Briefing on Russian Aggression in Ukraine's East

Speakers

• Taras Kuzio, Non-resident Fellow, Foreign Policy Institute, Johns Hopkins-SAIS and Professor, Department of Political Science, National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy
• Maria Zolkina, Analyst, Democratic Initiatives Foundation

Moderators

• Jonathan Katz, Senior Fellow and Director, Democracy Initiatives, The German Marshall Fund of the United States
• Olena Prokopenko, Non-resident Fellow, Democracy Initiatives, The German Marshall Fund of the United States

After nearly a six-month ceasefire, which was the longest Ukraine had seen since the military conflict started in 2014, there has been a significant increase in fighting since the beginning of 2021, continuing this week. There are growing concerns in Ukraine, the United States, and the West that the Kremlin may be preparing for large-scale provocations, including the possibility of sending its troops into Ukraine’s government-controlled territory. The buildup of the Russian forces along Ukraine’s border has been met by a strong U.S. and European response, including from President Biden who held his first phone call with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last week, assuring him of unwavering U.S. support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Our conversation on Friday will focus on the timing and scope of the Russian military escalation, Kremlin motives, and implications for Ukraine and the region. Is the Kremlin attempting to derail the new round of Donbas peace talks, an effort by Putin to distract Russians from domestic challenges pre-September election, or is this a test of the response and resolve of the Biden administration and transatlantic partners?

If you have any questions, please contact John Alexander at [email protected].