On March 25, 2024 a panel discussion "Two years in. Analyzing the Regional implications of the Russian War in Ukraine” was launched by the Institute of European, Russian and Eurasian Studies at Carleton University in Ottawa. The academic meeting was organized by the Head of the University's Institute Mrs. Crina Viju-Miljusevic, PhD., Director and Associate Professor, Jean Monnet Chair EU External Relations.

The event was held to a full auditorium and was attended by students, graduates and professors from "Carleton" University, diplomats etc. The panelists - the Ambassadors of Poland, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Romania and Estonia - answered questions regarding the current security environment in the context of the illegal Russian military invasion of Ukraine and the implications for the region in its various aspects. Information was provided on the measures taken by each of the represented EU countries to address the challenges, to support the refugees from Ukraine and to strengthen the ability of Ukraine in the past two years to withstand the aggression and to preserve its independence, the role and responsibility of the European Union in regard to the conflict, as well as NATO's support to Ukraine. Among the matters discussed were the Ukraine's accession to the EU and the possible challenges it will face during the process, the expected European Parliament elections and the EU's support to Ukraine after the elections. The panel discussion was followed by a Q&A session, where the EU ambassadors were asked about the options for providing support to the preservation of the cultural and historical heritage of Ukraine during the war; the possibilities for cooperation with countries that have relatively neutral stance towards the war in Ukraine; the main future challenges deriving from the Kremlin’s head aggressive actions; the effect of the sanctions imposed on the Russian Federation; the cooperation between the countries in Eastern Europe in the energy sector with regard to the current geopolitical situation of a full-scale war in Ukraine, etc.

On behalf of Bulgaria, the panel discussion was led by Mr. Plamen Georgiev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Bulgaria to Canada.