August 29th, 2025 / 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. / Bonner Universitätsforum, Heussallee 18-24, 53113 Bonn

Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine has fundamentally shaken Europe's thinking on security policy. Certainties about peace, diplomacy, and cooperation that had been taken for granted for decades are now being called into question. Kherson is at the forefront of Europe's struggle for freedom, security, and self-determination. The experiences of the people there — under occupation, in resistance, and in reconstruction — are not only a warning but also a lesson. What does security mean today in the face of military threats and hybrid attacks? Answering this question is not only about external defense, but also about protecting internal security: from critical infrastructure and public order to social cohesion. Security has long been a task for society as a whole—and resilience is, for good reason, the new guiding principle of governmental action.

The event brings together key decision-makers, members of parliament, journalists, and civil society actors to discuss new requirements for European and German security architectures, using the example of Kherson. What responsibility does North Rhine-Westphalia bear, and what role does the Bundestag play? What can city partnerships achieve in concrete terms? And how can we strengthen the resilience of open societies against external and internal threats? The focus on Kherson lends urgency and concreteness to the debate.

Welcoming Remarks:

Katja Dörner, Mayor of the Federal City of Bonn

Prof. Dr. Volker Kronenberg, Speaker of CASSIS

Minister Nathanael Liminski, Minister for Federal and European Affairs, International Affairs, and Media of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and Head of the State Chancellery

Vitalii Bielobrov, Deputy Mayor of the City of Kherson

Discussion:

Minister Nathanael Liminski

Robin Wagener, MdB, Chairman of the German-Ukrainian Parliamentary Group in Germany's Federal Parliament 

Anastasia Köhler, Managing Director of the Lev-Kopelev-Forum

Dr. Joachim Weber, Senior Fellow at CASSIS

Chair:

Roman Goncharenko, Deutsche Welle

Lesya Pullmann, Journalist