On 23 February, the Council of Europe will hold a ceremony to mark two years of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, followed by an extraordinary meeting of the Committee of Ministers (to be broadcast live).

At 9 am, on the Council of Europe forecourt, Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić, President of the Parliamentary Assembly Theodoros Rousopoulos, Ambassador Domenik Wanger, Permanent Representative of Liechtenstein (on behalf of the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers), and Ambassador Borys Tarasyuk, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the Council of Europe, will address those gathered for the ceremony.

The national anthem of Ukraine and the European anthem will be performed.

At 9.45 am, an extraordinary meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies (ambassadors) will discuss the consequences of the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine.

After the meeting, at around 12 noon, the artwork entitled “Guernica: Ukraine” by French artist Jean-Pierre Raynaud will be inaugurated in the Committee of Ministers lobby (2nd floor). This contemporary reinterpretation of the legendary painting by Pablo Picasso will remain installed until 22 March.

From 19 to 23 February (Hemicycle lobby, 1^st floor), the Council of Europe is also hosting an exhibition by the Franco-Ukrainian photographer Youry Bilak, containing 23 photographs of children taken after 24 February 2022 in several Ukrainian towns (Boutcha, Irpin, Hostomel, Borodyanka, Tchernihiv, Vinnytsia, etc.).

On 23 and 24 February the Palais de l’Europe will be lit up in the colours of the Ukrainian flag.