Can one imagine that 14 representatives of different government agencies can become true friends and partners? That happened in the 12th High Level Experts Programme where fate (and a selection process at the German Embassy in Kyiv) brought together the right people for Ukraine’s future. Over three weeks, we tackled tough geopolitical questions and bonded over common values in times of war.

Support for Ukraine and its European future were the main topics of the programme. The key point to emphasise is that speakers were not just delivering speeches, they were curious about our perspective on the ongoing events. We certainly learnt a lot: during the 19 days of the programme, we had 35 meetings in 3 countries – Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium.

Among others, the talks with Mr Christian Freuding from the Bundeswehr, Mr Michael Roth from the Bundestag and Mr Ohle Diehl from the Federal Intelligence Service were definitely marked by honesty and realism. We were honoured to discuss events that would later become history – the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland, the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin and the NATO Summit in Washington.

Reflecting on my workplace in Kyiv, I realise that the programme has transformed my outlook in a way that will indeed enable me to make a difference. My gratitude goes to Ambassador Anka Feldhusen and Mr Gustav Gressel from ECFR for this insight. Overall, I am thankful to all the representatives from German and European institutions for their frankness.

Cultural immersion and practical training completed the picture of our personal development. At the Foreign Service Academy, we learned what type of public speeches to avoid (just Google it – ‘Worst speech ever’) and at Viadrina University how to draw a conflict diagram to resolve one. We will never forget how we got soaked to the bone in a hailstorm at Sanssouci Park in Potsdam, felt elated by the atmosphere at the Staatsoper and celebrated the end of the handball season in Berlin. Seeing iconic artworks like the Sistine Madonna in Dresden and Girl with a Pearl Earring in The Hague were transformative experiences.

Every day of training was complemented by pleasant events. We were filled with child-like joy when we met Ukrainian soldiers at NATO Headquarters in Brussels. On 16 June, Berlin was full of embroidered shirts as people in the streets greeted us on Vyshyvanka Day. Recording a video explanation in front of the Brandenburg Gate about the history of traditional Ukrainian dress was an unforgettable experience.

I believe that our team brought positivity and joy to Berlin. How could it be otherwise when none of our trains were delayed and one even arrived in Berlin ahead of schedule? I departed from Germany having gained a profound appreciation for the overwhelming support and solidarity of the German people. I sincerely thank Ms Hellmann-Breitbach, Mr Geilhardt, Ambassador (ret.) Heumann and the whole Diplomacy by Networking team for the flawless organisation of our programme, which has instilled in me a sense of confidence for the future. Bis bald!

Kateryna Okhrimchuk