On 27 June 2025, in Kyiv, an international conference ‘Fair Play: How to Make Sanctions Work’ was held, which became a key platform for discussing mechanisms to increase sanctions pressure on Russia and countries that facilitate the circumvention of restrictions. The event was organised by the Office of the President of Ukraine.
As part of the event, the MAINSTREAM team contributed to the event organisation and PR support of the conference.
The event brought together more than 340 participants, including representatives of the Ukrainian authorities, international experts, NGOs and think tanks working to ensure the effectiveness of sanctions policy.
Among the top speakers: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy; David O'Sullivan, EU Special Envoy for the Implementation of Sanctions; Andrii Sybiga, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine; Vladyslav Vlasiuk, Presidential Commissioner for Sanctions Policy; Andrii Yusov, representative of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine; Andrii Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine and others.
During the panels, speakers discussed the effectiveness and integrity of global sanctions pressure. They addressed the practices of detecting and blocking sanctions circumvention, tracking components and technologies, engaging civil society, international coordination, and tools to influence countries that assist Russia in its war against Ukraine.
Particular attention was paid to the identification of components used in Russian weapons. That is why the conference organised an exhibition of samples of munitions and critical components found in enemy drones, missiles and other types of weapons. The exhibition demonstrated real-life examples of the use of imported technologies in Russian weapons, which allowed the participants to better understand the importance of sanctions control.
The MAINSTREAM event team provided comprehensive support for the event:
- developing the concept and visual style of the conference;
- creating the programme, coordinating logistics and speakers;
- designing the venue with thematic zones: registration, various photo zones and exhibition stands;
- simultaneous interpretation for conference participants;
- organising the event in accordance with safety standards.
As part of the PR support, the Strategic Department team prepared and distributed PR materials, such as press releases and news. In addition, accreditation and coordination of media at the conference was organised, as well as monitoring of media coverage.
The event resulted in more than 600 hits in online media, television and social networks. A number of Ukrainian and international media covered the topic of sanctions pressure: Focus, Interfax-Ukraine, Ukrinform, LIGA.net, LB.ua, The Page, UNIAN, Kyiv Post, Associated Press News, Channel 24, My-Ukraina, ICTV and others.
