From May 8 to 10, 2026, the 72nd Federal Congress of the German youth liberal organization JULIS (the youth wing of the FDP) took place in Bingen am Rhein. The Liberal Democratic League of Ukraine (LDLU) was represented by Karyna Stepanova, who represents our team in Germany.
During the opening of the congress, Karyna Stepanova had the honor of delivering a narrative speech that served as a call to our European partners to let go of political illusions and stop paralyzing themselves with fear of the past.
In particular, she emphasized that while the democratic world reflects on the history of the Second World War, the axis of evil — China, Russia and North Korea — is openly preparing for an expansionist war capable of depriving Europe of the blessings of a peaceful and stable life. Accordingly, the response to the challenges of the future must not be an obsession with internal fears or populists, but rather courage and the readiness to defend what is ours.
To help our partners become more resilient, the LDLU invited the German liberal family to start adopting the Ukrainian experience. This includes the experience of our frontline volunteers and international advocates working from Washington to Taipei.
Ultimately, Karyna Stepanova emphasized that the primary gratitude for the fact that Europe has time for this preparation belongs to the Ukrainian soldiers. After all, it is they who, at the cost of their own lives, hold the eastern gates of Europe and the borders of NATO, giving the free world a chance to prepare for Day X.
