A panel discussion entitled “Beyond Political Games,” dedicated to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict from the historic and cultural point of view. Panelists included Yanni Kotsonis, Director of the Jordan Center for the Advanced Study of Russia at NYU, Lucan Way, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Toronto, and Peter Zalmayev, Director of the Eurasia Democracy Initiative. The panel was moderated by Rossen Djagalov, Assistant Professor of Russian and Slavic Studies and Director of Graduate Studies. Centered on the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, this panel will address a number of questions: How were the nations formed. Is the drive of civic population of both countries towards cultural independence or integration. What part did other neighboring states play in establishing modes of national independency among Russia and Ukraine. Are we going to see deeper cultural alienation of Russia and Ukraine, or will the family and cultural ties between two civic populations overcome political and economic boundaries. The event took place on the 4th of May, and was co-sponsored by the Jordan Center of the Advanced Study of Russia and the Russian-American Youth Association. Photographs by Roman Makhmutov can be found on Facebook page of the Russian Club at NYU:.