Summer Course Offers First-Hand Account of Impact of War in Ukraine

Ukraine’s Ambassador to Qatar teaches GU-Q students about war and displacement

Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) students studying the writings of authors in exile were honored with a class visit from His Excellency Andrii Kuzmenko, the Ukrainian Ambassador to Qatar, who shed light on the grim realities of the difficult humanitarian situation triggered by the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia.

Ambassador Kuzmenko traced the roots of this situation, affecting more than 13 million people, to the 2014 annexation of Crimea and the subsequent war in 2022. “We expect many to return once the war ends and their homes are liberated,” he remarked during his account of human suffering and resilience. “However, some may have already lost everything and begun anew elsewhere.”

During the classroom discussion, students benefited from the Ambassador’s knowledge and experience navigating policy, warfare, and post-war development. John Carlos Burog (SFS’25) observed, “This was a unique opportunity to grasp the complex layers of the situation in Ukraine. Hearing firsthand accounts is profoundly different from merely reading the news.”

Ambassador Kuzmenko also lauded Qatar’s significant contributions to humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. “We deeply cherish our bilateral relations,” he said, highlighting Qatar’s active support through mediation and substantial aid initiatives.

The English course, Exile: Estrangement or Enrichment? led by Professor Magdalena Rostron, seeks to cultivate a nuanced understanding of being forced to flee one’s country. It explores the resulting losses and opportunities through literature, poetry, and non-fiction. “The Ambassador’s presentation was an enriching addition to the students’ exploration of the human impact of exile as an increasingly common experience,” noted Professor Rostron.

Ambassador Kuzmenko’s visit to GU-Q deepened students’ understanding of the global impact of migration and exile. It also highlighted the critical role of international cooperation in addressing a problem affecting more than 100 million people worldwide. “This is not only about Ukraine,” he stressed. “This is about the world.”