As the NATO Summit Approaches – A Discussion of Regional Leaders at Vilnius University Takes Place
On July 4th at 10:00 a.m. an exceptional meeting of intellectuals, various experts and decision-makers will take place in the Theatre Hall of Vilnius University (VU). The international conference "European Response. The War in Ukraine and New Challenges" is conceived as an intellectual preamble to this year’s NATO summit, also held in Vilnius.
The conference will be opened by Lithuania's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gabrielius Landsbergis and VU Rector Prof. Rimvydas Petrauskas.
"Vilnius University aims to contribute to the most important discussions that shape not only Lithuanian internal policy but also foreign policy. The anniversary of Vilnius city and the highly significant NATO leaders' meeting are a great opportunity to contribute to the context of serious political decisions. We are pleased to have invited not only distinguished academics and experts but also three political leaders who are influential in the region and around the world," says VU Rector.
At the conference, the three Baltic State Presidents, Dalia Grybauskaitė, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, and Egils Levits, will discuss how the war in Ukraine has changed the world and the situation in the region. What challenges and threats arise for Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia? What can be done to help Ukraine win the war? What NATO actions and new defence solutions are needed to make our region more easily defended? Is it possible to influence the future of Russia and is its democratic transformation and the collapse of Putin's regime possible? The discussion will be moderated by the Director of the Center for Eastern European Studies and VU political scientist Linas Kojala.
About the idea of Europe changing the war in Ukraine, the broader consequences of the war in Ukraine for the entire continent, European politicians and strategic objectives, the threats posed to Europe by Russia, the necessary unity of Europe, what is lacking to be able to act purposefully will also be
discussed. Jovita Neliupšienė, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Rasmus Brun Pedersen, Associate Professor of International Relations at the Department of Political Science, Aarhus University (Denmark), and Antero Holmila, Professor of History at the University of Jyväskylä (Finland) will cover this topic.
In the third discussion, questions about the possible course of the war and its end will be raised by Janis Sarts, Director of the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence, former Prime Minister of Latvia, current Member of the European Parliament Andrius Kubilius, Ukrainian lecturer Tetiana Boriak from the Faculty of History at Vilnius University, Andrzej Vowak, Eastern Europe expert and historian from Jagiellonian University (Poland), and Kristian Gerner, historian and Eastern Europe expert from Lund University (Sweden). They will discuss how military, economic, and social changes could be interpreted as a victory for Ukraine and what influence could force Russia to acknowledge defeat. What is missing for Ukraine to achieve a military breakthrough? Is it possible to regain control of the territories occupied in 2014? What punishments should be expected from the leaders and representatives of the Russian regime? Is punishment necessary for the whole of Russia? How can Ukraine return to normal functioning, and how far is Russia willing to go in destroying the Ukrainian people and their state?
This conference aims to review the consequences of Russian aggression and effective Ukrainian resistance in our region, including changes in geopolitical and global security systems, as well as their cultural, historical, psychological, and philosophical consequences. Looking back at the events, the conference will attempt to initiate a dialogue about possible future scenarios.
The event is open to everyone, but registration is required.