In recent months, renewed escalation of fighting in eastern Ukraine and tensions in Crimea have raised new doubts about the continued relevance of the Minsk agreements. Negotiations between Russia and the U.S. do not seem to have yielded results. The security situation elsewhere in the common neighbourhood of the EU and Russia is fragile. Instability in Turkey and Russia’s Syria operation add complexity to the conflict-prone geostrategic environment. The fate of Ukraine and other countries in the region remains crucial for the future shape and rules of the European security order. How to assess recent talks between the U.S. and Russia on Ukraine and Syria? What are the lessons learned from Russia’s Syria operation with regard to Ukraine? How does Turkey’s rising anti-westernism and warming up of ties with Russia affect Ukraine? Is Belarus doomed to deepening dependence on Russia?
Opening remarks:
Teija Tiilikainen, Director, Finnish Institute of International Affairs
Chair:
Kristi Raik, Senior Research Fellow, Finnish Institute of International Affairs
Speakers:
Stephen Blank, Senior Fellow, American Foreign Policy Council
Arkady Moshes, Director, EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood and Russia Research programme, Finnish Institute of International Affairs
Toni Alaranta, Senior Research Fellow, Finnish Institute of International Affairs
Andras Racz, Senior Research Fellow, Finnish Institute of International Affairs
Sinikukka Saari, Senior Researcher, Planning and Research Unit, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland
The event marks the launch of the FIIA Report Key Actors in the EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood: Competing Perspectives on Geostrategic Tensions.
Further information: Sannamari Bagge, sannamari.bagge@fiia.fi, 09 432 7711.
