Round Table Ukraine

Round Table’s history with Ukraine appears to consist of intermittent periods of intense focus. It features within Round Table’s agenda in almost every decade since its founding.

1991 was a very important year in the history of Europe and of Round Table in general. It was the year in which the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was formally dissolved, specifically on 26th December 1991. Ukraine, like many other former Soviet republics, became an independent country ripe for Round Table expansion.

This, combined with the Rebirth of Round Table International, and early successes in other Eastern countries such as Round Table Estonia, encouraged Tablers to export their project to these new nations now that the opportunity had arisen.

RT1 Kiev was officially chartered during the weekend of 27th to 29th August 1993, with 123 international guests present at the charter ceremony.

This was not just a charter in a new country — it felt much more significant. The fact that the “Spirit of Table” had now taken root behind the former “Iron Curtain” was an important milestone. Despite being kick-started into action, this club did not survive for long. Perhaps it was too soon after Soviet rule for Ukraine to adapt to the Round Table ideals, or perhaps it was simply too distant to stay in contact.

Further recharter initiatives took place in the subsequent decades, with varying levels of momentum — the most recent occurred in 2019.

Once the country was invaded and formally at war, many Round Table organisations took it upon themselves to support humanitarian causes in Ukraine. The largest of these efforts was the Ukraine Convoy Project (RTDE), along with the rapid sheltering of refugees by Round Table Moldova, and other fundraisers such as Round Table Family Walking Side-by-Side with Ukraine (RTBI), and Score for Ukraine (RTMT).

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Original 1993 Charter 

The charter weekend was, without doubt, a very good experience for the foreign Tablers. All those who made the Kiev Charter possible deserved big thanks from the entire Round Table movement. Everything became possible due to the work and foresight of a small group of tablers from RT Switzerland and a special congratulations to Felix Mauron who masterminded the entire weekend.

What a day for the new Tablers of RT1 Kiev. They have had a terrific baptism of fire into the ways of Round Table. Their welcome and support for all the visitors was the best incentive for a fruitful tabling life, similar to so many tables before them.

RT Great Britain and Ireland and RT1 Norwich were there. After all Round Table started from them and this was another RT1 joining their elite group of RT1 members. They have extended their hospitality to the new members to attend the RT Great Britain and Ireland forthcoming Welcome Tour and the RTBI Conference. And they did, as two tablers from the newly chartered table, Pavel Zomotaev and Sergei Malyarnv from RT1 Kiev flew to England and attended the 1994 RTBI AGM in Skegness.

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Re-Charter Initiatives

Almost three decades later RT International started a new attempt to bring back the Tabling life to the vibrant metropolis of Kiev. In March 2019 they have posted in Facebook a banner that Round Table International is expanding further in Central and Eastern Europe and that they were looking for prospects in the Ukraine in order to establish a Table in Kiev.

The first contact meeting took place on 8th June 2019 at 4.00 pm at the Ibis Kiev City Centre. A second contact Meeting was held on the weekend of 8th to 10th November 2019.

Unfortunately, the re-charter initiatives were torpedoed in 2020 by COVID-19. Soon after, the outbreak was followed by the invasion of eastern Ukraine by Russian forces from 2022 onwards.

Let’s hope that soon we will re-charter RT1 Kiev and RT Ukraine — maybe together with their active brother associations of Moldova and Romania which both share a border and that are not too far to major cities like Lwiw or Odessa.

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Humanitarian Support

During the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, many Round Table organisations took it upon themselves to support humanitarian causes in Ukraine. In total, the movement collected about EUR 2,000,000 in donations and support material. Some of the initiatives that took place include:

• • Ukraine Convoy Project (RTDE),
  • Sheltering of refugees by Round Table Moldova,
  • Round Table Family Walking Side-by-Side with Ukraine (RTBI),
  • Score for Ukraine (RTMT).

Association Rondel 

The centre of the Rondel of RT Ukraine is a white trident (some variants have the trident in gold), called the tryzub on a blue background. The history of the trident symbol, which is also the Ukrainian Coat of Arms, is more than 1,000 years old. The first known archeological and historical evidence of this symbol can be found on the seate of the Rurik dynasty.

Future versions would be updated to conform with the current RTI designs.

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