Mobilising progressive Baltic solidarity and EU action for Ukraine’s accession and social transformation

FEPS, in collaboration with the FES Baltics Office, organised a public discussion titled “Mobilising progressive Baltic solidarity and EU action for Ukraine’s accession and social transformation” on 31 October 2025, from 15:00 to 19:00, in Vilnius at the National Library of Lithuania.

This new initiative aimed to promote public dialogue on pathways toward peace in Ukraine, with a focus on security guarantees, prospects for a sustainable peace deal, and the implications of Ukraine’s potential EU membership.  The event brought together policymakers, civil society representatives, students, and academics. Apart from highlighting the significant role played by the Baltic states in supporting Ukraine during the Russian invasion, this occasion also served as a valuable opportunity to showcase recent work by FEPS and its partners, including:

• A newly translated Ukrainian edition of the book “Europe and the war in Ukraine” (Volume 1) – you can read and download the book here; and,
• A series of policy briefs on post-war reconstruction, covering topics such as housing, labour, motherhood, social priorities, healthcare, and education.

The book presentation and panel discussions were divided into two sessions: 1) Prospects for Peace in Ukraine and Security Guarantees; and 2) Toward EU Membership: A Pathway for Ukraine’s Social Transformation.

Speakers included:

• László Andor, Secretary-General, FEPS
• Uwe Optenhögel, Vice-President, FEPS
• Beate Martin, Director, FES Baltic States Office
• Ruslanas Baranovas, Member of the Lithuanian Parliament (Seimas), LSDP
• Antony Beumer, former Secretary-General, S&D Group in the European Parliament and Party of European Socialists (PES)
• Victoria Vdovychenko, Joint Programme Leader, Future of Ukraine, Centre for Geopolitics, University of Cambridge
• Linas Kojala, Director, Geopolitics and Security Studies Center & Associate Professor of Partnership, Vilnius University IIRPS
• Ireneusz Bil, Director, Amicus Europae
• Andriy Korniychuk, Researcher, European Studies Unit, Institute of Philosophy and Sociology of the Polish Academy of Sciences
• Nataliia Lomonosova, Research Fellow, Institute of Sociology, Czech Academy of Sciences; Doctoral Candidate, Freie Universität Berlin & local consultant on social rights for the Council of Europe in Ukraine

Some of the questions addressed to the panellists:

• Given the situation on the battlefield and the ongoing negotiations, what are the possible scenarios for ending the war in Ukraine?
• How can progressives distinctively support Ukraine’s path toward EU membership and what practical lessons from the Baltic states’ accession process can guide this effort?
• How can reconstruction efforts contribute to building a more just, equitable, and democratic Ukraine?

For more details regarding the event, please contact Thainá Leite, Project Management Coordinator (thaina.leite@feps-europe.eu), and Beatriz Abellán, Policy Analyst on International Affairs (beatriz.abellan@feps-europe.eu).

Background information

In 2023, FEPS, in collaboration with FES and other partners, published the book “Europe and the war in Ukraine: From Russian aggression to a new Eastern policy” to trace developments in the war, which are key to understanding Europe’s shifting role. The book explored the main aspects of the war, looking at the war’s causes, consequences, and the way Europe, especially the EU, has been acting in the conflict.

By early 2025, in light of ongoing developments in Ukraine and Europe’s deepening role in the conflict, FEPS released the first volume of the updated Ukrainian edition of “Europe and the war in Ukraine”. This updated version reflects not just the war’s progression but also Europe’s continued engagement and Ukraine’s resilience. A second volume is currently being finalised and is planned for release by the end of the year.