WEST UKRAINIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

 Today, on 2 July 2025, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Sweden to Ukraine Martin Oberg visited West Ukrainian National University. During the meeting with students and teachers of the university, topical issues of European integration processes were discussed.

Viktor Ostroverkhov, acting rector of WUNU, addressed the audience with a welcoming speech:
"Dear Mr Ambassador!
Dear guests, colleagues, students!

"I sincerely welcome you at West Ukrainian National University, an institution of higher education that is open to the world, European in spirit and vision. We are actively shaping the future of our country through quality education, science and international cooperation.

"It is a great honour for us today to welcome a representative of a country that is a model of democracy, social responsibility, sustainable development and deep respect for human rights. The Kingdom of Sweden has been a reliable partner of Ukraine both in peacetime and in the most difficult periods of our history, including a full-scale war. We greatly appreciate the support of the Swedish people and their solidarity with Ukrainian society on the path to victory, reconstruction and a European future.

"For us, European integration is not only a political course, it is our core identity, a commitment to high standards of education, the rule of law, innovative economy, academic freedom and human dignity. The university community understands that our future lies in the common European space of knowledge and values.

"We are sincerely interested in developing partnerships with universities, research centres and educational organisations in Sweden. These are new opportunities for exchange of experience, joint research, academic mobility programmes and intercultural dialogue. We are convinced that such contacts are an investment in the future of a strong, European Ukraine."

The roundtable was also attended by Iryna Skalii (representative of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Sweden in Ukraine); Niels Dalquist, First Secretary of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Sweden in Ukraine; Pavlo Zhurba, Deputy Head of the Ternopil Regional Military Administration; Uliana Koruts, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs and Research; Oksana Tulai, Head of the Department of International Relations and Diplomacy; Iryna Zvarych, Head of the Department of International Economics; Roman Zvarych, Head of the Department of International Economic Relations; Interim Head of the Department of International and European Law Liudmyla Savanets; Head of the International Relations Office of WUNU Yuliia Voityshyn; Category I Translator Viktoriia Korobii; Head of the Department of International Cooperation and European Integration of the Ternopil Regional Military Administration Nataliia Zarytska; Advisor to the Head of the Ternopil Regional Military Administration on Youth Policy Oleksandra Holoyad.

While discussing the European integration efforts, the Ambassador emphasised the role of Ukrainian youth, which is the main driving force of the state and promotes European values in the society. The remark about the prospects for future cooperation between Ukraine and Sweden was positively received. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Martin Oberg believes that Ukraine should share its own experience, not just adopt the Swedish model. In this way, the Ambassador emphasised that Ukraine does indeed have considerable expertise in adapting to the current crisis conditions.

Students of the West Ukrainian National University had the opportunity to talk to Mr Ambassador and ask him questions. Concluding the roundtable, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs and Research Uliana Koruts said: "Mr Ambassador, thank you for your presence, for your willingness to engage in an open dialogue and for supporting the ambitious aspirations of Ukrainian youth. Step by step, we are walking the road leading to the big European family - not as petitioners, but as worthy heirs to the values of freedom, humanity and solidarity. And although our path is not easy, we do not turn away from it, because our hearts burn with faith: Ukraine is Europe.

And every day, every step, every effort is a part of the great ascent to light, peace and a common future."