Calls for peace between Ukraine and Russia have grown stronger as the armed conflict enters its fifth year. As international lawyers, we have been asking ourselves how such an agreement could come into existence. Fundamental principles of international law are at stake. At the same time, however, international law should not function as a barrier to peace or prevent Ukraine from concluding a peace agreement.
The conference convened leading experts to examine questions relating to peace treaties and to assess the legal ramifications and content of a possible peace agreement. Participants included representatives of the Ukrainian and German Ministries of Foreign Affairs, as well as academics from Ukraine, Europe, Russia, and the United States. The discussions focused on the validity of a potential peace agreement, its legal and institutional structure, and the various substantive issues it would address.
The conference was recorded and videos are now available as follows:
Welcoming Remarks and Keynote: https://youtu.be/5r6y5MnpbiQ
Session 1: https://youtu.be/e3iS6aicnBs
Session 2: https://youtu.be/ERlX5hPxvOU
Session 3: https://youtu.be/r2TDFaF4Ehc
Session 4: https://youtu.be/F1ASGgLe6nQ
Wrap-up Session: https://youtu.be/YKN5brZX_H0
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17th - 18th April 2026
Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law
Im Neuenheimer Feld 535
D-69120 Heidelberg
