Greetings! The Foundation for the National Interest (FNI), together with its partner institutions, the Ateneo School of Government - Ateneo Policy Center, FACTS, Miriam College, the University of the Philippines (UP) Center for Integrative and Development Studies and its Strategic Study Program, UP Law Center Institute of International Legal Studies, and  UP’s Political Science Department, cordially invite you to a two-panel webinar series on the Ukraine-Russia conflict that will be held on March 11 (Friday, 9:00AM PST) and March 12 (Saturday, 10:00AM PST), via Zoom.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has spawned many new developments since it started barely two weeks ago. 141 states supported the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly condemning the act and demanding Russia’s withdrawal of its forces from Ukraine. The United States and its allies have imposed various economic and financial sanctions designed to further isolate Russia from the international community and increase the cost of waging its invasion. Amidst escalating protests across the globe, Russia has intensified its aggression, with Putin moving Russia’s nuclear forces to “special alert” and Russian forces shelling Europe’s biggest nuclear plant.

This webinar series seeks to assess the basis and origins of the invasion, the extent of intervention of  key players including the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and the economic, strategic and geopolitical impact of sanctions on Russia. It also aims to identify the ramifications of Russia’s armed violation of Ukraine’s territory according to international law, Russia’s accountability for violating its commitments, and the remedies available to Ukraine to resolve the conflict.

 The webinar series will be comprised of two panels:

Panel 1:  "Explaining the Ukraine-Russia Conflict: Causes and Prognoses" (Friday, March 11, 9 AM PST).
Speakers:
Dr. Malcolm Davis, Senior Analyst in Defence Strategy and Capability at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute;
Dr. Maia Otarashvili, Research Fellow, Foreign Policy Institute; and
Mr. Shinkichi Fujimori,  Researcher, Slavic Research Center, Hokkaido University

 

Moderator:
Dr. Charmaine Willoughby, Associate Professor, International Studies Department, De La Salle University - Manila
 
Panel 2: "International Law and the Use of Force in the Ukraine-Russia Conflict" (Saturday, March 12, 10 AM PST).  
Speakers:
Dr. Diane Desierto, Professor of Law and Global Affairs Faculty Director, LL.M. in International Human Rights Law, The Law School, University of Notre Dame
Dr. Sergey Sayapin, Associate Professor and Associate Dean, School of Law, KIMEP University

Moderator:
Atty. Pia Benosa, LLM, Research Associate, Center for International Law, Singapore and Trustee, Foundation for the National Interest

On behalf of our partner institutions, I would like to encourage your participation in this webinar. We hope that you could join us for a meaningful exchange. Feel free to share the event with your networks. Should you have any questions about the event, please contact the FNI team at email address nationalinterestph@gmail.com.