A Ukrainian from Wiesbaden

On 16 May 2026, the conference “A Ukrainian from Wiesbaden: Pavlo Skoropadskyi and the History of the Ukrainian Diaspora in Germany and Europe” will take place in Wiesbaden. Organized by Dialogkraft Europa e.V. together with Dunstan gemeinnützige UG, the event will bring together historians, cultural practitioners, civic activists, and members of the Ukrainian community in the Rhine Main region for a public conversation about history, migration, memory, and civic participation.

The conference focuses on Pavlo Skoropadskyi, one of the important political figures of early twentieth century Ukraine. His biography reflects a period marked by the collapse of empires, attempts at Ukrainian state building, political exile, and the formation of Ukrainian émigré communities across Europe. The fact that Skoropadskyi was born in Wiesbaden creates a meaningful local connection and highlights the long historical ties between Ukraine and Germany.

Rather than presenting a simplified historical narrative, the conference aims to encourage open and critical discussion about Ukrainian history within a broader European context. For many decades, Ukrainian political and intellectual history was often interpreted through Soviet and imperial frameworks that left little room for Ukrainian perspectives and historical complexity. Today, there is growing interest in revisiting these histories through careful scholarship, public dialogue, and transnational exchange.

A central theme of the event is the history of the Ukrainian diaspora in Europe. The conference explores how émigré communities created institutions, cultural networks, and spaces of intellectual life that helped preserve Ukrainian identity across generations. These questions resonate strongly today, as millions of Ukrainians once again live across Europe because of Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine.

The program combines historical research with contemporary civic discussion. Historian and doctoral researcher Veronika Weissheimer from European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder) will deliver the keynote lecture on the life and legacy of Pavlo Skoropadskyi and the broader history of Ukrainian emigration in Germany and Europe. Topics include Ukrainian statehood, political and cultural institutions, exile, and the role of diaspora communities in preserving intellectual and cultural continuity.

The conference will also include a screening of the documentary film “The Last Hetman” by Ihor Chaika, followed by a discussion with the director. The film explores the history of the Skoropadskyi family, exile, memory, and family heritage in the twentieth century.

Alongside the historical program, the event creates space for conversations about the present and future of Ukrainian communities in Germany. A public panel discussion will focus on civic participation, migrant representation, and cooperation between Ukrainian organizations and local institutions in the Rhine Main region. Participants will discuss how volunteer initiatives and diaspora organizations are developing into longer term civic structures and how historical experience can support responsible and sustainable forms of community building today.

The conference will also feature the presentation of “KARTA: Ukrainian Decolonial Thought”, a digest developed by Dialogkraft Europa e.V. that introduces important texts and concepts from contemporary Ukrainian intellectual discussions. Within the framework of the conference, this project offers a broader perspective on how Ukrainian history, culture, and political thought have often been interpreted through external imperial narratives and why critical reflection on these perspectives matters today.

At a time when Ukraine continues to defend not only its territory but also its cultural and historical voice, the conference seeks to create a thoughtful and open space for dialogue. By connecting local history in Wiesbaden with wider European and Ukrainian experiences, the event highlights the importance of historical understanding, civic engagement, and transnational exchange in contemporary Europe.

The conference is financially supported by Nassauische Sparkasse and Nord Haus UA e.V.