Democracy stands because the Ukrainian infantry stands: Ukraine House at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit
Since 2022, the Copenhagen Democracy Summit has become a vital platform for Ukraine House in Denmark to bring Ukraine’s voice to those shaping global politics and policies.
At the entrance of CDS 2025, Ukraine House in Denmark, in partnership with the Embassy of Ukraine, presented a modest but powerful installation by the Ukrainian Infantry: “Democracy stands because the Ukrainian infantry stands.” It featured combat-worn boots from the frontline—not parade boots like those seen on Red Square, but real, battered ones, marked by mud and fire. The boots are silent witnesses to sacrifice, and a reminder that freedom never defends itself. Someone always does.
Ukraine House in Denmark has partnered with the Alliance of Democracies and One World Film Festival to screen Olga Zhurba’s powerful documentary "Songs of the Slow-Burning Earth” at Ukraine House following the summit. This film is about how war slowly penetrates everyday life on the frontline and continues to live inside people even far from the grey zone. The screening was followed by the moderated chat with the filmmaker Olga Zhurba and Nadiia Ivanova, director of the "People in Need” Center for Human Rights and Democracy.
During the Summit, a charity sale of posters and scarves by Odesa City Letters from the Ukranian Literary Poster exhibition to raise funds for the medical battalion Hospitallers generated more than 500€ to support Ukrainian paramedics daily saving lives on the frontline.
From the main stage, our Chairperson, Natalia Popovych, called the policy-makers to:
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Stand up for the truth and the values that Ukrainian soldiers are defending at the frontlines right now.
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Listen to the voices of those who know Russian occupation - like Ukraine, Finland, the Baltic States, and empower them to lead the European defense.
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Invest in Ukrainian culture, as over 190 Ukrainian artists, writers, and cultural figures have been killed during Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
After the Summit program, Ukraine House traditionally hosted a Post-Summit Reflections: Security, Culture, Foreign Policy panel discussion, featuring speakers from Ukraine, Denmark, and Canada.
Thank you to all who stood with us — and continue to stand with Ukraine.
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About Ukraine House
The Ukraine House in Denmark is a civil society organisation of Ukrainian cultural diplomacy based in Copenhagen. Its mission is to form an enduring positive influence of Ukraine on Ukrainian-Danish cooperation, security, and lasting peace in Europe.
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Latest releases from Ukraine House in Denmark
“... when you have a real tragedy in front of your eyes, ... you cannot invent a more tragic story than life can produce. I couldn’t write fiction for two and a half years.” Ukraine House hosts conversation with Andrei Kurkov19.5.2025 15:20:49 CEST | Press release
On May 2, Ukraine House in Denmark hosted a literary evening with Andrei Kurkov, one of Ukraine's most prolific and internationally recognized authors. The writer shared his personal reflections on becoming an author under the Soviet regime and the impact of war on national identity and contemporary literature.
Ukraine House in Denmark Hosts Chornobyl Legacy Discussion with Professor Serhii Plokhy7.5.2025 08:00:00 CEST | Press release
On Sunday, April 27, Ukraine House in Denmark had the honour of hosting a discussion dedicated to the legacy and present-day relevance of the Chornobyl disaster. We were privileged to welcome Professor Serhii Plokhii, Director of the Ukrainian Research Institute at Harvard University and a globally recognized authority on nuclear catastrophes. Professor Plokhii, who joined us at the opening of Ukraine House, opened by reminding us that “authoritarian regimes are there to create disasters—small disasters and big disasters—and Chornobyl is about a big disaster that can destroy life on Earth.” He went on to draw a chilling parallel between 1986 and 2022: “The most disturbing part of that new Chornobyl crisis that emerged in 2022 was that it was caused by the very same phenomenon—the authoritarian regime that has complete disregard for norms of international law, for human life, for environmental concerns.”
II Forum “Decolonizing Mindsets for Security in Europe” Calls for Urgent Cultural Reframing to Strengthen Democracy2.5.2025 08:00:00 CEST | Press release
On April 25, Ukraine House in Denmark hosted the second edition of the Forum “Decolonizing Mindsets for Security in Europe,” convening leading cultural and political thinkers to examine how colonial legacies shape memory, policy, and Europe’s security landscape. “At a time when cultural policy, memory, and history shape the global struggle for freedom and democracy, it's vital to reflect critically on the narratives that define how we see the US, Europe, Ukraine, and Russia. For Ukrainians, decolonisation means uncovering layers of russification and reclaiming our history, culture, and decision-making free from Russian-centric optics. But Ukraine’s security also depends on the willingness of democratic allies to emancipate themselves from cultural superpower biases—to recognise Ukrainian contributions to world heritage and engage with Ukraine as an equal partner in defending dignity and democracy. That’s why we will continue to foster dialogue around decolonizing mindsets—because only
Making Russia Pay – International Accountability Pathways to Justice discussed at Ukraine House Panel16.4.2025 08:01:53 CEST | Press release
As Russia’s war enters its third year, the question isn’t whether Ukraine will endure—but whether justice will. On April 9, Ukraine House in Denmark, in partnership with the Alliance of Democracies Foundation, convened a public discussion, “Establishing Accountability for Russia’s Actions in Ukraine”, with a sharp focus: how the world can make Russia pay—literally and legally—for its aggression. Featuring Jonas Parello-Plesner, Executive Director of the Alliance of Democracies Foundation, and Julia Kyrpa, Board Member of the Register of Damage for Ukraine (RD4U), the conversation illuminated a fast-moving and historic effort: building an international compensation system without Russia’s consent.
Panel Discussion: Establishing Accountability for Russia’s Actions in Ukraine2.4.2025 15:44:26 CEST | Press invitation
Copenhagen, Denmark – April 9, 2025 – As the world watches negotiations, ceasefires, and peace talks unfold, the reality on the ground in Ukraine remains stark. More than 180,000 documented war crimes, the forced deportation of at least 19,546 Ukrainian children, and relentless attacks on Ukrainian cities, homes, and infrastructure raise an urgent question: Can there be a just peace without full accountability?
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