In February 2022, we had just finalised an interview with our programme coordinator Olena Zinenko in Ukraine. Two days later, the Russian army attacked. As the second anniversary of the war of aggression approaches, Olena recalls her state of shock in those early days and months of the war and the journey she has taken since then. She also explains why talking about peace in Ukraine can create divisions and how women need to be the driving forces for a forward-looking “life agenda”.

"I had to close my heart and soul to work." Valentina Cherevatenko, Russian PeaceWoman, human rights defender and member of Women's Initiatives for Peace in Donbas(s) describes her despair after the Russian war of aggression began.

The worldwide network Feminists Connecting for Peace forms the core of our work. It grew out of the initiative "1000 Women for the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize" and has developed into a unique global community of peace activists. The network offers space for exchange, networking and joint learning as well as a platform to bring feminist peace policy demands to the public.