War in Ukraine: A Conversation with the EURUS Community

On February 24, Russia invaded Ukraine, claiming that it aimed to “denazify” and “demilitarize” the country. Russian military actions have left thousands of civilians dead or wounded, and millions displaced. The consequences of this invasion will have untold implications for Ukraine, Russia, the West, and the world.

The Institute of European, Russian and Eurasian Studies is hosting a discussion board to provide up-to-date, real-time analysis of the conflict and a broader understanding of its historical, societal and geopolitical contexts. As the war develops, experts on the topic and other related issues will write in conversation with one another from a variety of perspectives.

Read the EURUS statement on Ukraine

The Conversation

Monday, June 6, 2022

Sanctions, Russia, and the International System – by Dane Rowlands

Sanctions, Russia, and the International System - by Dane Rowlands There has been a lot of discussion, and sometimes confusion, about the use of sanctions against Russia because of its invasion of Ukraine. Economic sanctions have been an instrument of foreign policy for centuries, and disrupting an enemy’s international commerce is a common... More

Monday, April 25, 2022

Axioms of the War – by Justin Paulson

Axioms of the War - by Justin Paulson It is difficult to write anything short on Ukraine. Too-brief commentaries incline toward punditry, which of course proliferates whenever war breaks out; it’s been said that nuanced analysis, by contrast, dies swiftly as soon as the first missile is launched. History, too, tends to be erased... More

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

After Bucha: Reflecting on Images and Establishing the Narratives of War – by Milana Nikolko

After Bucha: Reflecting on Images and Establishing the Narratives of War - by Milana Nikolko Two weeks have passed since the town of Bucha, a comfortable and cozy suburb of Kiev, where large pine trees were integrated into the modern cityscape, was liberated by Ukrainian forces. I know Bucha quite well; on many... More

Tuesday, April 5, 2022

Ukrainian Humanitarian Crisis – When Will EU solidarity End? – by Agnieszka Weinar

Ukrainian Humanitarian Crisis – When Will EU Solidarity End? - Agnieszka Weinar Four million Ukrainian escapees [1] came to the European Union within five weeks of the Russian invasion, with daily numbers reaching over 100,000 per day in the first two weeks. Such flow is unprecedented – at the height of the Syrian crisis... More

Friday, April 1, 2022

South Caucasus and Russia’s War in Ukraine – by David Sichinava

South Caucasus and Russia’s War in Ukraine - by David Sichinava The countries of the South Caucasus watch Russia’s war on Ukraine with much trepidation. For some, it leaves an eery and acute sense of déjà vu, conjuring not-so-distant memories of regional warfare. For others, it further exacerbates a chronic and widespread feeling of... More

Friday, April 1, 2022

Western Sanctions and Increasing the Costs of War to Russia – by Joan DeBardeleben

Western Sanctions and Increasing the Costs of War to Russia - by Joan DeBardeleben We are all well aware of the high cost that the war has imposed on Ukraine – catastrophic loss of life, health, homes, and infrastructure, and psychological stress. As a nation Ukraine is also at risk of losing its territory... More

Friday, March 25, 2022

No Winners in This War – by Jeff Sahadeo

No Winners in This War - by Jeff Sahadeo We enter the second month of the war in Ukraine with Russian advances largely (but not completely) stalled and Ukrainian defenders holding fast, even retaking some territory. As the battlefield settles into a back-and-forth for now, civilian casualties mount relentlessly as the Russians adopt a... More

Thursday, March 24, 2022

How Russian Television Primed the Public for War – by J. Paul Goode

How Russian Television Primed the Public for War - by J. Paul Goode Following Russia’s invasion, a vigorous debate erupted over whether ordinary Russians support or oppose the war, with a great deal of attention focused on the kinds of information presented to them via broadcast media. It is well known that most Russians... More

Friday, March 18, 2022

Zelenskyy and Havel – by Andrea Chandler

Zelenskyy and Havel - by Andrea Chandler On March 15, 2022, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke to Canada’s Parliament by video link. Canadians had the unique opportunity to be addressed directly by the leader of a country at war, who faced an unwarranted attack on his own soil. While those immersed in European and Russian... More

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