Thread by @tepsaeu

We are about to go live with our event co-organised with @ResearchUI 👉 "Opinions on Russia: Convergence or Divergence of Views"

We will discuss this topic with @MichaelKaeding, Lucia Mokrá, Ramūnas Vilpišauskas & Gunilla Herolf

Learn more: tepsa.eu/webinar-opinio…

/THREAD🧵

As always we will be highlighting the best bits from the discussion here on Twitter: our first speaker following introductions by @ResearchUI's Gunilla Herolf is @MichaelKaeding

Michael is the co-editor of "Russia and the Future of Europe: Views from the Capitals"

/2

This seminar is taking place in the context of the new book "Russia and the Future of Europe: Views from the Capitals", co-edited by @MichaelKaeding, @JohannesPollak & @_PaulSchmidt

The book is the 4th book coordinated by TEPSA dealing with the future of Europe

/3

"Russia and the Future of Europe: Views from the Capitals" aims to bring in over 40 national perspectives on the topic: "this volume is a journey across Europe to get the full picture on #Russia and the #FutureofEurope" - @MichaelKaeding

/4

"This book addresses the historic ties between each country and Russia, their current policies towards Russia & the views in the countries on the future of relations with Russia"

- @MichaelKaeding, co-editor of "Russia and the Future of Europe: Views from the Capitals"

/5

We turn now to Ramūnas Vilpišauskas, Professor at the Institute of International Relations and Political Science, Vilnius University for the Lithuanian perspective 🇱🇹

@TSPMI @VU_LT

/6

"Lithuania has a longstanding understanding of how Russia can use energy supplies aggressively, for example in 2006, when claimed 'technical issues' disrupted supply during negotiations where Lithuania was trying to diversify its energy sources"
- Ramūnas Vilpišauskas, @TSPMI
/7

"After #Putin came to power, along with growing centalisation and authoritarianism in Russia, along with increasingly aggressive Russian foreign policy, Russia came to be seen as the number 1 threat in Lithuania"

- Ramūnas Vilpišauskas, @TSPMI

/8

"When Russia fought a war against #Georgia in 2008, when Russia annexed #Crimea in 2014, for Lithuania these proved that early perceptions and worries about Russia were correct"

- Ramūnas Vilpišauskas, @TSPMI

/9

"Since 2017, @NATO presence has been increased in Lithuania, as a response to aggressive Russian foreign policy on its European borders, in Ukraine, in Georgia, and as a precaution against Russian aggression"

- Ramūnas Vilpišauskas, @TSPMI

/10

"Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have probably been the most vocally supporters of EU sanctions against Russia in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine; as a percentage of GDP Lithuania is also among the most financially supportive to #Ukraine"

- Ramūnas Vilpišauskas, @TSPMI

/11

"There is some unease about what will eventually be considered 'the end of the war'. The Lithuania Minister of Foreign Affairs thinks a change of regime in Moscow is the only acceptable outcome"

- Ramūnas Vilpišauskas, @TSPMI

/12

After the views from Lithuania, @MichaelKaeding turns to Lucia Mokrá, Chairperson of the TEPSA Board, to give the view from Slovakia

/13

"It is valuable to discuss European divergences on Russia, to explain why they exist, what effects they have, and how they may impact common policy at European level and beyond"

- Lucia Mokrá (@ComeniusUni), Chair of the TEPSA Board

/14

"After the foundation of the Slovak Republic in 1993, an agreement was already signed between the new Republic and Russia: this was an economic integration but an unbalanced relationship in favour of Russia"

- Lucia Mokrá (@ComeniusUni), Chair of the TEPSA Board

/15

"The imbalance in this relationship between Slovakia and Russia was such that some even considered it to have potential to destabilise Slovakia due to having such an economic dependency on Russia"

- Lucia Mokrá (@ComeniusUni), Chair of the TEPSA Board

/16

"Slovakia has always asked whether is was more 'Western' or had more in common with Russia - this was settled by accession in 2004, confirmed by a public referendum in 2003"

- Lucia Mokrá (@ComeniusUni), Chair of the TEPSA Board

/17

"Even during #COVID19, Slovakia found itself close to Russia, importing the Sputnik vaccine against EU advice. This continuing relation results from key political figures' closeness to Putin's regime"

- Lucia Mokrá (@ComeniusUni), Chair of the TEPSA Board

/18

If you would like to learn more about Lucia Mokrá's perspective from Slovakia, check out her #TEPSAexplainer video!

WATCH IN FULL: tepsa.eu/watch-where-sl…

/19

We now turn to @ResearchUI's Gunilla Herolf: "Sweden has a different history with Russia than Lithuania or Slovakia - we were never occupied, though we did go to war in the 1800s - but we have had a number of negative relations with Russia over the years"

/20

"In the wake of the fall of the Soviet Union, Sweden wanted Russia to succeed - relations were good until the cyber attack in Estonia in 2007, the Georgian war in 2008, and in 2013 when Russian bombers navigated towards Stockholm."

- Gunilla Herolf (@ResearchUI)

/21

"If you look at the Swedish situation on the whole, comparing the population and the politicians, you will find that opinions of Russia are fairly homogenous: 83% have an unfavourable opinion on Russia"

- Gunilla Herolf (@ResearchUI)

/22

"We saw Russia build up its forces on the Ukrainian border, but we hoped it would only be a way to scare Ukraine. We were wrong, and condemn Russia's war of aggression of course"

- Gunilla Herolf (@ResearchUI)

/23

"It is important to elaborate on the triggers for Sweden's application for NATO Membership: it is sad that we felt the need to apply, but realistic when considering the aggressive Russian approach to its neighbouring states, including Sweden"

- Gunilla Herolf (@ResearchUI)

/24

"When the invasion of Georgia happened, and other times when Russia was aggressive towards its neighbours, Sweden's response has always been strong - this is because we are not overly dependent on Russia"

- Gunilla Herolf (@ResearchUI)

/25

On this note we turn to the audience for a Q&A session - those of you watching in Zoom or on Facebook should put your questions in the chat and they may be answered by our expert panel!

/26

We are proud to provide a forum for audience members - be they civil society members, political practitioners, students, academics, or members of the public - to freely engage with leading European experts

Learn more about our activities: tepsa.eu/projects/

/27

We now turn to our speakers for some final thoughts on the topic

/28

"The way we reach people is with facts, not disinformation or misinformation - not with Russian propaganda"

- Gunilla Herolf (@ResearchUI)

/29

"Providing facts and using veracious media to convey those facts is the way to combat mis- and disinformation on Russia's aggression"

- Ramūnas Vilpišauskas (@TSPMI)

/30

"Neither are Russia or the EU are going anywhere soon - we need to stay strong and unified in the EU and in support of Ukraine. It may seem impossible, but we must hold accountable those who break the rules, we should hold Russia accountable for its aggression"

- Lucia Mokrá
/31

On this note Gunilla Herolf and @MichaelKaeding close the discussion on this webinar

/32

This event is a preview of our collaboration with @ResearchUI this week 👉 we follow tomorrow with the #SwedishPPC, so stay tuned!

/ENDS

@threadreaderapp please unroll