Four Years of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine: How has the World Changed?
As of February 2026, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine will be four years old. In the upcoming session of the International Business Podium, we will look back together with renowned experts while at the same time sharpening our perspective on the current situation.
The tanks crossing the Ukrainian frontier in February 2022 brought large-scale war back to Europe in a way few believed possible after World War II, notwithstanding the continent’s supposed commitment to the principle of “never again.” At the same time, Ukraine’s resistance and societal resilience have surprised many observers, as the country continues to withstand military pressure, constant attacks on civilian infrastructure, and the enormous economic and social costs of war.
The geopolitical environment surrounding the war is evolving. Over the past year, the new U.S. administration under President Donald Trump has sought ways to bring the war to an end through engagement with Russia, while also creating new uncertainties for Ukraine and its European partners. The Trump administration has been even more erratic than previous President Biden, pausing U.S. support to Ukraine, courting countries such as Belarus for a “Board of Peace,” and picking fights with NATO allies, as in the prolonged threat to annex Greenland from the Danish.
The turn in the US has led the European Union to attempt to strengthen its geopolitical role and assume greater responsibility for the continent’s security. The EU has a clear interest in achieving a just and durable peace in Ukraine, yet questions remain about the tools and leverage available to Europe to influence the outcome.
Finally, overlooking in all of this geopolitical jockeying are the Ukrainians themselves. Having endured four years of bombardment and onslaught – and with attempts to freeze the populace during this winter – Ukraine remains unbowed in its resistance.
This event will examine the strategic, political, and security implications of four years of war and how the world has been transformed. Key questions for our esteemed panelists will include:
How sustainable is the Ukrainian economy and what reforms still need to be done
How can the EU and Europe together respond to long-term security challenges
What is the future of transatlantic relations?
What possible paths exist toward peace and stability in Europe?
Panelists
Christopher A. Hartwell is currently Professor of International Business Policy and Head of the International Management Institute at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) School of Management and Law, as well as University Professor at Kozminski University in Poland. A leading scholar on the evolution of institutions. Prof. Hartwell’s interests are in the nexus of politics and business, in particular in Eastern Europe and Russia. Prof. Hartwell holds a PhD in Economics from the Warsaw School of Economics, a master’s in public policy from Harvard, a BA in Political Science and Economics from the University of Pennsylvania, and his habilitation from Kozminski.
Alina Nychyk specializes in EU-Ukraine-Russia relations and Ukraine’s foreign policy. She is a Senior Researcher at ZHAW School of Management and Law and a Guest Lecturer at TU Dresden. Alina worked at ETH Zurich and RECET, Vienna University. She earned a PhD in Politics from the University of Manchester (2022), after completing a Master’s at Wroclaw University of Economics and a Bachelor’s at Kyiv National Economic University. She has written widely on European and Ukrainian foreign policy.
Dmytro Boyarchuk is the executive director of CASE Ukraine, specializing in analyzing fiscal policy and the agricultural sector, macroeconomic forecasting, and advising government bodies. He also works as an economic advisor at GlobalSource Partners, Inc. He has authored articles for publications such as Forbes and Ekonomichna Pravda. Dmytro is a graduate of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and the London School of Economics and Political Science.
IBP 2026: At a Glance
“Four Years of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine: How has the World Changed?”
- Date: 20 February 2026
- Time: 12.30-1.30 pm
- Language: English
- Participation: Online, free of charge