On July 22, the Ukrainian edition of Dr. Paul R. Williams’ book Lawyering Peace was presented in Kyiv. It is now available under the title “The Path to Reconciliation: How Law Shapes Lasting Peace.” The publication was produced by the Ukrainian Bar Association with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation.
The creative agency Artel, which provided publishing support, and the Ukrainian Association of Publishers and Booksellers, which is promoting the distribution of the book, also participated in the project.
During the opening ceremony, APU President Mykola Stetsenko emphasized that this publication is of particular importance for Ukraine: “This book is not just a translation of Dr. Paul Williams’ influential work. It is a contribution to the joint dialogue on how legal instruments can help end the war, restore statehood, and lay the foundations for lasting peace.”
Roman Romanov, director of the Human Rights and Justice Program at the International Renaissance Foundation, emphasized the importance of a conscious approach to creating conditions for peace in Ukraine.
“The actual resistance to Russian aggression has become a matter for the entire Ukrainian people. It is this unity that allows us to hold the front. But it is equally important that the search for acceptable conditions for peace, their understanding and acceptance also become a common cause,” he said.
According to Mr. Roman, decisions must be conscious, based on law, filtered through public understanding, and suitable for open communication with citizens.
“In this sense, this intellectual contribution — by the author, the Ukrainian Bar Association, and our support — is a joint contribution to the formation of lasting peace in Ukraine. We have done everything possible to ensure that this publication sees the light of day and reaches Ukrainian readers,” he added.
The author of the book himself, Paul R. Williams, Doctor of Law, professor, and co-founder of the Public International Law & Policy Group, also shared his views on this topic. He shared his vision of the role of lawyers in peace negotiations.
“In most cases, the most violent conflicts end through negotiations. But not every agreement leads to lasting peace. Ukraine is no exception. From Minsk to Istanbul, we have seen how the lack of clear legal mechanisms has made peace agreements fragile,” said Paul R. Williams.
According to the author, the book Lawyering Peace is intended to be a practical tool for those involved in peacebuilding processes. It summarizes more than thirty years of experience of Paul R. Williams and his team in Bosnia, Kosovo, South Sudan, Iraq, Syria, and other countries.
“Lawyers should not only be advisors—they should shape the architecture of the agreement: weave the principles of justice, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence into its text. They are the ones who ensure that Ukraine can regain its full rights — even in the event of temporary concessions at the negotiating table,” emphasized Dr. Paul R. Williams.
He also noted that Ukrainian lawyers should start preparing for potential negotiations now — even if the final victory has not yet been achieved. After all, it is lawyers who have room for professional training when political leaders are limited in their public actions.
“It is your responsibility to lay the legal foundation that will ensure that peace is not only possible, but also fair and lasting,” Paul R. Williams concluded.
The director of the Yaroslav Mudryi National Library of Ukraine, Dr. Oleg Serbin, spoke about the symbolism of holding the presentation at the library. He emphasized that the event demonstrates the active participation of libraries in shaping the modern Ukrainian context.
“Our library has become a platform for talented people to meet and develop many projects. And everything we do every day as librarians yields results in the form of cooperation, particularly with the legal community,” he said.
Oleg Serbin expressed his gratitude to the International Renaissance Foundation, the Ukrainian Bar Association, and the creative agency Artel for implementing the joint project. Thanks to this cooperation, the book Lawyering Peace will appear not only on the desks of lawyers but also in libraries throughout the country.
“We have already connected a number of libraries so that this book reaches its readers. As the coordinating center for public libraries in Ukraine, we ensure that everyone has access to knowledge that changes perceptions of justice and peace,” Mr. Serbin added.
Igor Stepurin, executive director of the Ukrainian Association of Publishers and Booksellers, spoke about how, despite all the challenges, the publication of the book became possible. In his address, he first thanked the Armed Forces of Ukraine for the opportunity to create, gather, and print even during the war.
“It is a great honor for me to represent the Association, which unites more than 120 publishers, bookstores, and printing houses, both large and small. Despite all the challenges, the publishing industry is working, and the Ukrainian word is being heard and printed,” he emphasized.
Mr. Stepurin said that the book was printed during heavy shelling in Kyiv, and its cover was made in Kharkiv, the printing capital of Ukraine. It is one of the best projects in terms of both content and print quality.
Igor Stepurin also called on libraries — both public and university — to contact the Association to obtain copies of the publication. “We want this book to go where it is needed — to every corner of the country. Because victory must not only be won, but also consolidated in the legal sphere,” he concluded.
Lawyers who have already familiarized themselves with Dr. Paul R. Williams’ work discussed the key thoughts and ideas presented in the book, as well as the importance of international peace processes for Ukraine. The discussion was moderated by Kateryna Kyrychenko, PILPG’s legal director in Ukraine and a graduate student at NaUKMA, who has been working directly with the author of the book for several years.
We lack a comprehensive vision of security mechanisms in the transition period
“The book is interesting in that it allows us to trace the links between theoretical approaches, political agreements, and real legal mechanisms that can be used in Ukraine. This is especially important in the context of judicial practice and security policy in the regions,“ said Yevhen Krapivin, head of the ”Rule of Law” department at the Legislative Initiatives Laboratory.
According to him, Ukraine still lacks a systematic vision for security solutions during the transition period. Discussions mostly revolve around the responsibility of those guilty and mechanisms for reparations, while important aspects—such as establishing lasting security in deoccupied territories—remain without a clear strategy.
“We need to talk not only about demobilization or control over weapons, but also about the rehabilitation of territories, minimizing the ideological influence of the aggressor, and combating criminal structures that may become more active during the transition period,” the expert stressed.
He also stressed that discussions on such security mechanisms should take place now — at the level of policy and legal agreements — in order to avoid spontaneous decisions in the future. The book “The Path to Reconciliation: How Law Shapes Lasting Peace” is valuable because, despite differences in historical contexts, it allows us to see the solutions that have been developed and raise the professional level of Ukrainian discussion.
The institutional matrix must be rebuilt on a scientific basis
Professor Zoya Zaginey-Zabolotenko, Doctor of Law, Head of the Department of Criminal Law, Criminology, and Judicial System at the V. M. Koretsky Institute of State and Law of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, emphasized the importance of institutional design in the context of post-war state reconstruction.
The professor emphasized that the key topics raised in the publication concern not only legal theory but also practical aspects of building effective state institutions. These include reforming the powers of government bodies, combating disinformation, and ensuring communication with the public.
“These ideas are not new to Ukraine. They were in the spotlight even before the war, but in the post-conflict period, we have a chance to rethink them and lay the foundations for a strong institutional architecture,” emphasized Zoya Zaginey-Zabolotenko.
In her opinion, such publications serve as catalysts for professional discussions and form the basis for further decisions in the field of public administration: “We must develop an institutional matrix that corresponds to the realities and challenges of our state.”
Justice is not a privilege, but a fundamental element of lasting peace
Yaryna Sydii, a prosecutor at the Pechersk District Prosecutor’s Office in Kyiv, emphasized the critical importance of justice as the basis for any peace process in Ukraine.
“Our war is not just a struggle for territory, it is a struggle for justice. The truth must be told, and crimes must be named. No victory can cancel out responsibility for what has been done,” she said.
The speaker emphasized that Ukraine’s strategy must be based on clear principles of accountability: “It is necessary to define ‘red lines’ before any negotiations, to guarantee the irreversibility of punishment for war crimes, and to ensure the capacity of institutions — both international and national — to implement this accountability.”
Yaryna Sydii also emphasized the role of society in this process, because justice is not only about punishment. It is about ensuring that every Ukrainian knows that their truth will be heard and their experience will be recognized.
She drew a historical parallel with the aftermath of World War I: “The unwillingness of part of German society to accept responsibility for the war and the lack of justice were among the factors that led to the outbreak of World War II. We have no right to repeat this mistake.”
Lasting peace is achieved not by an act of surrender, but through systematic work: by identifying problems, discussing them publicly, and developing solutions. This is the path to true victory.
Achieving justice requires systematic recording of the crime of aggression
During the discussion, Oleksandr Zuz, head of the Department for Combating Crimes in Armed Conflict at the Office of the Prosecutor General, emphasized the importance of focusing justice specifically on the crime of aggression.
“We already have certain program documents, including memoranda with partners, that allow us to build structures for investigating war crimes. But the crime of aggression must occupy a special place — it was the starting point for all crimes and seizures of territory, and it must be the key target of legal prosecution,” he said.
According to Oleksandr Zyuzya, about 90% of the evidence regarding crimes to be submitted to the special tribunal is collected on the territory of Ukraine. Therefore, the task is not only to form a evidence base, but also to ensure its effective transfer to international jurisdictions.
He also emphasized the need for Ukrainian judges and lawyers to specialize in cases involving international crimes: “We are already moving towards the creation of judicial specialization. But we also need to involve lawyers — not only as defenders, but as active participants in the mechanisms of establishing justice.”
Mr. Oleksandr separately drew attention to the importance of the national element in the process, as it is impossible to rely solely on international institutions. Ukraine must demonstrate its readiness to consider the crime of aggression at the level of its own legal system.
Decentralization in de-occupied territories is a challenge that requires a systematic response
AZONES partner and lawyer Daria Svyrydova drew attention to the importance of a legal approach to the reintegration of de-occupied territories in the context of local self-government.
“Today, we face a serious challenge — restoring local government in regions that will return to Ukraine’s control. This is not just a matter of elections, it is a matter of security, trust, and preventing the re-emergence of occupation narratives,” she emphasized.
According to her, legislation on collaborationism does not yet provide clear and fair answers, leaving room for ambiguous interpretation. An approach must be developed that protects society but does not punish victims for the mere fact of living under occupation.
Daria Svyrydova emphasized: “Those affected by the occupation should not become targets of persecution. Our task is to remain focused on supporting these people, who are victims, not perpetrators of the war.”
She also stressed that all decisions regarding transitional justice must be based on human rights, access to information, transparency, and trust. It is this approach that will allow us to build a genuine system of restoring justice in Ukraine.
Civil society must become a central player in the transitional justice process
In her speech, Zera Kozlieva, Legal Director of Truth Hounds, emphasized the need for a systematic and inclusive approach to restoring justice after the conflict.
“This discussion has shown that transitional justice is not a set of individual decisions, but a complex system. It must take into account the context of self-determination, human rights, management decisions, and the interests of people who have survived the occupation,” she stressed.
Zera Kozlieva emphasized that Ukraine already has activists, researchers, and human rights defenders who are trying to make sense of the challenges of the transition period. But this process must involve the public. It is necessary to create a space for people with real experience who work in communities every day and see what justice really looks like.
In her opinion, the key task is not to create a “selection” system, but to build a system of engagement where justice is accessible, understandable, and accountable: “Civil society should not just be a participant, but a driving force in this process. It is civil society that ensures sustainability and trust.”
We have a chance to give the world unique competencies of justice gained in wartime
During the discussion of the key ideas of transitional justice, Doctor of Law Roman Mudry emphasized Ukraine’s special role in shaping a new vision of justice in the context of armed conflict.
“Ukrainians are not just analyzing the international humanitarian agenda; we are actively shaping new standards. And if these standards are based on the real meaning of justice, and not just on procedure, then our voice in the international arena will be heard and taken seriously,” he stressed.
Roman Mudry emphasized that war is not only a catastrophe, but also a space where new knowledge is born: “We have a chance to give the world the competencies that we are now acquiring in the most difficult conditions. And these are not just legal mechanisms — this is a deep understanding of the nature of justice.”
In this context, he spoke about the initiative to create a Peace Institute based on the transformation of Zaporizhzhia National University: “It should become a space where people work with victims, conduct research, develop analytics, and systematize experience that can later be transferred to other countries facing conflicts.”
Justice is not an abstraction. It is daily work, recording, reflection, and support. And if we accomplish this mission, Ukraine will become a source of solutions for the world.
How to obtain a copy of the book?
If you would like to receive a copy of the publication “The Path to Reconciliation: How Law Shapes Lasting Peace” for personal use, to share with colleagues, or to donate to your organization or library, please fill out a short form at the link.
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The event was held as part of a project implemented with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation. Its content represents the position of the Ukrainian Bar Association and does not necessarily reflect the position of the International Renaissance Foundation.
Source: Ukrainian Bar Association
