As part of the Bonn Symposium, organized by the Development & Peace Foundation, the AIA NRW hosted the first panel discussion on the topic of “Peace with or protection from Russia? Rethinking Europe’s security after Ukraine.” Moderated by AIA Associate Fellow Mariia Levchenko, we discussed with Dr. Christina Horváth-Stenner, Head of the Europe Department at the Berghof Foundation with over 15 years of experience in shaping peace processes and moderating high-level peace dialogues, and Colonel Hennadiy “H” Kovalenko, who served as Director of the Department of International Defense Cooperation at the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and currently represents Edge Autonomy Ukraine. Colonel Kovalenko was a key figure in shaping Ukraine’s defense partnerships. He was directly involved in drafting nearly 30 bilateral security agreements, organized numerous high-level meetings in the “Ramstein” format, and coordinated important contacts between NATO and Ukraine. In their opening statements, both panelists analyzed the reality of the current war situation. The focus here was on complex challenges such as the lack of military capabilities, the lack of financial resources, and the fundamental lack of a common strategic culture among member states. However, the importance of Ukraine in view of its experiences for a future European security architecture was also emphasized. Subsequently, various options for a possible peace were discussed. The dilemma implied in the title—protection from and peace with Russia—was examined in detail. The negotiation process in the Transnistria conflict was discussed as a possible learning opportunity. Although both panelists discussed the topic from their respective professional backgrounds as a peacebuilder and a military officer, they agreed that security should be understood as a multi-perspective concept in order to guarantee lasting peace. The discussion, which was followed by over 60 participants, clearly showed how helpful it is to bring together perspectives on security policy and mediation policy in an exchange, as both are part of a sustainable solution to international conflicts.