PLEASE NOTE THAT THE KEYNOTE ADDRESS WILL BE OFF THE RECORD.

U.S.-Russian relations are in bad shape. From the democratization and foreign policy orientation of the post-Soviet states to missile defense and energy and pipeline politics, more often than not Washington and Moscow find themselves on opposite sides. The Kremlin is blaming the United States for Georgia’s reckless attempt to reclaim South Ossetia, and the universal condemnation by America and its allies of Russia’s invasion of Georgia has brought the relationship to its lowest point since the end of the Cold War.

Will there be opportunities for better relations between the Kremlin leadership and the incoming U.S. administration? Which divisive strategic issues might be more amenable to solution? Since the thorniest U.S.-Russian problems involve other countries in Eastern and Central Europe and Eurasia, as well as international organizations like NATO, the European Union, and the World Trade Organization, could a multilateral approach lessen the tensions between the United States and Russia?

These and other questions will be discussed at this AEI event by experts, policymakers, and government advisers from the United States, Russia, East and Central Europe, and Eurasia. Speakers include Stephen Biegun, foreign policy adviser to the McCain campaign, and Stephen Sestanovich of the Council on Foreign Relations; Fyodor Lukyanov, editor of Russia in Global Affairs; Andrei Kortunov of the New Eurasia Foundation; Thomas Graham, who was formerly a special assistant to the president and senior director for Russian affairs at the National Security Council; Giorgi Baramidze, Georgia’s vice prime minister and state minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration; Petr Kolar, the ambassador of the Czech Republic to the United States; and Petr Gladkov, who is on leave from the presidential administration of the Russian Federation.

For video and audio of the afternoon panels please click here