Ukraine's ongoing conflict: present status and the debate over tranquility
In a recent conversation at the Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA), Ukrainian MP Lisa Yasko shared her views on the ongoing war in Ukraine and its broader impact on global affairs.
Yasko, a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and a graduate of the Oxford MPP program, expressed a profound sense of moral and human tragedy in the ongoing conflict. She criticised international figures, particularly the applause received by Russian President Vladimir Putin during talks in Alaska, calling it a "moral disaster." Yasko views Putin as a war criminal responsible for immense Ukrainian suffering.
Regarding peace talks, Yasko is cautiously hopeful but grounded in the reality of Ukraine’s heavy sacrifices and the exhaustion of the people after more than four years of war. She questions the appropriateness of Donald Trump’s role in negotiating peace, reflecting doubt about whether compromise under current circumstances would be acceptable or just.
Lisa Yasko is also the founder of Yellow Blue Strategy NGO, promoting cultural diplomacy and creative initiatives. She advocates for Ukraine's territorial integrity, European integration, and human rights. In addition, she supports sanctions, military aid, and conflict prevention in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).
Dr. Anna Colin Lebedev, a faculty member at PSIA and an assistant professor in political science at the University of Paris Nanterre, also participated in the discussion. Lebedev, who completed her PhD at Sciences Po in 2009, is an expert on the war in Ukraine and its implications. Her research focuses on mobilization and protest, armed conflicts, veterans, and combatants. Since 2014, Lebedev has been investigating the role of civilians in the conduct of the war in Ukraine.
Lebedev's latest book, "Jamais frères?", is a critical examination of the relationship between Russia and Ukraine. The book questions the idea of brotherhood between the two countries and has received widespread acclaim in academic circles.
Dr. Lebedev and Yasko's insightful conversation provided a unique perspective on the ongoing war in Ukraine, highlighting the moral, human, and political dimensions of the conflict. Their discussion underscored the importance of continued academic and political engagement with the issues at hand to promote peace, justice, and understanding.
The ongoing war in Ukraine is a complex issue that intertwines with global politics, as indicated by Ukrainian MP Lisa Yasko's discussion at the Paris School of International Affairs. Yasko, criticizing international figures, particularly the applause for Russian President Vladimir Putin, deems such admiration a "moral disaster" due to Putin's alleged role as a war criminal responsible for intense Ukrainian suffering. Furthermore, the war-and-conflicts, politics, and general-news discussion between Yasko and Dr. Anna Colin Lebedev emphasized the need for continued academic and political engagement to promote peace, justice, and understanding.
