On March 14, the Atlantic Council IN TURKEY organized two private, in-person roundtables in Istanbul, in partnership with Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism,” on the first year of the Ukraine war and its implications for Turkey and the region.

The first roundtable gathered experts and academics to discuss possible future scenarios for the war and potential changes to Turkey’s position. Two key discussions were the need for a breakthrough in Turkish foreign policy and how national interests affect strategic partnerships in times of crisis. The roundtable featured Kadir Has University Vice Rector and Professor of International Relations Mitat Çelikpala, Atlantic Council IN TURKEY Nonresident Senior Fellow Yevgeniya Gaber and Ukrainian Prism Security Studies Program Director Hanna Shelest and was moderated by Ukrainian Prism Executive Director Hennadiy Maksak.

The second roundtable gathered diplomats and business leaders to discuss Turkey’s role as a facilitator rather than a mediator and analyze its role as a Western ally while it maintains relations with Russia. The roundtable also focused on the importance of sanctions to end the war, Turkey’s blocking of sanctioned goods through its territory to Russia, and Russia’s use of disinformation as a weapon and its effects on Turkey. The roundtable featured Ukrainian Prism Executive Director Hennadiy Maksak, Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting Senior Research Fellow Iryna Kosse and Nonresident Senior Fellow Yevgeniya Gaber, moderated by Atlantic Council IN TURKEY and Turkey Programs Senior Director Defne Arslan.