Associate Professor of the Department of Commodity Science and Customs Affairs of SUTE, Oksana Zolotarova, took part in a high-level lecture dedicated to Ukraine and the security future of Europe, held on 12 February 2026 at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and organised by the Brussels School of Governance (BSoG).

Vsevolod Chentsov, Representative of Ukraine to the European Union, presented a diplomatic vision of Ukraine’s European path, outlining the EU’s response to russian aggression and its significance for Europe’s long-term stability and security.

In her presentation, Oksana Zolotarova, speaking as an invited expert from the academic community, offered a scholarly and analytical perspective on Ukraine’s European integration process, framing it as a comprehensive transformation of institutions, policies, and governance practices. Her intervention focused on Ukraine’s institutional capacity, the gradual alignment of national legislation with the EU acquis, and the strategic challenges on the path to membership. Particular attention was devoted to strengthening the professional capacity of public administrations, personnel training, and the systematic education of civil servants as essential conditions for the effective implementation of European norms and standards, with special emphasis on the long-term sustainability of reforms in the context of wartime and post-war transformations.

Daniel Fiott, Head of the Defence and Statecraft Programme at the Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy (CSDS) of the Brussels School of Governance (BSoG), highlighted the defence dimension of integration processes, particularly the importance of cooperation between the EU, Ukraine and the United States in shaping a new European security architecture.

The event served as an important platform for expert discussion of Ukraine’s strategic prospects in the context of EU integration, viewing Ukraine as an integral component in the formation of a new security architecture and enhanced strategic resilience of the European Union.

Oksana Zolotarova
Associate Professor, Department of Commodity Science and Customs Affairs