World leaders are hoping that diplomacy can prevent what appears to be an impending war on the Russia - Ukraine border.

On Monday Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted French President Emmanual Macron in his latest diplomatic effort, while President Joe Bien met with Germany's chancellor.

Americans and our allies in Europe are watching closely the images that President Putin is creating.

Some people we talked with in downtown Erie find it scary.  Jackie Witherell said,  "Yes I do think we're on the brink of another major war and major strife for our country but you just don't know what to do at some point."

Joe Fontecchio is pleased with the diplomatic efforts of the Biden administration, but he echoed the same concerns.  "I'm concerned that in central Europe there's going to be what could be a major conflagration that will spread all over the place."

The latest images of the Russian troop build-up along the Ukraine border are the most concerning images. But for Lena Surzhko-Harned, Ph.D, a political science professor at Penn State Behrend, it's just another step in the Russian aggression that's been going on for years, and part of the perception she says Vladimir Putin is working to create. "His positioning toward the west, all his actions are about gaining momentum, gaining position of power being able to negotiate on equal footing with the rest of the world."

She called the pre-Olympic meeting between President Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping just more of the same. "That image in Beijing that you saw is also a very powerful image among many others that we have seen," Lena Surzhko said, "whether or not that means Russia and china are going to be cozying up to each other, there's a big question mark."

The professor said Putin's effort to fracture the partners in NATO have only created united, and while she is concerned for her family back in Ukraine, and speaking with them every day, she's hopeful diplomacy may work. "One hopes that diplomatic negotiations will prevail rather than full military attack in Ukraine."

Penn State Behrend Public Police Fund will be presenting a series of webinars about the ongoing aggression in Ukraine.  The first, called Ukraine in the Spotlight takes place this Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. featuring a panel that includes:


Elena Besedina, PhD
Kyiv School of Economics

Olena Lennon, PhD
University of New Haven

Moderator: Lena Surzhko Harned,PhD
Penn State Behrend

Nataliia Kasianenko, PhD
California State University, Fresno

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