MSC 2025 High-Level Dinner
Panel Discussion
Prof. Katarzyna Pisarska, Chair of WSF, moderated the main-stage panel discussion titled: Security Dividend: European Support for Ukraine. Participants included: Petr Pavel — President of Czech Republic; Mette Frederiksen — Prime Minister of Denmark; Ulf Kristersson — Prime Minister of Sweden; Friedrich Merz — Chairman of the Christian Democratic Union, Germany; António Costa — President of the European Council.
During the discussion, panelists emphasized the need for continued and uncompromising support for Ukraine, rejecting any peace negotiations without Ukraine and Europe at the table. Chairman Friedrich Merz called for greater European defense capabilities through standardization, simplification, and economies of scale, while President of the European Council António Costa warned against preemptive concessions in negotiations. The discussion concluded with a firm message that Ukraine must have a seat at the table and Europe cannot be sidelined.
High-Level Dinner
Alongside the main panel, Prof. Katarzyna Pisarska hosted a high-level working dinner titled: Thinking Transatlantic Relations Anew: Mapping the New European Security Architecture and Russia Strategy. Notable participants included: Alexander Stubb — President of Finland; Radosław Sikorski — Minister for Foreign Affairs of Poland; Oleksiy Chernyshov — Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine; Brian Mast — Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, USA; Jason Crow — Member of the House of Representatives, USA; Michael McCaul — Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, USA; Michael Ray Turner — Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, USA; Andrius Kubilius — Commissioner for Defence and Space, European Commission; Baiba Braže — Minister of Foreign Affairs, Latvia; Benjamin Haddad — Minister Delegate for European Affairs, France; Pål Jonson — Minister for Defence, Sweden; Hanno Pevkur — Minister of Defence, Estonia.
The discussion, held under Chatham House Rules, allowed for an open exchange on the future of US-Europe relations, ensuring bipartisan representation and strong advocacy for Ukraine. Insights from this discussion later shaped WSF media engagements and international press interviews.
Key Takeaways from WSF at MSC 2025
Strengthening Ukraine’s Negotiating Power
- Allocate Russian frozen assets to Ukraine
- Commit 0.1% of GDP to Ukrainian aid
- Accelerate EU accession negotiations for Ukraine
Building a Strong European Defense Industry
- Invest in domestic defense production
- Reduce reliance on non-European suppliers
- Strengthen the European industrial complex
Reassessing Europe’s Role in the Transatlantic Alliance
- Engage with the US on peace negotiations but prepare for strategic autonomy
- Recognize that a stronger Europe makes for a stronger transatlantic partnership
Communicating Clearly with European Citizens
- Europe must act as a unified security force or risk being sidelined in great-power competition
Participants — High-Level Dinner
Gallery
