Russian and US experts will discuss the "Spirit of the Elbe" Relevance in the New World Order at the Second World Public Assembly

Panel Session «The Spirit of the Elbe Forever: The Value of History and Responsibility for the Future» will be held on 18 September 2026 at the World Trade Center. The event will be part of the Second World Public Assembly "New World: Values that Unite", which will take place in Moscow from 18 to 19 September.

The discussion aims to actualize the legacy of 1945 as a platform for overcoming the trust crisis and building equitable dialogue in the new world order.

The historic meeting at Elbe on 25 April 1945 was a symbol of triumph over the global evils of fascism and Nazism. But the "Spirit of the Elbe" is not just a military triumph of the past, it is the birth of a new global paradigm of humanity’s values: trust, friendship and cooperation. It is an ability to hear each other, overcome ideological divisions and maintain human connections even during difficult times in international relations.

Today, the world faces an acute shortage of these values. The total lack of trust and disruption of dialogue generate mutual suspicion and lead civilization down a dangerous military escalation ladder. Under conditions of distortion of history and attempts to rewrite the outcome of World War II, preservation of memory of the alliance of peoples of the anti-Hitler coalition becomes a vital platform for building a safe common future, - note the organizers.

The Spirit of the Elbe goes beyond Russian-American relations, recalling the shared responsibility of all countries that contributed to Victory to preserve peace and avoid new global conflicts.

Participants will discuss:

• What lessons from the Elbe meeting remain relevant for international cooperation today;

• How to preserve the memory of the alliance and pass it on to new generations through "Oath of Elbe", meetings of veterans and interaction of their descendants;

• How can experience of cooperation, confirmed by the joint statement of Russian and US presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump to the 75th anniversary of Victory during the meeting in 2020, can be called for in current geopolitical realities;

• How to use the potential of scientific, cultural and humanitarian ties to maintain dialogue between Russia, the US and other countries in circumvention of political barriers;

• The possibilities of international recognition of Elbe memorials, including UNESCO mechanisms and their protection against politicized neglect;

• Educational and cultural projects that form among the younger generation a culture of dialogue and mutual respect through the history of alliance;

• Continuation of international public and expert initiatives by Edward Lozansky aimed at strengthening mutual understanding.

The session will be moderated by Elena Branson, the Chairperson of the American Club in Moscow (Russia).

Speakers will include:

• Alexander Ageev — Director General of the International Research Institute for Advanced Systems (IRIAS), member of the General Council of the World Peoples Assembly, member of the Club of Rome (Russia);

• Vitaly Azarov — Chairman of the All-Russian Public Organization of Veterans “Russian Union of Veterans,” Colonel General (Russia);

• Joseph Wolf — American public figure, son of Elbe meeting participant Joseph Polowski, participant in initiatives to preserve the memory of the alliance (USA);

• John Varoli — American journalist and political analyst, former correspondent for The New York Times and Bloomberg, expert on Russian–American relations (Russia/USA);

• Peter Kuznick — Professor of History at American University, Director of the Nuclear Studies Institute (USA);

• Grigory Pelman — President of the non-profit organization One Future (Israel);

• Valery Ruzin — Deputy Secretary General of the World Peoples Assembly, President of the Eurasian Academy of Television and Radio (Russia);

• Stanislav Krapivnik — Journalist, analyst (USA);

• Eliseo Bertolasi — Candidate of Anthropological Sciences, journalist, public figure, Knight of the Order of Friendship (Italy);

• Inna Darmstadter — Public figure (Germany);

• Ute Kollies — Retired UN diplomat, former Head of Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) (Austria);

• Vladimir Kuznetsov — Director of the United Nations Information Centre in Moscow (Russia)

• Harley Schlanger — Official Spokesperson and member of the Board of Directors of the Schiller Institute, expert on geopolitics and international security (USA); Vice President of the Schiller Institute,

• Matthew Ehret — Canadian journalist and political analyst, Director of The Rising Tide Foundation, Chief Editor of Canadian Patriot Review (Canada).

Following the discussion, a decision will be made to create a new global initiative "The Spirit of Elbe" under the auspices of the World Peoples Assembly. This platform will become a permanent format for public and intellectual dialogue, combining historical memory and modern challenges. The initiative is aimed at developing equal international cooperation, strengthening national sovereignty through dialogue, as well as implementing joint research, educational and youth projects.

The historical legacy of the meeting at Elbe will become a bridge to a future in which sovereignty and cooperation are not opposed to each other, but form a basis for responsible interaction between states and peoples, - believe the organizers.

Additional information — on the official website of the World Peoples Assembly and at media@world-assembly.org.