What does it take to build lasting peace — and secure it?

What kind of security guarantees can truly deter renewed aggression?

In this episode of Lawyering Peace, Dr. Paul R. Williams is joined by Lesia Ogryzko, Director of the Sahaidachnyi Security Center, and Julian Braithwaite, former UK Ambassador to the UN and WTO, to unpack what a post-war security framework for Ukraine could and should look like.

Together, they explore how to negotiate credible security commitments that reflect the lessons of past failures — while embracing future-oriented strategies for deterrence, resilience, and international coordination.

From the role of the EU, US, and NATO, to the engagement of global players like China, India, and Brazil, the conversation examines how a pluralistic, robust security architecture can emerge from peace talks. The episode also confronts hard realities, including Russia’s continued threats and the challenges of military demilitarization demands.

🎧 Tune in for an expert dialogue on peace, power, and post-war security strategy.

What does it take to create an international reparations mechanism? How can individuals and institutions contribute to a future justice process—one claim at a time?

In this latest episode of Lawyering Peace, Markiyan Kliuchkovskyi, Executive Director of the Register of Damage for Ukraine, joins Dr. Paul R. Williams to discuss one of the most innovative legal accountability efforts emerging from Russia’s war of aggression.

The Register of Damage is the first formal step in a broader reparations mechanism, designed to collect and record claims for loss, injury, and damage caused by Russia’s full-scale invasion. Though not a tribunal or fund itself, the Register lays the legal and evidentiary foundation for future restitution—whether through confiscated Russian assets or other funding structures.

Kliuchkovskyi explains how this unique mechanism navigates international legal constraints, anticipates huge numbers of claims, and gives Ukrainians a chance to document the losses they have experienced as a consequence of Russia's war. The conversation explores financing options, political momentum, and how the Register’s growing legitimacy helps to ensure that reparations remain a pillar of any future peace.

🎧 Tune in for a timely discussion on law, justice, and the architecture of accountability after war.

What are the legal and political pathways for using frozen Russian assets to compensate Ukraine?

And why has the transfer of these assets become a litmus test for the rules-based international order?

In this episode of Lawyering Peace, Ukrainian diplomat and legal expert Mykola Yurlov joins Dr. Paul R. Williams to discuss how frozen Russian sovereign assets could - and should - be used to support Ukraine’s reconstruction and deliver justice for victims of aggression.

Mykola held the position of Deputy Director of the Department of International Law and Cooperation at the Ministry of Justice, where he led both the International Disputes Unit and the Damage Compensation Unit. In these roles, he contributed to the development of an international compensation mechanism and to Ukraine’s proposal for a special tribunal for the crime of aggression. He also served as Senior Legal Counsel at Truth Hounds, a leading Ukrainian human rights organization documenting war crimes on the ground.

Mykola breaks down the legal foundation for asset transfers under international law, including the use of countermeasures and the principle of state responsibility. He outlines how these transfers would support the three-part international compensation mechanism: the Register of Damage, a future Claims Commission, and a Compensation Fund.

The conversation explores both the legal feasibility and the political resistance surrounding asset transfers, especially debates over sovereign immunity, reversibility, and potential financial precedent. Mykola explains why delay harms not only Ukraine, but the broader credibility of international law.

🎧 Tune in for a timely discussion on law, reparations, political will, and the global implications of frozen asset policy.