Laurynas Kasčiūnas
Dr. Kasčiūnas is a chairman of the National Security and Defense Committee of the SEIMAS. He has worked as a lecturer at the Institute of International Relations and Political Science for Vilnius University (2007-2016). Dr. Kasčiūnas was the Head of the Department, Director of the VTS, for the Center for Eastern European Studies from 2012 to 2016. He was also a foreign policy advisor (SEIMAS of the Republic Lithuania Advisory to the Speaker of the SEIMAS I) from 2008 to 2012 and a foreign news editor for Face Weekly in 2007. Dr. Kasčiūnas wrote his PhD dissertation on “Implications of EU internal integration for External Europeanisation: Case Studies of Ukraine and Russia” (2012). He is a member of the Ronald Reagan Freedom Centre and Young Christian Democrats as well.
Friday March, 4
Panel V: Putin Looks Into Biden’s Eyes: What Does He See There
President Biden of the United States stated that he once looked into President Putin's eyes and saw no soul behind them. What, on the other hand, did Putin see when he returned Biden's gaze? One year into Biden's presidency, US-Russian relations are possibly at their lowest point since the Cold War's end. How can these mutual perceptions – both personal and international – be used to comprehend the current tensions between the two powers and the Kremlin’s decision to invade Ukraine? How has Russia's assessment of political will and unity in Washington influenced their current geopolitical strategy? This panel will address these issues and more.
Moderator: Dr. Asta Maskaliūnaitė, Director, Department of Political Studies, Baltic Defence College