The King's Russia Institute is pleased to invite you to a discussion of:

Uncertain Ground: Engaging with Europe's De-facto States
with
Tom de Waal Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Abkhazia, Transdnistria and Northern Cyprus have many problems, but they are self-governing, stable and show no signs of collapsing. In a new report on Europe's 'de-facto states' - which exercise internal sovereignty but have no prospect of international recognition - Tom de Waal argues that better engagement with breakaway territories such as these is an overlooked resource in conflict resolution. If carried out in a a clear-sighted and intelligent manner, such engagement could give the citizens of de-facto states greater opportunities to be integrated into the world, while benefiting the recognized states who have de jure claims to the territories by building bridges across the conflict divide.

While focusing on the three most stable and sustained de-facto states, the report has important implications for Eastern Ukraine, as well, where de facto leaders are found to lack autonomy, while chances of reintegration into Ukraine remain strong.