Due greatly to demand from students, there will be a roundtable discussion on the growing crisis in Ukraine on Wednesday from 3 to 5 p.m. in ten Hoor 125.

The discussion will begin with three brief presentations by University of Alabama Russian specialists, Andrew Drozd of department of modern languages, Margaret Peacock of the department of history and Barbara Chotiner of the department of political science. Following the presentations, audience members will be encouraged to ask questions to continue the discussion.

“There’s a lot of demand [for a discussion], and there’s a lot of interest in what’s actually happening in Ukraine coupled with confusion, particularly in the United States,” Peacock said.

(See also “Students should not lose passion for free speech“)

Chotiner said demand from students has brought the event to the University with the purpose of being an informative discussion where students can get the facts.

“I think that the three of us and some of our students have thought that as this crisis continues, it might be useful for students to have a forum where they can get information and ask questions,” Chotiner said. “We’re going to examine the events that have taken place, the Russian reaction to it, and the role of history in this complicated situation.”

Each speaker will give a short presentation on an aspect of the complex situation unfolding in Ukraine. Peacock will discuss the historical relationship between Ukraine and Russia, Chotiner will analyze the political issues involved and Drozd will talk about the current Russian perspective. The speakers will also discuss the American policy side of the situation, as well as what the future looks like as a result.

Peacock said that the situation is more complex than most people realize, especially here in America.

(See also “Students hand out ribbons in support for Ukraine“)

“Very few people in the United States really understand why this is even happening,” Peacock said. “There’s a tendency, I think, to see what’s happening in Ukraine, particularly in the Crimea, as a simple invasion of one nation state upon another without really understanding that it’s way more complicated than that.”

Chotiner said the complicated situation presents a timely opportunity to open up the floor for discussion and questions. She said that staying updated is sometimes a challenge even for the experts.

“It’s obviously a very significant evolving international crisis, and it’s, I think, even difficult for people who study it to keep abreast of all the dimensions that it is developing,” Chotiner said.

Peacock emphasized the amount of interest students have about this topic. She said her status as a Russian historian has attracted many questions concerning the situation in Ukraine. She has discussed it in all the classes she teaches and has even fielded questions from her classmates.

“Even in my own Arabic class, where I’m a student, I am asked to talk about what’s happening,” Peacock said.

(See also “Student to travel to Russia for relations program“)