A review of the “Munk Debates: The Russia – Ukraine War”

TOOMAS EICHENBAUM

After an extended hiatus due to the Covid pandemic, the renowned Munk Debates hosted its first live debate at Roy Thompson Hall in Toronto last Thursday evening.

The almost full hall of attendees were witness to a lively and substantive debate on the Russian invasion into Ukraine. The debate proposition was: “Be it resolved, ending the world’s worst geopolitical crisis in a generation starts with acknowledging Russia’s security interests.” A condensed introduction, as presented by The Munk Debates, was as follows: “The Russian invasion of Ukraine represents a profound security risk for the world. It raises fundamental issues about the basic principles that underwrite the international order and it threatens the specter of a high-risk Great Power conflict. How is this fast-evolving crisis best addressed? Does it demand a resolute push by the West to punish and degrade Putin’s Russia economically, politically and militarily? Or is a solution to be found in acknowledging Russia’s security needs and finding ways to mutually de-escalate the war? Which of these different strategies stand the best chance of success? And how ultimately is this conflict best resolved?”

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