How Ukraine has changed Europe and what it means for the future

United Europe did not emerge from a vacuum. Its birth was a response to World War II, which shattered the old world order and brought a new existential threat in the form of the Soviet Union and communism.

In 2025, we find ourselves in a situation strikingly similar to the one that led to the original idea of a united Europe.

But this time, Europe’s future is inseparably tied to Ukraine.

Read more in the article by Iryna Korzhenkova of the Centre of Joint Actions: On the frontline of the European dream: how Ukraine is shaping the EU future.

In many countries around the world, even minor crises become a pretext for rolling back democratic procedures. In Ukraine, however, despite a full-scale war, democratic institutions continue to function. Parliament holds regular sessions, courts operate, citizens are free to criticise the government and media retain their independence.

This is not merely symbolic. It reflects the deep-rooted nature of democratic principles in Ukraine.

Ukraine’s experience is becoming a model for strengthening democratic institutions across Europe. It reminds Europeans that the values of freedom, equality and human dignity are not abstract concepts or permanent guarantees.

These values must be defended and renewed constantly.

In many European countries where democracy once seemed self-evident, there is a growing awareness of its fragility. Ukraine’s example shows that democratic institutions become truly resilient only when citizens are ready to protect them and breathe real meaning into them every day.

Alongside the military battle, another equally important struggle is taking place for hearts and minds across the world.

In this arena, Ukraine’s greatest weapon is its culture and its ability to influence others through stories, art, and shared values. This is what’s known as "soft power" and "cultural diplomacy."

Before 2022, many Europeans knew little about Ukrainian culture. That changed dramatically when Ukrainian artists, writers, musicians and filmmakers began to actively share their stories with the world.

And in their works, Europeans are discovering not an exotic culture from a distant land, but deeply European values expressed in a fresh, compelling voice.

Through Ukrainian culture, Europe is rediscovering itself.

For many Europeans, freedom has become a nearly invisible part of daily life, like the air they breathe. In Ukraine’s experience, freedom emerges as something to be fought for every single day.

Ukraine’s contribution to reshaping Europe’s historical memory is also notable. Ukrainian stories of the Holodomor, of resistance to totalitarian regimes and of the country’s complex, multilayered history at the crossroads of civilisations help Europeans better understand their own past and to create a more inclusive vision of European history.

Ukraine’s future is not just a Ukrainian issue.

It is a cornerstone of Europe’s future security, politics and values. Ukraine’s role in this process is already decisive.

Among the kaleidoscope of Europe’s possible futures, from utopias to dystopias, Ukraine’s role is not peripheral but central. Standing on the frontline of the fight for European values, Ukraine has become not merely a site of conflict, but a kind of laboratory for the continent’s future.