Real Time Report - Ukraine

On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Russia could not feel "safe, develop, and exist" because of what he claimed was a constant threat from modern Ukraine. Immediately after, a full-scale military invasion on Ukraine was launched, resulting in number of casualties, both military and civilian. With President Joe Biden’s recent decisions to increase sanctions on Russia and keep all Russian airlines out of U.S. airspace as tensions escalate, it is pertinent to analyze and evaluate the role the United States will play in this crisis. While current events are still current, the Council is dedicated to offering a RealTime Report, hosting speakers with firsthand knowledge of the issues at bay and the ability to best interpret the situation as it unfolds. For this Russo-Ukrainian crisis, we’ve invited the Honorable Kay Bailey Hutchison, the 22nd permanent representative of the United States to NATO, in conversation with moderator and Russia and Near East expert Anna Borshchevskaya. Ambassador Hutchison has worked tirelessly with members of the 72-year-old alliance to protect our freedoms at home and abroad. She will share her informed insights on the world’s response to the unfolding war in Ukraine while Borshchevskaya will offer perspective on Putin’s intentions and Russia’s foreign policy. Ambassador Kay Bailey Hutchison The Honorable Kay Bailey Hutchison served her term as U.S. permanent representative to NATO in Brussels, Belgium from 2017-2021. During her three-and-a-half years as permanent representative, she focused on the importance of U.S. leadership in the organization and strengthening the transatlantic bond that provides the security umbrella for Europe and North America. She represented Texas in the U.S. Senate from 1993-2013 and was Texas state treasurer from 1991-1993. Ambassador Hutchison is also the author of three books, including the bestseller American Heroines. She earned a B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin and a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law. Anna BorshchevskayaModerated by Anna Borshchevskaya Anna Borshchevskaya is a senior fellow in The Washington Institute’s Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation Program on the Great Power Competition and the Middle East, focused on Russia’s policy toward the Middle East. She is also a contributor to Oxford Analytica and a fellow at the European Foundation for Democracy. Borshchevskaya has experience as a former analyst for a U.S. military contractor in Afghanistan and has served as communications director at the American Islamic Congress. Alongside her other publications, Borshchevskaya is the author of the 2021 book, Putin’s War in Syria: Russian Foreign Policy and the Price of America’s Absence. She holds a B.A. from State University of New York at Geneseo, an M.A. from John Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, and a Ph.D. from George Mason University. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate