Hon. Steven Pifer, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine (1997-2000) and Director of the Brookings Arms Control and Non-Proliferation Initiative

In conversation with Dr. Gloria Duffy, President of The Commonwealth Club and former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (1993-1995)

What began as a tussle over whether Ukraine affiliated with European or Russian financial institutions escalated into a nerve-wracking military standoff between Russia and Ukraine on the Crimean Peninsula. The Russian-leaning President of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovich, has been impeached by the parliament and replaced by acting President Oleksandr Turchynov, along with Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuka, 39-year-old, technocratic businessman and politician. What’s at stake in Ukraine? How far will Russia go to retain its influence there? Is a wider military confrontation possible between these two countries? Could the U.S. be involved? Will sanctions against Russia have their desired effect? Will the diplomatic “offramp” for the crisis proposed by U.S. and European leaders de-escalate the crisis? What foreign assistance will be provided to Ukraine and what will be its impact? What does Ukraine need to do to strengthen its economy and solidify its independence?

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