Yalta European Strategy (YES)

What Yalta European Strategy (YES) does

Yalta European Strategy (YES) is a Kyiv-based non-profit policy think tank and convening organization founded in 2004 by Ukrainian businessman and philanthropist Victor Pinchuk. The organization facilitates high-level strategic dialogue on Ukraine's European integration, security, and post-war future through a portfolio of curated event products: the YES Annual Meeting (held annually since 2004, originally at Livadia Palace in Yalta and relocated to Kyiv following Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022), the February 24 Special Gathering (an annual commemoration of the invasion held since 2022), the Munich Ukrainian Lunch (a recurring side event at the Munich Security Conference, 9th edition in 2026), and the YES Dinner Discussion format held on the eve of major recovery conferences. Participation is invitation-only and targets heads of state, prime ministers, ministers, diplomats, business executives, experts, and civil society representatives; the 20th Annual Meeting in September 2024 attracted over 700 participants from more than 30 countries.

The underlying "technology" is the convening format itself rather than any software product. YES maintains a bilingual (Ukrainian/English) website with a complete archive of photographs and videos from every event since 2004, with content released under free media usage rights held by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation. There is no proprietary AI/ML or software infrastructure; the platform's defensibility rests on 21 years of brand equity, recurring participation by senior political figures, and a Board that includes former heads of state (notably Sanna Marin, former PM of Finland) and senior ministers (notably Kajsa Ollongren, former Dutch Defence Minister).

YES operates as a non-profit under the organizational and financial umbrella of the Victor Pinchuk Foundation, which covers operational costs, event logistics, venues, and multimedia content production. The organization does not sell products or services, generates no commercial revenue, and does not have disclosed funding rounds. Its core staff of 8 (per management team data, with ~12 total employees per firmographics) is led by Executive Director Dr. Svitlana Kovalchuk and operates out of Kyiv with international programming in Munich and increasingly Gdańsk.

Name

Yalta European Strategy (YES)

Legal name

Yalta European Strategy (YES)

Website

https://yes-ukraine.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Yalta European Strategy (YES) is a Kyiv-based non-profit think tank founded in 2004 that convenes invitation-only Annual Meetings, Special Gatherings, and Munich Ukrainian Lunches for heads of state, ministers, diplomats, and experts to discuss Ukraine's European integration and security, funded by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Forum Services

NAICS

Political Organizations (81394), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

International Affairs (9721), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Training, Enablement & Talent Development Summits (THAHAMAH), Program & Project Implementation (TA Delivery) (BPADAEAA)

Keywords

• Policy think tank
• Strategic dialogue forums
• International conferences
• Geopolitical convening
• Policy research events

Headquarters

HQ city

Kyiv

HQ country

Ukraine

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic / Foundation Funding: YES is organized and funded by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation. The foundation covers operational costs, event logistics, venue, and production of multimedia content. YES does not sell products or services; it operates as a non-profit convening platform.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Yalta European Strategy (YES) is a non-profit policy forum and convening platform that organizes annual international meetings, special gatherings, dinner discussions, and side events bringing together heads of state, ministers, diplomats, business executives, experts, and civil society representatives to discuss Ukraine's European integration, security, war outcomes, and geopolitical strategy. All activities are co-organized with the Victor Pinchuk Foundation, which serves as the primary funder and operational partner. The organization also maintains a publicly accessible photo and video archive of all events since 2004, with content released for free media usage under Victor Pinchuk Foundation copyright.

Product overview

Yalta European Strategy (YES) is a policy forum and think tank organization that facilitates high-level dialogue on Ukraine's European integration and security. The organization operates a portfolio of event-based products including annual international conferences (YES Annual Meetings), special gatherings held on significant geopolitical anniversaries, the Munich Ukrainian Lunch series during the Munich Security Conference, and YES Dinner Discussions held before major recovery conferences. The portfolio also includes governance events (YES Board Meetings) and a comprehensive digital photo and video archive documenting all events since 2004. All activities are conducted in partnership with the Victor Pinchuk Foundation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• YES Annual Meetings: Annual conference series held in Kyiv focusing on Ukraine's European integration and security
• YES Dinner Discussion
• Munich Ukrainian Lunch
• YES War Room

Products and services

• YES Annual Meetings

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 700 participants from 30+ countries at the 20th Annual Meeting (2024)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kajsa Ollongren (Board Member)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 September 2024Former Minister of Defence of the Netherlands (2022–2024) Kajsa Ollongren joined the YES Board in September 2024, adding defense and security policy expertise to the organization's governance.
• Sanna Marin (Board Member)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2024Former Prime Minister of Finland (2019–2023) Sanna Marin joined the YES Board in June 2024, bringing high-profile political credibility and international networks to the organization.
• Victor Pinchuk FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYES is co-organized with the Victor Pinchuk Foundation, which serves as the primary organizer and funder. The foundation covers all operational costs, provides event logistics, venues, and produces multimedia content. YES itself operates as a think tank/platform under this umbrella. Victor Pinchuk is the founder of YES and a member of the YES Board.
• EastOne GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEastOne Group is referenced as a co-affiliation of Victor Pinchuk (founder of YES). It is an international advisory and investment firm.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• German Marshall Fund (GMF): GMF is a US/European think tank focused on transatlantic relations and European security, convening heads of state, ministers, and policy experts. It overlaps directly with YES on themes of Ukraine, European integration, NATO, and security architecture, with similar convening formats (Brussels Forum, Warsaw conferences).
• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Carnegie Endowment is a major US-based international affairs think tank with research and convening programs on Ukraine, Russia, and European security. It is comparable to YES as a high-level policy forum engaging heads of state and senior officials on similar thematic topics.
• Chatham House: Chatham House (the Royal Institute of International Affairs) is a leading UK-based international affairs think tank convening heads of state, ministers, and experts on global policy. It shares YES's convening model and audience (world leaders, diplomats, experts) but at significantly larger institutional scale and broader geographic mandate.
• Atlantic Council: The Atlantic Council is a major US-based international affairs think tank with a dedicated Ukraine-focused program (UkraineAlert, Eurasia Center). It convenes high-level policy discussions on European security, transatlantic relations, and Ukraine reconstruction — directly overlapping YES's mandate at a larger institutional scale.

Direct peers

• Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA): CEPA is a Washington-based think tank with a strong Ukraine and European security focus, convening senior officials and publishing policy analysis. Its thematic focus on Ukraine's NATO/EU integration and wartime strategy closely mirrors YES's core mandate.
• European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR): ECFR is a pan-European foreign policy think tank that convenes EU leaders, ministers, and experts on European integration, security, and foreign policy. Like YES, it operates as a pan-European convening platform on Ukraine and European security, with comparable event formats and target audience.

Emerging players

• Crisis Group: Crisis Group is an international conflict-prevention think tank working on Ukraine, Russia, and European security. While more policy-research focused than event-convening, it shares YES's audience and themes, providing comparative insight into how a similarly targeted think tank monetizes expertise.
• Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies: The Martens Centre is a Brussels-based European foundation affiliated with the European People's Party, convening policymakers and producing research on European integration, security, and Ukraine. Comparable to YES as a European policy convening platform targeting similar political audiences.

Regional players

• Razumkov Centre: The Razumkov Centre is a leading Ukrainian think tank conducting policy research and convening experts on Ukraine's domestic and foreign policy. It shares YES's Ukrainian policy focus and convening mandate but emphasizes research and polling rather than high-level leader engagement.
• Ukrainian Institute for International Politics: The Ukrainian Institute for International Politics is a Kyiv-based foreign policy think tank focused on Ukraine's international relations, European integration, and security. It is comparable to YES as a Ukrainian policy platform but operates at smaller scale and with a more research-and-publication-oriented model.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/yes_ukraine
• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLUMsd6d7trnIq2AGeObgHJ1iHS59CwmjC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yalta-european-strategy
• Instagraminstagram.com/yes_ukraine

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Yalta European Strategy (YES)