Hybrid discussion on 'Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine: What has the last year taught us?'

23 February 2023
Hybrid London/Zoom

Speakers:
Lawrence Freedman, Emeritus Professor of War Studies, King's College London
Timothy Garton Ash, Professor of European Studies, University of Oxford
Olesya Khromeychuk, Director, Ukrainian Institute London
Iuliia Osmolovska, Director, Kyiv Office, GLOBSEC
Richard Shirreff, Director, Strategia Worldwide & former Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe, NATO
Chair: Charles Grant, Director, Centre for European Reform

On February 24th 2022, Russian forces launched an unprovoked all-out attack on Ukraine, seeking to seize Kyiv and to replace the democratically elected leadership there with Russian puppets. A year later, Russia has not achieved its war aims, but it is occupying more than 15 per cent of Ukraine’s territory, and Vladimir Putin is still trying to conquer more. Ukrainian forces, which were expected to collapse quickly when the invasion started, have out-performed all expectations and forced Russia back in a number of regions, but face considerable challenges in others. The West, despite periodic nuclear sabre-rattling from Russia, has supplied ever more lethal weapons systems to Ukraine, though in small quantities. After a year of renewed war, what lessons should analysts and policy-makers draw about Ukraine, Russia, European security and the nature of future warfare? And what steps should they take in the coming year to help Ukraine re-establish control over all its territory and to deter Russia from future wars of aggression against its neighbours?