At the ceremonial start of the new academic year at the College of Europe, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, addressed the students with a speech in which she quoted Ukrainian writer and human rights activist Victoria Amelina. She emphasized the importance of personal choice and collective responsibility in achieving justice, using Amelina’s example as a guide for future diplomats and politicians.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Victoria Amelina’s Words Resounded on the European Platform
Kaja Kallas read excerpts from Victoria Amelina’s book “Looking at Women Who Look at War,” recounting how the author transformed from a novelist into a witness of war crimes, documenting them for future generations.
“The book I just quoted was published after her death. It itself is a testament to the fact that the pursuit of justice is an individual choice. But it is always a collective effort. Dear students and young diplomats, the key to lasting peace is law,” Kallas stated.
Kallas also informed the audience about initiatives to establish an international tribunal to hold Russia accountable for its aggression against Ukraine, emphasizing that strengthening peace is only possible on the basis of justice and the rule of law.
Victoria Amelina – Patron of the College of Europe Promotion 2025-2026
Victoria Amelina has become the first Ukrainian to be chosen as the patron of the College of Europe promotion for the 2025-2026 academic year. Each year, this prestigious institution dedicates its academic promotion to an outstanding figure who embodies European values. Over the years, patrons of the College have included such notable personalities as Jacques Delors, Madeleine Albright, Václav Havel, Simone Weil, Anna Politkovskaya, as well as political leaders Alcide de Gasperi, Robert Schuman, and Winston Churchill.
The College of Europe is one of the most prestigious educational centers in the European Union, training future leaders in the fields of politics, diplomacy, and law. It is currently headed by Federica Mogherini, who served as the EU’s chief diplomat from 2014 to 2019.
Victoria Amelina tragically lost her life during a Russian missile strike in Kramatorsk in the summer of 2023. Her first novel, “The Syndrome of Autumn, or Homo Compatiens” (2015), was dedicated to reflecting on the events of the Revolution of Dignity, while her last posthumously published book, “Looking at Women Who Look at War,” contains testimonies from Ukrainian women – soldiers, human rights activists, curators, librarians – about the war with the Russian Federation.