How does the United States navigate diplomacy in the midst of war? What lessons can be drawn from U.S. engagement in Ukraine and other global conflict zones?
Few are better positioned to address these questions than Ambassador William B. Taylor, who served as U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine under President George W. Bush and later as Chargé d’Affaires in Kyiv under President Donald Trump. With deep knowledge of President Volodymyr Zelensky and firsthand experience with the Trump administration’s approach to Ukraine, Ambassador Taylor brings unparalleled insight into the stark realities of the ongoing war. Before leading the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, he spent five years with NATO and a decade coordinating U.S. support to the former Soviet Union, giving him a comprehensive perspective on the players and pressures shaping Ukraine’s future.
Now entering its third year, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has resulted in staggering losses—tens of thousands killed and hundreds of thousands wounded on both sides—in the largest and deadliest European war since World War II. Ukrainians, expected by many to fall in a matter of days, defied the odds by reclaiming seized territory and holding their ground against one of the world’s largest militaries. With shifting political dynamics in Washington and across Europe, questions loom large: How might U.S. and NATO support evolve? Is a ceasefire or negotiated settlement possible? What terms are most crucial for both Putin and Zelensky, and what role might diplomacy play in shaping an end to the war?
This timely program will explore these pressing questions and more, offering firsthand insights into the strategies, dilemmas, and responsibilities that define U.S. engagement during times of conflict.
About the speaker
Ambassador William B. Taylor is a distinguished fellow with the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center. Prior to the Atlantic Council, Taylor was vice president, Europe and Russia at the US Institute of Peace.
From 2006 to 2009, Taylor served as the US ambassador to Ukraine and as the chargé d’affaires ad interim from 2019 to 2020 at the US embassy in Kyiv.
Beyond Ukraine, Taylor served as the special coordinator for Middle East Transitions at the US Department of State from 2011 to 2013, where he oversaw assistance and support to the Middle East during the Arab Spring—including support to Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, and Syria. Prior to his tenure in the Middle East Transitions Team and Kyiv, Taylor served as the US government’s representative to the Mideast Quartet from Jerusalem. From 2004 to 2005, Taylor served in Baghdad as director of the Iraq Reconstruction Office; from 2002 to 2003 he served in Kabul as coordinator of US government and international assistance to Afghanistan; and from 1992 to 2002, he served in Washington as coordinator of US government assistance to former Soviet Union countries and Eastern Europe.
Taylor holds a Bachelor of Science from the US Military Academy in West Point, New York, and a Master of Public Policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. Taylor also served as an infantry platoon leader and combat company commander in the US Army in Vietnam and Germany.
Event details
- Check-in will begin at 11:45 AM with seating available on a first-come first-serve basis. The program will begin at 12:00 PM.
- Those with online reservations do not need to present ticket confirmation at the door, we will have all confirmed attendees on a list at check-in.
- Online registration closes at 6:00 PM on November 11. Tickets will be available at the door on a first come first served basis.