YOUR COUNTRY FIRST — WIN WITH US exhibition on the occasion of the Munich Security Conference

Opening the exhibition, Wolfgang Ischinger, President of the Foundation Council of the Munich Security Conference Foundation, Member, YES Board, emphasised the importance and effectiveness of presenting artworks to draw the international community’s attention to the events in Ukraine. He also stressed that this year’s Munich Security Conference is truly a historic event: "I've been running the Munich Security Conference now for almost 20 years. This is probably one of the most decisive, most historic Munich security events that I can remember."

“The good news, I think, is that there can be hope now that serious efforts will be conducted to bring this war to a negotiated end. The not-so-good news is that some of us are not so sure that our views will be taken fully into account in the announced process,” he added.

Presenting this year's exhibition project, Victor Pinchuk, Founder of EastOne group, Founder of Victor Pinchuk Foundation, spoke in more detail about the purpose of the exhibition and the artworks on display. “Our message for 2025 is the following: “It is in your deepest national security interest to prevent our crazy and wild enemy from winning in Ukraine. This is in your best interest”. We want to get under the skin of Western decision-makers with this message.”

In conclusion, Victor Pinchuk highlighted Oleksii Sai's work «ВОЛЯ» and the symbolism of the word “воля” in the Ukrainian language — “it means both will and freedom”. He ended his speech with a powerful call to action for the international decision makers: "Let’s have the will to protect freedom alongside Ukrainians."

Tobias Lindner, Minister of State and Transatlantic Coordinator, Federal Foreign Office, Federal Republic of Germany, said: “This is not just a full-scale invasion of a neighbouring country, but about security. The way this war might come to an end will have serious consequences for the security of all of us worldwide, especially here in Europe.”

“We want peace too. We are committed to peace. But to a just and lasting peace. And if we take peace through strength seriously, this means that we have to further strengthen Ukraine, making sure that Ukraine sits at the negotiation table in the strongest possible position,” he stressed.

Margus Tsahkna, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia, warned against repeating the mistakes of the past that caused World War II: “Unfortunately, there are some parallels with the Munich Agreement of 1938. And I do believe that we can actually avoid everything that happened after 1938 (the outbreak of World War II in 1939). We have capabilities to be decisive and not to repeat what we know from the history. The cost was very high.”

“Let’s use this historical momentum to secure real peace, not just a ceasefire, but a long and just peace, as well as a solid and lasting security architecture of Europe,” he urged.

Kseniia Dolidze, combat medic and military psychologist, “Lyut” brigade of National Police of Ukraine, addressed those who still ignore the immediate need to unite for the common security: “If these people still have a living heart and pragmatic mind, they should be able to understand how important it is to realize that this is in their best interest that Ukraine wins.”