Experts discuss Russia’s build-up in and around Ukrane, and implications for Euro-Atlantic Security

Three eminent experts discussed this topic of NATO-Russia and the future of Euro-Atlantic security:

• Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger, Chair of the Munich Security Conference,
• Ambassador Alexander Vershbow, Distinguished Fellow, Atlantic Council of the US and former NATO Deputy Secretary General,
• Ambassador Baiba Braže, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy

The event was moderated by Luis Simón, Director of the Elcano Royal Institute's Office in Brussels.

They addressed key questions including the latest state of affairs on the diplomatic and military front; Russia's main concerns and complaints about NATO; the future of talks with Russia about Euro-Atlantic security; reconciling seemingly irreconcilable differences about the core principles of European security; and the possibility of a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

The speakers agreed that this is a defining moment for Euro-Atlantic security. Russia's military build-up in and around Ukraine continues; and combined with the threatening rhetoric and Russia's track record of using force against neighbours, the sense was that the risk of conflict is real. They concluded that there is still hope and room for a diplomatic solution, but that it is now for Russia to choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy.

Based on earlier publications by Ambassador Ischinger (https://securityconference.org/en/news/full/russia-nato-and-us-oped-ischinger/) and Ambassador Vershbow (https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/How-the-West-should-deal-with-Russia-PDF.pdf), they also discussed the prospects for a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

You can watch the entire discussion again on NATO's Youtube channel here: https://youtu.be/faBOr08XMbs