There was once a time when diplomats could enter smoke-filled rooms and partition half of Europe between their rulers before finishing their cigars. In the 21st century, conflict and diplomacy are far more immediate and challenging. Our campus is smoke-free, but the Ellison Center for Russian, East European, and Central Asian Studies gathered a panel of four experts in one room to discuss real-world options to resolve this conflict approximately one year following the annexation of Crimea. Moderated by Professor Scott Radnitz, the panel brought together experts on finance, culture, and politics to discuss the future, “Ukraine and Russia: Is There Any Way Out?”

The room was already filled, but more people were still squeezing into a standing-room-only crowd for “NATO, Russia & 21st Century Atlanticism,” but Deputy Chief of Mission Tanel Sepp said that he is getting used to such receptions. “Before Crimea, I was knocking on different doors on the Hill, maybe they would have 10 or 15 minutes to talk. Now people from the Hill come to me.”

On Thursday, April 10, 2014, the Ellison Center produced a panel discussion on Ukraine and Russia in light of events in Crimea and Eastern Ukraine. In case you missed the event, or if you want to refer back to some of the points, the individual panelists’ discussions are below.  

This article is part of the Ellison Center blog Series on Sochi. Click here to read more as we cover the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Russia!    By Sarah McPhee “It’s like holding the Olympic Games in Kabul!” This description of Sochi by Russian policy analyst Arkady Ostrovsky only seems like irresponsible hyperbole. According

By Scott Radnitz Welcome to the launch of the new Ellison Center blog for the REECAS community. We hope this new addition to our online presence will contribute to increased engagement, discussion and awareness of our rich community. Our return to campus this fall comes after a summer in which our region dominated the headlines,

With the 2014 deadline for withdrawal from Afghanistan looming, various players and analysts are warning of the potential for spillover into Central Asia. In an August 1, 2013 article in The National Interest, Will Afghanistan Take Central Asia Down with It? Ellison Center Director Scott Radnitz and Marlene Laruelle, director of the Central Asia Program, Institute