Kyiv – ESI in Ukraine to strengthen the Ukrainian-European partnership

Gerald in Kyiv. Photo: ESI

ESI’s Gerald Knaus travelled to Kyiv as the inaugural Fellow of the European Policy Institute in Kyiv (EPIK). EPIK is a new Kyiv-based think-tank founded to provide policy to European lawmakers to advance Ukraine’s European integration and regional security. EPIK was  established by the Swedish Institute of International Affairs (UI) through its Stockholm Centre for Eastern European Studies (SCEEUS).

While in Kyiv, Gerald met with EU Ambassadors, advisors to both the President and the Prime Minister, as well as other senior government officials. In these meetings, Gerald discussed Ukraine’s European integration and the EU accession process. He presented ESI’s proposal to offer Ukraine and other Eastern European allies the four freedoms of the EU’s single market to incentivize and reward progress in meeting EU accession targets. He also learned about Ukraine’s defence industry and the lessons Ukraine can offer to Europe.

Gerald also discussed Ukraine's EU integration process in interviews with Ukrainian media, including Forbes Ukraine. 

Gerald left Kyiv with full conviction that a strong partnership between the EU and Ukraine is critical for security and prosperity not only in Ukraine, but across Europe.

Gerald in Kyiv. Photo: ESI

• ESI proposal: Offer the four freedoms to Ukraine, Moldova and the Balkans
• ESI Newsletter:The 100 million expulsions promise
• ESI publication: The Balkan Turtle Race
• Forbes Ukraine, “«Страх, що ЄС все зарегулює, є відмовкою». Як Україні вступити до Євросоюзу і що буде з її економікою? Інтерв’ю з Геральдом Кнаусом, засновником ESI та аналітиком EPIK з євроінтеграції” (“The fear that the EU will over-regulate is just an excuse.” How can Ukraine join the European Union, and what will happen to its economy? An interview with Gerald Knaus, founder of ESI and an analyst at EPIK specialising in European integration”), 22 April 2026.