A TPF Panel Discussion on "Russia - Ukraine Crisis and the Fear of War: Rhetoric or Reality".

"As 2022 started with heightened tensions over the Ukrainian border, it remains to be seen whether a full blown-out war is in the cards for Russia, United States and NATO. With Russia amassing troops along Ukraine’s border on all sides, Western countries continue to assess their options, ranging from providing military supplies and economic support to Ukraine, to heavy economic sanctions on Russia. NATO’s expansion in Eastern Europe represents a threat to Russia’s traditional sphere of influence and its own security architecture in Eastern Europe. Having annexed Crimea in 2014, Russia has continued to fuel the civil war in Eastern Ukraine. While repeatedly denying any intentions of invading Ukraine, Putin is playing the Ukraine card to get the US and NATO allies to accept his demands for security guarantees, essentially to demand NATO's retreat from Eastern Europe. India, keeping in mind, the critical importance of the strategic partnership with the US and its need to maintain traditional strategic ties with Moscow, its priority remains to maintain a delicate balance. If the situation escalates, it could result in Russia and China coming closer together than ever, which will pose a huge challenge for India’s position on the global stage. The distinguished panelists will discuss the possibility of war in Eastern Europe and its implications for India".

Distinguished Panelists:

1. Ambassador P S Raghavan - Former Indian Ambassador to Moscow and former Convenor of the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB).

2. Professor Andrei Korobkov PhD - Professor of Political Science and International Relations, Middle Tennessee State University, USA.

Moderator:

The panel discussion is being moderated by Professor Vidya Nadkarni PhD - Professor of Political Science at the University of San Diego, California, USA.

In Chair:
The panel discussion is being chaired by Air Marshal M Matheswaran AVSM VM PhD (Retd), President - The Peninsula Foundation.