EF@6 Alexander Khara & Edward Lucas

In convo with Alexander Khara & Edward Lucas

Scott, the Transatlantic Crew and I were priviledged to chat with Alexander Khara and Edward Lucas on May 12 on EuroFile@6 Spaces.

Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has forced us to shore up our security posture and thinking. As fate would have it, we chatted on a truly historic day: Finland gave formal notice about its intent to join NATO. Besides this, we also discussed issues related to Ukrainian and European security architecture in the past, present and future.

We thank Mr Khara and Mr Lucas for having brought their extensive experience and knowledge about diplomacy, foreign policy and security to our discussion.

Alexander Khara

Mr Khara is a Ukrainian diplomat, foreign policy and security expert.

He is a ​director of the Department of International Multinational Relations at the “Maidan of Foreign Affairs” Foundation (Kyiv, Ukraine), the Centre for Defence Strategies Ukraine, Deputy Chair of the Black Sea Institute, and an advisor to the Ukrainian Minister of Defence.

Edward Lucas

Mr Lucas is a nonresident Senior Fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA). He was formerly a senior editor at The Economist.

Lucas has covered Central and Eastern European affairs since 1986, writing, broadcasting, and speaking on the politics, economics, and security of the region.

He is an internationally recognized expert on espionage, subversion, the use and abuse of history, energy security and information warfare. Please pick up The New Cold War (2008, newly revised and republished); Deception (2011) among many other books.

Edward Lucas, Fresh Winds, CEPA

Putin’s war is transforming European security. But not yet fast enough.

Wishful thinking used to be the Leitmotiv of Western thinking about the Baltic Sea region. Outsiders’ contribution to these frontline countries’ security rested on the belief that a tripwire military presence would protect them from Russian aggression.

News from Ukraine

Olga Tokariuk @olgatokariuk

Day 88 of Ukraine resistance. Russia fires missiles at civilian objects in Zaporizhia region, as British intelligence warn it may attempt to stage an offensive on the city.More bodies of killed civilians discovered near Bucha, bringing the total number to 1300 only in Kyiv region

Poland’s president Duda addressing the Verkhovna Rada today:

“After Bucha, Borodianka, Mariupol, there can be no business as usual with Russia, dear presidents and prime ministers. Poland will do everything it can to help Ukraine become a EU member.”

During president Duda’s visit to Kyiv today, president Zelensky announced a bilateral agreement between Ukraine and Poland, simplifying border crossings. Further details on the agreement to be published.

"Nothing about you without you" - President Duda to Ukrainian people

Putting rumours to bed

Dmytro Kuleba @DmytroKuleba

Ukraine, and only Ukraine will define when and how the war ends. We exercise our right to self-defence under article 51 of the UN Charter following a brutal armed attack. President @ZelenskyyUa has been clear. We don’t need anyone else’s land, but we won’t give up on what’s ours.

More please.

Department of Defense 🇺🇸 @DeptofDefense

.@usairforce Airmen secure 155 mm M777 towed howitzers for transport as part of U.S. security assistance to 🇺🇦 Ukraine.

Disturbing movements

The Kyiv Independent @KyivIndependent

⚡️General Staff: Russia deploys Iskander missile launchers to Belgorod Oblast. The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported on May 22 that Russia has deployed Iskander-M short-range ballistic missile system launchers to Russia’s Belgorod Oblast that borders Ukraine.

Thanks for listening…

Scott & Mo