Annual meeting

January’s Members & Friends Salon: How might the attitudes of the Russian diaspora and those who remain in Russia impact U.S.-Russia policy under a new U.S. administration?

| January 29, 2025| Event

January's Members & Friends Salon: How might the attitudes of the Russian diaspora and those who remain in Russia impact U.S.-Russia policy under a new U.S. administration?

January’s Members & Friends Salon: How might the attitudes of the Russian diaspora and those who remain in Russia impact U.S.-Russia policy under a new U.S. administration?

January 29, 2025
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
118 Elliot

118 Elliot St Brattleboro VT 05301


As a perk of membership, you are invited to a monthly Salon.  It is an informal gathering of neighbors and friends for a discussion on topics generated and led by local academics, artists, intellectuals &  community leaders. This month’s discussion:

How might the attitudes of the Russian diaspora and those who remain in Russia impact U.S.-Russia policy under a new U.S. administration?

Questions for discussion at this Salon:

1) What do ordinary Russians really want from the United States?
2) What are the options for US foreign policy under Trump & Rubio? How can we influence these decisions?
3) Should we deal directly with Putin, or is there a meaningful back-channel?

4) Are our intelligence services sophisticated enough to vet people?

Windham World Affairs Council members Julia Volodina & Stephen Ditmore will host this Salon to explore how Russians living outside of Russia support political opposition and view US policy toward their homeland and what we can do to support their efforts.

Julia Volodina was born in the Soviet Union city of Saratov, on the banks of the river Volga. She emigrated from Russia to Spain 30 years ago and since that shares her time between Spain and Brattleboro. She is known as an artist, real estate manager and international activist.
Stephen Ditmore grew up in a Boston area family involved in politics and interested in foreign policy.  He was involved in the anti-apartheid movement at UC Santa Cruz and studied Gandhian philosophy through the Experiment in International Living in India (then affiliated with the School for International Training here in Brattleboro) before graduating from UMass/Boston in Political Philosophy.  In Riverdale (part of the Bronx) and Yonkers, NY, Stephen helped organize a Jewish / Muslim dialogue group in 2002 that continues to meet monthly by Zoom.  Stephen currently writes about the marine industry and the environment.

Stephen suggests watching this 2023 presentation by Matthew Rojansky Seminars at Steamboat Steamboat in advance of attending.

(The most relevant parts, are concluding remarks beginning at 49:30 and the Q&A that follows. Skip the first 49 minutes if lacking time, however, he is a captivating speaker.)

Please join us for this informal discussion with friends & neighbors. Refreshments will be served.

 

Last modified: January 23, 2025

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