On Wednesday, 13 May 2026, representatives of the diplomatic community met with students of the Young Diplomat School, participants in a unique educational project launched in Kharkiv in 2017. The Kharkiv City Council and the Youth Council under the Kharkiv City Mayor initiated the project as an important platform for the development of young people interested in international affairs.
At the GDIP Media Center, Pavlo Kryvonos, the enterprise’s Director-General, formally welcomed the future generation of Ukrainian diplomats. During his address, he introduced the structure and principal areas of the institution’s work, spoke about the Media Center’s publishing activities and its educational and cultural initiatives, and shared compelling accounts of the opening of the first foreign embassies in Kyiv. He also discussed the formation of Ukraine’s diplomatic image in the eyes of heads of diplomatic missions and outlined the particular features of communication during negotiations with foreign delegations. The speaker placed special emphasis on changes not only on the battlefield but also in the sphere of information confrontation:
‘Changes are taking place in many directions, because this is not only a war of weapons, but also an active information war that will undoubtedly enter history. For you, as future professionals, the study of decrees and resolutions adopted by the authorities will prove both important and fascinating, since they already carry unquestionable historical significance.’
The participants also visited the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Ukraine, where Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Anica Djamić warmly received them. The Head of Mission shared her professional and personal experience in international relations and stressed the importance of Ukraine’s European integration, the preservation of national identity, and the role of family values in strengthening Ukrainian society’s resilience during wartime. Ambassador spoke about the work of diplomatic institutions during the full-scale invasion, Croatia’s support for Ukrainians, and the parallels between Croatia’s and Ukraine’s struggles for independence and territorial integrity. She paid particular attention to Ukraine’s international perception before and after the outbreak of the war, and underlined that the heroic resistance of the Ukrainian people had compelled the world to reassess the country. Addressing the students, the Ambassador emphasised the importance of obtaining an international education, developing diplomatic skills, and conveying the truth about Ukraine to the international community:
‘You, Ukrainians, deserve respect, but it is important to learn to understand your own history and communicate to the world what you have endured.’
Ambassador Djamić also noted that the strength of the Ukrainian people rests to a great extent on family values, solidarity, and society’s ability to unite in the face of wartime challenges.
As part of the day’s programme, the students of the Young Diplomat School also visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, where they met Deputy Minister Oleksandr Mishchenko. During the discussion, he highlighted the importance of professional training, responsibility, strategic thinking, and motivation for a career in the diplomatic service. He also encouraged the students to regard diplomacy as a promising field for their future professional development. The participants additionally visited the Hennadii Udovenko Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, an educational home for aspiring diplomats.
Such meetings provide students not only with an opportunity for direct dialogue with leading representatives of the diplomatic sphere but also with a significant source of motivation for further professional growth and service to Ukraine on the international stage.
