On June 21, the National Democratic Institute (NDI) held its fourth bi-annual roundtable discussion “Democratic Challenges and Opportunities Facing Ukraine” in Kyiv. The series, launched in 2023, brings together leading Ukrainian experts, policy makers, civil society, international organizations, think tanks, and others in an off-the-record conversation to discuss Ukraine’s evolving democratic challenges and opportunities, as well as to promote dialogue, cooperation, and unity in addressing them. As the full-scale war in Ukraine continues and the costs of war mount, Ukraine must continue to both safeguard and advance its independent democratic institutions to meet the goals of Euro-Atlantic integration. 

The participants agree that despite martial law, Ukraine is striving to preserve the functioning of its independent democratic institutions, the development of strong local governance, free media, and cooperation with non-governmental institutions (NGOs). Moreover, there is significant progress towards European Union (EU) standards, such as: amending political party law; reinstating critical parliamentary functions that were suspended during martial law such as question hours and media access to parliament; and in line with the EU, introducing open, transparent competitions in the judicial system. The formal opening of accession negotiations with the EU in June 2024 helped to maintain momentum for these reforms,

However, significant challenges remain. As the number of veterans and people with disabilities (PwDs) grow rapidly and vulnerable groups face heightened challenges during the full-scale war, participants stressed a need to approve a single national program for veterans’ reintegration, remove barriers for vulnerable groups to access state social protection systems, and to ensure that these systems are adequately funded and transparently managed. Similarly, with European institutions extending temporary protections and searching for long-term political solutions to further support Ukrainian refugees, participants emphasized the urgent demand for Ukraine to accelerate the development of incentives for their return and devise a plan for reintegrating temporarily occupied territories. While national elections cannot be held under martial law, participants acknowledged the critical need to prepare for future elections regardless, including informing citizens residing abroad and IDPs about how to vote, and amending the electoral code in line with recommendations from the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. Concerns were also raised about the gradual degradation of political parties as institutions in the absence of elections, as parties may lack motivation to further develop and formulate new policies. When martial law ends, strong political leaders and developed parties will be essential, along with enhanced mechanisms for citizen participation. Furthermore, with the Verkhovna Rada’s role becoming increasingly pivotal in Ukraine’s EU accession process, participants noted the need for parliament to resume its pre-war schedule, improve legislative procedures, increase transparency, and pursue comprehensive reform. 

These challenges, however, are overshadowed by the most significant threat to Ukrainian democracy: Russia’s ongoing war on Ukraine. Participants agreed that NATO membership is the only definitive guarantee of Ukraine’s security, noting that while security agreements do strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities, they are not an alternative to Euro-Atlantic integration. Approaching the eleventh anniversary of the Revolution of Dignity, Ukrainians remain resolute in their commitment to becoming a full-fledged member of Europe. While Ukrainian democracy has proven resilient in wartime, it is essential to continue to strengthen Ukraine’s critical democratic infrastructure to meet the postwar challenges ahead.  

Please see the full  “Democratic Challenges and Opportunities Facing Ukraine” report for additional details.