On May 15, 2024, at AXICA, Kongress Zentrum will be holding an annual conference, "RUSSIA AND THE WEST. What Is at Stake? The War in Ukraine and the West's Future Policy towards Russia"
At this year's conference, speakers want to determine how stable or vulnerable Moscow's regime is and what instruments the West has available to weaken Russia’s war potential. They also want to examine who are possible "agents of change" in Russia and how the West can promote change.
Last but not least they will discuss which conclusions Europe, and the US will draw from the failure of their previous Russia policies: What are the guidelines for a new, realistic policy vis-à-vis Moscow for the West.
Program
Opening
Ralf Fücks & Marieluise Beck, Centre for Liberal Modernity
10:15 – 11:45 am Session One Evaluation of Russia's internal situation How stable is the regime? What are possible crisis factors? How much support does the regime (and the war against Ukraine) have among the population?
Input:
Irina Scherbakova, historian, co-founder of MEMORIAL
- Alexandra Prokopenko, visiting fellow, Center for Order and Governance in Eastern Europe, Russia, and Central Asia, German Council on Foreign Relations, Berlin
- Vladimir Milov, politician, economist and energy expert, Free Russia Foundation Vice President for International Advocacy
- Marek Menkiszak, Head of Russian Department at the Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW), Warsaw
Moderator: John Lough, Associate Fellow, Russia and Eurasia Programme, Chatham House
Session Two
Key Points of a New European Russia Policy The war in Ukraine forces Europe to make uncomfortable decisions: Rapprochement or containment and deterrence vis-à-vis Moscow? Is Putin still a legitimate leader and potential partner for the West? Is Europe ready to meet the new security challenges? How should a solid burden-sharing between the EU and NATO look? How can we promote the integration of Ukraine and other Eastern Partnership countries into the West? How can we encourage political change in Russia?
Input: Michael Siebert, Managing Director for Eastern Europe, Russia, Central Asia, Regional Cooperation and OSCE at European External Action Service
- Claudia Major, Head of the Security Research Division, German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), Berlin (tbc)
- Andrius Kubilius, Member of the European Parliament, former Prime Minister of Lithuania
- Pavlo Klimkin, co-founder of the Centre for National Resilience and Development and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine
Comment: Robin S. Quinville, Director, Global Europe Program, Wilson Center
Moderator: Ralf Fücks, Centre for Liberal Modernity 1:30 – 2:30 pm Lunch Break 2:30 – 4:00 pm
Session Three
Tightening of the sanctions regime Russian oil & gas exports and imports of military relevant technologies; rededication of Russian state bank assets to financial aid and compensation payments for Ukraine
Input
Maria Shagina, Diamond-Brown Senior Research Fellow for Economic Sanctions, Standards and Strategy, International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), Berlin
- Patrick Heinemann, Lawyer and Partner at Bender Harrer Krevet, Freiburg
- Olena Tregub, Executive Director of NAKO (the Independent Anti-Corruption Commission), former Director at Ukraine’s Ministry of Economic Development
- David J. Kramer, Executive Director, George W. Bush Institute and Vice President of the George W. Bush Presidential Center (online)
4:15 – 5:00 pm Closing Discussion and Takeaways
7:00 – 9:00 pm Public discussion of Russia's war against Ukraine and the future Russian policy of the West
Opening Dmytro Kuleba, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (tbc)
- Anna Lührmann, Minister of State, Federal Foreign Office, Germany (tbc)
- Panel Pawel Kowal, Chairman of the Sejm Foreign Affairs Committee (tbc)
- Andrius Kubilius, Member of the European Parliament, former Prime Minister of Lithuania
- Charlotta Rodhe, Deputy Director, Stockholm Center for Eastern European Studies
- Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Co-founder of the Russian Anti-War-Committee
Comments
- Nils Schmid, Member of the Bundestag, Foreign affairs spokesperson for the SPD parliamentary group
- Jürgen Hardt, Member of the Bundestag, Foreign affairs spokesperson for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group
- Agneszka Brugger, Member of the Bundestag, Deputy Chair of the Green Party parliamentary group (tbc)