On February 23, 2025, as the fourth year of Russia's invasion of Ukraine approaches, Nakasone Peace Institute (NPI), in collaboration with the Slavic-Eurasian Research Center (SRC) at Hokkaido University, held a symposium entitled "The War in Ukraine Approaching its Fourth Year, and Russia and Former Soviet Republics" in a hybrid format, with both in-person and online participation.

At this symposium, six members from the Russia Study Group of the NPI research project "An Intrinsic Analysis of East Asian International Issues: The Korean Peninsula and Taiwan Strait from the Perspective of Area Studies" took the floor to give presentations and participate in a Q&A session from a variety of perspectives.

Part 1 Panelists

　Mano Shinsaku, Visiting Associate Researcher, NPI; Deputy Foreign News Editor, Editorial Writer, THE MAINICHI NEWSPAPERS
　Hasegawa Takeyuki, Visiting Associate Researcher, NPI; Senior Research Fellow, National Institute for Defense Studies, Japan Ministry of Defense
　Chuman Mizuki, Visiting Associate Researcher, NPI; Senior Researcher, Japan Business Association ROTOBO Institute for Russian & NIS Economic Studies

Part 2 Panelists

　Uyama Tomohiko, Visiting Researcher, NPI; Professor, Slavic-Eurasian Research Center, Hokkaido University
　David Goginashvili, Visiting Associate Researcher, NPI; First Secretary, Embassy of Georgia to Japan; Senior Researcher, Keio University, SFC Research Institute
　Hirose Yoko, Senior Fellow, NPI; Professor, Faculty of Policy Management, Keio University

Moderator

The main discussion points were as follows.

Part 1: Russia's domestic and foreign affairs during the war in Ukraine

• Russia's messaging to Japan during wartime--a preliminary examination of the methods and content of these communications: an overview of Russia's strategic information dissemination with Japan during the war in Ukraine and Japan's response
• The current situation of the war in Ukraine from the perspective of military security: the development of Russia's tactics in the war in Ukraine, changes within Russia, future prospects for the war, and the relationship between the US and Russia
• The link between Russia's diplomacy and domestic affairs: Russia's strengthening of cooperation with Turkey, India, Middle Eastern countries, etc. since the invasion of Ukraine, the promotion of development in southern Russia, and import substitution measures in light of economic sanctions

Part 2: The war in Ukraine and the former Soviet Union region

• The relationship between China and the countries in Central Asia after the invasion of Ukraine: the relationship between China and Russia in Central Asia; Central Asian countries' move away from Russia, the diversification of diplomacy, and the strengthened ties with China
• A multifaceted analysis of the political situation in Georgia: the development of Georgia's domestic and foreign affairs since the invasion of Ukraine, its relationship with Russia, including the territorial issues of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and its aspirations to join the EU and NATO
• Ukraine's pursuit of peace: ideals and realities based on the actual domestic and international situation: Ukraine's "10-point Peace Formula," Russia's hybrid warfare tactics, signs of war fatigue in Ukraine, and the impact of the consequences of the war in Ukraine on the international order