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The Culture of Encounter in a Time of War

April 4, 2022

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The criminal Russian war against Ukraine demonstrates both the limits and importance of a culture of encounter in world affairs. Putin’s refusal to recognize Ukraine’s right to exist as an independent nation is at the heart of the conflict. A durable peace will only be possible when Russia, Ukraine and the rest of the international community adhere to the principle that national, political, religious differences must be resolved through dialogue and peaceful engagement.

Constantin Sigov, a member of the Culture of Encounter and the Global Agenda Project who lives in Kyiv, shares his reflections on the war and the heroic Ukrainian resistance. Two other project participants, Jose Casanova and Julia Murao-Permoser, share broader reflections on the significance of the idea of a culture of encounter in a time of war.