Conversation with Mark Gitenstein, United States Ambassador to the European Union

This is an opportunity to hear from our Ambassador to the European Union at this critical time.

How is the EU supporting Ukraine, what more can be done, what are the prospects for Ukraine’s joining the EU?

Ambassador Gitenstein was confirmed by the United States Senate to be Ambassador to the European Union in December 2021. From 2009 to 2012, he served as the United States Ambassador to Romania.

The Romanian English-language news daily Nine O'Clock selected Ambassador Gitenstein as "The Foreign Diplomat of the Year for 2011".

Previously, Gitenstein served as both chief counsel (1987–1989) and minority chief counsel (1981–1987) to the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, serving under then-Senator Joe Biden. Earlier Gitenstein also served as counsel to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (1975–1978).

He became a partner at Mayer Brown in 1989 and was a "nonresident senior fellow" at the Brookings Institution. He was selected by his peers several times for inclusion in "Best Lawyers in America".

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Discussant Ian Brzezinski

Brzezinski is an American foreign policy and military affairs expert.

He served as a member of the Policy Planning Staff in the Department of Defense in 1991–1993, and was also a consultant to the Center for Naval Analysis in 1991–1992.

In 1993–1994, Brzezinski became a volunteer advisor to the government of Ukraine, where he assisted Ukraine's National Security Council, Foreign Ministry, Defense Ministry and Parliament.

He returned to the United States in 1995 and became Legislative Assistant for National Security Affairs to Senator William Roth. In 2000, he became a Senior Professional Staff Member for the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

He served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Europe and NATO Policy in 2001–2005.

Brzezinski is also a member of the Strategic Advisors Group at the Atlantic Council; in 2010 he was named a Senior Fellow in the Council's Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security. Brzezinski is also a member of the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation’s Friends of Ukraine Network (FOUN).

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Moderator: Robert McConnell

Co-Founder of the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation

McConnell serves as the Director of External Affairs for the Foundation’s Friend of Ukraine Network.