On 17 March 2026, the regular Ukraine Forum: Priorities & Policy took place at the Swiss Federal Assembly (Bundeshaus), bringing together representatives of the Swiss and Ukrainian parliaments, the diplomatic corps, experts, and the active Ukrainian community.

Opening remarks were delivered by the First Vice-President of the National Council of Switzerland, Katja Christ, and the Ambassador of Ukraine to Switzerland, Iryna Venediktova. The forum also featured a musical performance by Ukrainian bandura player Yuliia Shevchenko.

As part of the ambassadors’ panel, a substantive discussion focused on key political priorities, including the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression, continued support for Ukraine, and pathways to achieving a just peace.

A particularly emotional and important panel addressed the issues of the return of prisoners of war, humanitarian demining, and cooperation between Ukraine and Switzerland.

At the center of attention were personal testimonies and real experiences of war. In particular, Hennadii Kharchenko, a former prisoner of war, shared his personal story of captivity, providing a powerful reminder of the humanitarian dimension of the war and the urgent need for international efforts to secure the release of all prisoners.

Another speaker, Nestor Barchuk, representative of the Strategic Communications of the National Guard of Ukraine, presented the Ukrainian perspective on modern warfare, particularly in its informational and humanitarian dimensions, and outlined the current challenges faced by Ukraine.

International experts, as well as representatives of the Ukrainian and Swiss parliaments, also contributed to the discussion, enabling an exchange on concrete areas of cooperation, including humanitarian demining.

The forum also featured a photo exhibition of the project “Live to Remember” (Dieter Zürcher, Nataliia Kulai), which, through personal stories of Ukrainians, reflects the pain of loss, the strength of dignity, and the importance of memory. The photographs, created after the author’s direct engagement with internally displaced persons in Ukraine, served as a profound reminder of the price of freedom and the importance of international solidarity with Ukraine.

The Ukraine Forum at the Swiss Federal Parliament is an established platform for dialogue held twice a year during the spring and autumn parliamentary sessions. Launched after the beginning of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine in 2014, it remains an important instrument for conveying the truth about the war, mobilizing political support, and strengthening Ukrainian-Swiss partnership.