AAU Hosts Public Debate on the Future of Ukraine

On February 25, 2025, one day after the third anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Anglo-American University (AAU), in partnership with the Strategeo Institute, hosted a public debate examining Ukraine’s path forward in the midst of the ongoing conflict. The event brought together diplomats, government officials, and business leaders to discuss the country’s security architecture, economic recovery, social cohesion, and national identity. 

Moderated by Jan Macháček, president of the Strategeo Institute, the panel featured:   

The discussion explored Ukraine’s security, diplomatic prospects, and economic recovery amid shifting global dynamics. Panelists examined the impact of President Donald Trump’s second term, particularly his reluctance to criticize Putin while labeling Zelensky a dictator. Concerns were raised over the U.S. redefining security guarantees as economic investments rather than military support.

The debate also considered possible paths to ending the war. While some questioned whether a peace deal would hold, others warned that any pause could simply allow Russia to regroup. Economic reconstruction was another key theme, with panelists comparing Europe’s loan-based support to the U.S.’s proposal to invest in Ukraine’s mineral resources in exchange for security backing. While some viewed this as a pragmatic solution, others argued it risked exploitation.

Panelists emphasized that Ukraine’s fight extends beyond its own borders, serving as a defense for Europe as a whole. The discussion also touched on Ukraine’s agency in shaping its future, with panelists noting that Ukraine itself proposed resource concessions in its “Victory Plan” but questioning whether it could negotiate from a position of strength.

Czechia’s leadership was likewise highlighted, from military aid and public donations to housing refugees. Despite concerns over war fatigue, it was said that both government and grassroots support for Ukraine remain strong.

AAU has played its own part in supporting Ukrainian nationals during the war. Since 2022, the university has provided substantial financial aid to Ukrainian students, helping them continue their education despite the challenges of displacement. In 2022, the university allocated CZK 5.2 million in financial support, a figure that nearly doubled in 2023 to CZK 9.9 million, thanks in part to contributions from an external donor. This commitment is expected to continue in 2025 at a comparable level.

The panel also featured AAU student Daryna Semergei, a Ukrainian who has experienced the war and its impacts first-hand. Born and raised in Kyiv, Semergei was 17 when the conflict began. She and her family were forced to flee their home overnight when Russian forces attempted to enter the city, prompting them to seek temporary refuge in western Ukraine.

There, in relative safety, she remained stricken with fear, as she attempted to contact friends and relatives and listened to harrowing reports of further destruction in other parts of the country. 

Following an initial failed move to the Czech Republic, Semergei was forced to return to Ukraine with her mother and younger sister, whereupon, at her parents’ behest, she began applying to universities. This process ultimately led her to AAU, where she was accepted and received what she called an “amazing life-shaping scholarship”.

While she has since found some measure of sanctuary in her new home, she described the heavy emotional toll of being away from her family, who remain divided across three cities. Living abroad has created an emotional conflict within Semergei—relief at finding refuge but also guilt, knowing that so many in Ukraine, including her family, remain at risk, she said.

Semergei praised the Czech Republic’s leadership in Eastern Europe and highlighted the government’s efforts to aid Ukrainian citizens and military forces. In particular, she commended President Petr Pavel’s initiatives and expressed the need for ongoing EU-wide support for her homeland. 

Although many Ukrainians have found protection in the Czech Republic, Semergei also acknowledged the challenges they face in integrating into Czech society due to language barriers, stereotypes, prejudices, and cultural differences. 

In the end, the debate underscored the complexities of Ukraine’s recovery and the international community’s role in helping to shape its future, while making it clear that Ukraine’s security, economic stability, and social cohesion are deeply interconnected and will require sustained international commitment. As the war-tested country continues to navigate its path forward, events like this debate aim to serve as critical forums for dialogue, encouraging collaboration between policymakers, scholars, and the broader public.

For more photos from the event, go here. 

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This debate marked the third in a series of collaborations between AAU and the Strategeo Institute. Founded by former dissident Macháček with the aim of advancing the values of classical European liberalism, the Institute focuses on the areas of geopolitics, diplomacy, security, economics, energy, and international trade, among others. By fostering dialogue among leaders from political, economic, and media sectors, Strategeo aspires to address Europe’s most pressing issues and provide actionable solutions.

Anglo-American University (AAU) is an institution of higher learning based in Prague, Czechia. Inspired by the liberal arts traditions of British and American academia, it was established in 1990 and today offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs across three schools of study. Accredited by both US and Czech accrediting bodies, AAU is diverse, with students from over 80 countries and a culture that prizes critical thinking, effective communication, and personal transformation.