Border disputes with ethnic minorities living on the other side of the border to the titular state, have characterised (not only) Eastern Europe since the establishment of nation states. In many places, such minorities are often used as political pawns, and are perceived as a disruptive factor. It is these very same minorities that often feature heavily and are referenced in divisive propaganda. Russia's war against Ukraine and the annexations, legitimized by Russia through reference to the ethnic Russians living in eastern Ukraine, are only the latest shocking example. Minority groups in itself have certain interests regarding their autonomy and cultural rights they aim for. A positive example of how cross border peace and minority protections can be organised, can be found on the Danish-German border. From a democratic decision on the exact location of the border by a plebiscite, to the recognition and acknowledgement of the dissenters as national minorities, to the establishment of generous kin-state support with reciprocal minority institutions, the DanishGerman border, seems the perfect example of how to settle border- and minority conflicts. Even though it is solely based on just two unilateral governmental declarations and political will. Today both minorities, the Danish minority in Northern Germany and the German one in Southern Denmark are perceived as constructive citizens, with no serious border revisionism existing. Surprisingly though, this well-functioning Danish-German minority model is yet to be copied and implemented elsewhere. Martin Klatt – in conversation with Ekaterina Mihkailova – will explain how the Danish-German Border accommodates both the Danish and German minorities. His keynote will lead to a discussion about whether this model could be successfully deployed and used in more conflictual border regions, such as in war-torn Eastern Ukraine.