Timothy Snyder (photo by Jamie Napier)
Timothy Snyder awarded PEN Ukraine's Vasyl Stus Prize
Published: April 7, 2026
Timothy Snyder, professor and inaugural Chair in Modern European History, supported by the Temerty Endowment for Ukrainian Studies, at the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, has received the 2025 Vasyl Stus Prize.
The prize is awarded annually by PEN Ukraine in collaboration with Kyiv-Mohyla Business School and the Dukh i Litera publishing house to individuals for outstanding contributions to Ukrainian culture and the strength of their civic stance.
Snyder was recognized for his sustained scholarly and public engagement with Ukraine and his contributions to understanding the region’s history, culture and political life, particularly in the context of war and democratic resistance.
"There are so many Ukrainian poets and authors who... can tell the essential truth about the war by the means of prose and poetry. This is why I feel a bit uncomfortable," Snyder said in his acceptance speech. "I personally know so many people who articulate this war with prose and poetry. I’m so grateful. I can’t speak about myself in war-torn Ukraine: I can only speak about the others who are my teachers in the future and in the present."
Volodymyr Yermolenko, president of PEN Ukraine and head of the Vasyl Stus Prize jury, hailed Snyder as "one of the world's most potent voices" in support of Ukraine. "This support comes from his conviction that tyrannies must be stoutly resisted. For Snyder, the dissidents from Central and Eastern Europe, including Ukraine, show an example of such resistance," Yermolenko said.
