Authors

Taras Kuzio¹; Paul D'Anieri²; Mark Galeotti³; Hanna Josticova⁵; Lawrence Freedman⁴;  ¹ National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy, Ukraine;  ² University of California at Riverside, United States;  ³ Royal United Services Institute, United States;  ⁴ King's College London, UK;  ⁵ University of Birmingham, UK

Discussion

Round-table discussion of the root causes of the 2014 crisis when Russia invaded and annexed Crimea and launched military aggression against Ukraine. The speakers will analyse six key questions. Firstly, how do national identity questions and Russian views of an "artificial Ukraine" and Russians and Ukrainians as "one people" influence the causes of the war? Secondly, why do three quarters of Ukrainians believe there is a Russian-Ukrainian war while most Russians see the conflict as a "civil war"? Thirdly, why do a high 85% of Russians support Crimea's annexation and over 50% support the separation of the Donbas from Ukraine? Fourthly, what are the long-term consequences for Russian soft power and influence in Ukraine and Russian-Ukrainian relations? Fifthly, how will the war be affected by President Vladimir Putin remaining in office until 2036? Sixthly, why Jewish, and Russian-speaking eastern Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has, like his predecessor, Petro Poroshenko, was unable to achieve a peaceful settlement?