topics discussed.

We thank all speakers and participants for an important and timely conversation about law, accountability, and the future of Ukraine.