“AI, War, and Ethics: Can Technology Be Neutral?” — International Student-Diplomat Roundtable to Be Held
On June 19, 2026, the online Student-Diplomat Roundtable “AI, War, and Ethics: Can Technology Be Neutral?” will take place. The event is organized by the Ukrainian-Gulf Cooperation Platform and the NGO “Diplomacy in Action.” The roundtable brings together diplomats, scholars, representatives of state institutions, local self-government bodies, international organizations, and student youth to discuss one of the most pressing challenges of our time — the impact of artificial intelligence on war, international security, law, and diplomacy.
As technology develops rapidly, questions about the use of artificial intelligence in the military sphere go far beyond technical discussions. Autonomous weapons systems, algorithmic decision-making, cybersecurity, international legal accountability, and ethical considerations have become subjects of active debate among governments, international organizations, and expert communities worldwide.
Who Will Take Part in the Discussion
Distinguished guests will take part in the event:
Serhii Korsunskyi — Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Ukraine to Greece (2008–2016) and Japan (2020–2025);
Roman Bezsmertnyi — Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of Belarus (2010–2011);
Oleksandr Lytvynenko — Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of Serbia;
Oleh Zaiarnyi — academic adviser to the Pylyp Orlyk Foundation, Doctor of Law, professor at the Department of Intellectual Property and Information Law of the Educational and Scientific Institute of Law of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv;
Artem Kolotiuk — representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine at the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the United Nations, moderator.
The roundtable will be moderated by:
Founder and director of the Ukrainian-Gulf Cooperation Platform, member of the Board of the NGO “Diplomacy in Action” Aurika Matvii;
Chief Operations Officer of the Ukrainian-Gulf Cooperation Platform, head of the organizational department and analytics for the Eastern Europe region of the NGO “Diplomacy in Action” Daryna Chyzhova.
Program and Discussion Topics
The roundtable program will begin at 3:00 PM with opening remarks by the organizers and an introduction of the discussion topics. After a brief introduction of the participants, the main moderated discussion will follow, lasting more than two hours.
The discussion will focus on issues of international regulation of military artificial intelligence, the use of autonomous weapons systems, accountability of states and technology companies, and the risks of algorithm misuse in wartime, as well as the impact of AI on diplomacy, international security, and major international relations. Beyond the panel, participants will examine the role of human oversight in critical wartime decision-making, the challenges for international humanitarian law, and the search for a balance between technological progress and the principles of humanity.
Event Format
The event format provides for an open dialogue between distinguished guests and participants. The discussion will take the form of questions from the moderators, supplemented by further comments, counterarguments, and an exchange of views among the roundtable participants. Over two dozen discussion questions concerning the use of artificial intelligence, war, international law, diplomacy, and ethics are planned for the event.
The organizers emphasize that the development of technology creates not only new opportunities but also new risks for international security. That is why it is now especially important to shape an international dialogue based on the principles of responsible use of artificial intelligence and the preservation of human oversight over decisions that may have far-reaching consequences.
The event will be held in Ukrainian on the Zoom platform from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM Kyiv time.
