Distinguished Speaker Series "Ukraine: Past, Present, and Future"

a World Affairs Councils of America “Embassy Row Live” event!

About the Program:

Ukraine: Past, Present and Future

The whole world watches anxiously as Russia has positioned an army of 100,000 troops along the Eastern border of Ukraine. The second largest country in Europe, Ukraine regained its independence in 1991 after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, declaring its foreign policy choice to join the EU and NATO. In 2014 Russia invaded Ukraine, attempted to annex the Crimea, and instigated war in Donbass. By launching military aggression against Ukraine, Russia violated the fundamental norms and principles of international law, and led to dire humanitarian impacts. Russian aggression has claimed about 14 thousand lives of Ukrainians. Just what are Russia’s intentions now? And what does Ukraine need from the West to resolve this existential impasse and repulse a military aggression? Please join us to hear Oksana Markarova, Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United States, as she gives her assessment of Ukraine’s long and storied past, precarious present, and aspirations for the future as a free, independent, and democratic country.

About the Distinguished Speaker:

Oksana Markarova: Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United States

Oksana Markarova was appointed Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United States and arrived in Washington, DC, on April 20, 2021. She served in Ukraine’s Ministry of Finance from 2015 through 2020 as First Deputy Minister and Government Commissioner on Investments and then as Minister of Finance. Prior to her career in public service Mrs. Markarova spent 17 years working in private equity and financial advisory having leadership roles in ITT Investment Group and the World Bank as well as founding a startup electronic archive company. Oksana Markarova serves on the Boards of Ukraine House DC Foundation in Washington DC, Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, and Ukrainian Development Foundation, and she supports Ukrainian Catholic University and Ukrainian Press Museum-Archive. She holds BS and MS degrees in Environmental Science from Kyiv-Mohyla Academy in Ukraine and a Master of Public Affairs in Public Finance from Indiana University with academic excellence. Mrs. Markarova is married with four children and a grandson.

About the Moderator:

Betty Tonsing, PhD

Dr. Betty Tonsing’s career has spanned four continents and fourteen countries, working with the United Nations, USAID, the State Department, private industry, and nonprofits. She has also been awarded three Fulbright scholarships with the US State Department and a fourth is pending for an assignment in Ukraine.  She has authored several books and over thirty articles in the US and international press. Dr. Tonsing has been a keynote speaker and panelist at international conferences on global educational partnerships, women’s issues, and patient safety and advocacy. She is Founder and President, of Global Visits, Inc., and also serves on the Indiana Council on World Affairs Board of Directors.

Waiting room opens at 6:45 pm EST for a pre-program "Tiny Desk Concert" by creative Ukrainian quartet DakhaBrakha!

Sponsored by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation