To mark the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States of America, the Kyiv Security Forum hosted a special online discussion featuring Ukrainian and American diplomats. The discussion focused on the role of the US in today’s democratic world, the future of the Ukrainian-American strategic partnership, and the significance of Ukraine’s victory for international security.

Participants discussed how the role of the United States has changed amid the greatest security crisis of recent decades, what the prospects are for continued support for Ukraine, and how the shared experience of countering Russian aggression is shaping the future of relations between Kyiv and Washington.

Discussion speakers:

• Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum, Prime Minister of Ukraine in 2014–2016
• Danylo Lubkivsky, member of the Security Council of the Kyiv Security Forum, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine in 2014
• John Herbst, US Ambassador to Ukraine in 2003–2006
• Marie Yovanovitch, US Ambassador to Ukraine in 2016–2019
• Oksana Markarova, Ambassador of Ukraine to the US in 2021–2025
• Jeffrey Payette, US Ambassador to Ukraine in 2013–2016
• Steven Pifer, US Ambassador to Ukraine in 1998–2000
• Valeriy Chaly, Ambassador of Ukraine to the US in 2015–2019

Key questions included:

• Is US global leadership entering a new phase against the backdrop of the greatest security crisis of recent decades?
• What role does Ukraine play in strengthening the democratic world and the international legal order?
• Is a diplomatic breakthrough in the Russia-Ukraine war on the horizon, and how might this affect US policy towards Ukraine?
• How might the US mid-term congressional elections influence continued American support for Ukraine?

The discussion took place as part of the new project ‘Kyiv Security Forum: Deep Strike’ – a series of expert discussions on pressing issues and key trends in Ukraine’s security, economy and foreign policy. The project aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the most significant challenges shaping the country’s future.

The recording will be published on July 4 on the YouTube channels – Open Ukraine (in Ukrainian) and Kyiv Security Forum (in English).

The Kyiv Security Forum (KSF), founded by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk Open Ukraine Foundation, is Ukraine’s leading international discussion platform on issues of war and peace. The KSF’s events bring together prominent international leaders, politicians, diplomats, experts, activists and journalists. The platform operates on several levels simultaneously: keeping Ukraine at the forefront of the global agenda; expanding our country’s circle of international partners; and building expertise on pressing security issues.