Four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the war continues to shape European and global security debates.
In this #EUIUpFront discussion, Alain Lempereur, Full-time Professor at the Florence School of Transnational Governance, Olena Snigyr, Jean Monnet Fellow at the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, and Bohdan Bernatskyi, Research Associate at the Florence School of Transnational Governance, reflect on the broader strategic implications of the conflict.
They examine different approaches to negotiation, including how Russia engages differently with Ukraine, the United States, and the European Union, as well as the coordination and limits of sanctions, and how interactions between Russia and other major powers affect diplomatic dynamics. The conversation also considers Europe’s role within a changing security architecture and the implications for its future leadership.
A recurring theme in the discussion is the relationship between peace and justice. The speakers question whether negotiations that prioritise ceasefire arrangements over accountability can deliver a durable settlement, and what it would mean for European and international legal order if justice were sidelined.
Watch the full video on the EUI YouTube channel.
The #EUIUpFront conversation series brings together EUI scholars to discuss the most pressing topics of our time from diverse perspectives.
Watch all #EUIUpFront videos on the EUI YouTube channel.
Alain Lempereur is Full-time Professor and EUI Chair in Leadership and Negotiation at the Florence School of Transnational Governance. His research and executive training focus on responsible leadership, negotiation, and mediation, with particular attention to conflict resolution and high-stakes diplomacy. He is the author of several books on negotiation and mediation, including The First Move: A Negotiator’s Companion and Mediation: Negotiation by Other Moves.
Olena Snigyr is a Jean Monnet Fellow at the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies at the EUI. Her research focuses on Russian foreign policy, European security, and Ukrainian foreign policy, with particular attention to strategic narratives and the role of historical memory in international relations. She has previously worked at the National Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of Ukraine and at the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance.
Bohdan Bernatskyi is a Research Associate at the Florence School of Transnational Governance at the EUI. His research examines international sanctions, their legal and political transformation, and the rise of informal global governance. He is the founder of Sanctions Finder, a platform that monitors personal and trade sanctions and supports research and compliance efforts.