The Ukraine–NATO Civil Society Consultative Network has launched — a platform bringing together the state, the Alliance, the security sector, NGOs and experts.

The Ukraine–NATO Civil Society Consultative Network has been launched — a platform for engagement between representatives of the state, the Alliance, the security and defence sector, civil society organisations and the expert community.

The Network is intended to strengthen civil society’s involvement in shaping decisions in the field of Euro-Atlantic integration and to ensure a continuous dialogue with partners.

Hanna Hvozdiar, Adviser to Ukraine’s Minister of Defence, stressed that the Network’s work must be focused on tangible results.

“The value of the Consultative Network lies not only in who it brings together. What matters is what remains after our meetings: joint recommendations, new partnerships and decisions that can genuinely be implemented. This Network should not become yet another venue where we talk about NATO, but a space in which we work together with NATO,” Ms Hvozdiar said.

In her words, Ukraine is not only receiving assistance but also sharing combat experience, proven technologies and the ability to roll out innovations quickly with its partners.

“Our partnership must work both ways: not only assistance, but joint decisions; not only supplies, but joint production; not only the exchange of information, but shared responsibility for future security,” the Adviser to Ukraine’s Minister of Defence emphasised.

For his part, Andrii Pravednyk, Ambassador-at-Large at the NATO Directorate of Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighted the importance of coordination between the state, experts and civil society on matters of Euro-Atlantic integration.

“For the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it is important to support platforms that bring together state institutions, think tanks and civil society around the strategic issues of Euro-Atlantic integration,” Andrii Pravednyk said.

Serhii Solodkyi, Director of the New Europe Center, noted that this effectively revives the tradition of systematic dialogue and engagement between the expert community, civil society and Ukraine’s partners.

“We can see that our allies are listening to Ukraine more and more, and that support for our country is taking on a more practical dimension. That is precisely why platforms of this kind should help translate a shared vision into the concrete decisions and steps needed to advance Ukraine further along its path to NATO,” Serhii Solodkyi said.

Joseph Dobbs, Head of the Political Section at the NATO Representation to Ukraine, drew attention to the unique role of Ukrainian civil society in advancing reforms, supporting democratic change and strengthening the country’s defence capabilities.

“In recent years we have seen Ukraine demonstrate an extraordinary capacity for innovation, for generating new ideas and finding solutions. A significant part of this change is born out of cooperation between state institutions and civil society. That is exactly why initiatives such as the Ukraine–NATO Consultative Network are so important in shaping the future of our relationship and in jointly seeking new formats of cooperation,” Joseph Dobbs stressed.

The Consultative Network was established with the participation of the ANTS National Interests Advocacy Network, the New Europe Center, the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine and the NATO Representation to Ukraine.