Events

Two years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the war continues to cause extreme civilian harm and military casualties and has changed Ukrainian society to the core. Two years of war in Europe also changed perceptions of NATO and the defence policies of European countries, whilst the EU decided to open accession negotiations with Ukraine. Yet, war in the Middle East and rising tensions in Asia have also directed international attention away from Ukraine. Promised weapon deliveries materialise slower than foreseen, and public support for Ukraine is not as self-evident as it was just after the invasion.

The current tensions between Russia and Ukraine pose the biggest challenge to peace in Europe in recent years. The main cause of the conflict is Russian unease with the existing political and security order of Europe and its demand that it be overhauled to accommodate Russia’s security interests.

On October 25th, Raam op Rusland will be organizing the fifth annual October Lecture together with debate center Rode Hoed. This year, Galina Timchenko of Russian news website Meduza will be shedding light on the deteriorating state of press freedom in Russia. The lecture will be followed by a debate with the Moscow-based Dutch journalist and publisher Derk Sauer.