In Kyiv, MP Yaroslav Yurchyshyn Meets Finalists of UN Essay Contest
In Kyiv, finalists of the first all-Ukrainian student essay competition met as part of the contest academic essays “Can Russia Be Expelled from the UN?”, which the Pylyp Orlyk Foundation runs jointly with the Educational and Scientific Institute of International Relations at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. The competition is part of the #UnRussiaUN initiative, designed to engage young researchers in the search for international legal mechanisms to limit the aggressor state’s influence within the United Nations system.
A Series of Meetings with Diplomats and Experts
For the final stage, the jury selected fourteen of the best student papers from various parts of Ukraine. For these participants, the organizers prepared a series of meetings with diplomats, politicians, lawyers, and experts who work directly on issues of international security and the reform of global institutions.
One of the guests on the final day was Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, a member of the Ukrainian Parliament and of Ukraine’s parliamentary delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. His meeting with the students took the form of an open lecture followed by an extended question-and-answer session, during which the young participants discussed not only the topic of the competition but also the current state of international organizations, the challenges facing Ukraine, and prospects for reforming the global security system.
The Paradox of International Institutions
At the start of the meeting, Yaroslav Yurchyshyn invited the students to look at the work of international organizations without the usual stereotypes. He opened the conversation with simple questions about the OSCE, illustrating one of the central paradoxes of modern international politics: a state waging an aggressive war against its neighbor still remains a member of an organization meant to ensure peace and security. In his words, the post-war system of international institutions was built on the assumption that all states seek peace, and as a result it has proven insufficiently effective against states that deliberately violate international law.
Yaroslav Yurchyshyn paid special attention to the work of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. He described how the Ukrainian delegation seeks the political isolation of Russian representatives who justify the aggression, and explained why, even with sanctions in place, international procedures remain extremely cumbersome. He also spoke about the need to purge international structures of representatives of states that use them as a tool of political influence.
Discussion on UN Reform
Students showed the greatest interest in the competition’s central theme — the possibility of stripping Russia of its seat in the United Nations. One of the finalists asked how actively this issue is currently being pursued by the Ukrainian government and parliament.
Yaroslav Yurchyshyn replied that Ukraine has a clear understanding of the need to reform the UN system, but the issue extends beyond Russia alone. In his words, the world needs a model of international security that does not allow aggressor states or totalitarian regimes to use international institutions to block decisions or shield themselves with their authority. At the same time, he stressed that real change is impossible without sustained public pressure and international advocacy. That is why it matters that young researchers, lawyers, and diplomats engage today in developing new approaches.
The discussion was not limited to the UN alone. Students asked questions about the possibility of creating a new international security system, the prospects of Russia’s disintegration, the influence of civil society on state policy, the role of China in world politics, and the current challenges facing democratic states. The conversation ran considerably longer than scheduled, once again demonstrating the participants’ strong interest in international affairs.
From Activism to Parliament
During the meeting, Yaroslav Yurchyshyn also shared his own professional path — from civic activism and work in the “Plast” scouting organization to participation in the Revolution of Dignity, work in civil society, involvement in anti-corruption reforms, and parliamentary service. He stressed that an active civic stance, continuous learning, and a readiness to take responsibility for change are what shape a country’s future leaders.
Concluding the meeting, the MP urged the students not to fear ambitious goals, to think critically, and to remember that today’s generation of Ukrainian youth has a chance to shape a new system of international security. In his words, Ukraine today is no longer merely an object of international politics — it is increasingly becoming its active creator.
The competition “Can Russia Be Expelled from the UN?” has become not only an academic contest but also a platform for dialogue between young researchers and practitioners of international politics. Such meetings give students the chance to test their own ideas in professional discussion and to contribute to shaping decisions that could influence the future of international law and the global security system. Read more about the essay competition winners.
