Ukraine: The Frontline and The Future
The Military, Political, and Economic Factors Shaping Ukraine’s Winter Outlook and 2027 Strategy
Special Commentary by Ambassador Gregory Slayton
Can Ukraine continue undermining Russian control of Crimea and Russia’s ability to export oil and gas? Can Russia achieve a military breakthrough? Will Russia’s efforts to mobilize more troops jeopardize Ukraine’s ability to hold the frontline? By many accounts, Ukraine achieved more military successes in 2026 than it had in years. But this winter promises to be the most difficult yet-- Russia has been steadily degrading Ukrainian energy infrastructure, and extensive blackouts are all but certain. In this talk, two experts from Kyiv will discuss the military situation, as well as the political and economic factors that will determine how Ukraine and Russia will fare this winter. The outcome of the next six months will be critical to positioning for negotiations in 2027.
We are honored to welcome special commentary from Ambassador Gregory Slayton who recently returned from a trip to Ukraine with Vice President Mike Pence.
About the Speakers
Yevhenii Malik is a former Marine Infantry sergeant in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and a veteran of the Ukraine War. He has extensive frontline experience, having fought in Mariupol and across the Joint Forces Operation zone, where he led combat missions, amphibious operations, and coordinated tactical planning under extreme conditions. From April 2022 to September 2024, he endured captivity in Russia. Malik holds degrees in law, public administration, and a reserve officer qualification. He is recognized for his expertise in military leadership, crisis management, and strategic and tactical planning. Since October 2025 he has been the Head of National Security and Defense Education at the Kyiv School of Economics.
Alexandra Vacroux is vice president for strategic engagement at the Kyiv School of Economics. She develops partnerships with top faculty, schools, and programs around the world to help Ukraine train the human capital that it will need to survive and thrive after the war. She has been instrumental in standing up a new bachelor’s in engineering with Olin College and is currently focused on building national security studies. Alexandra lived in Moscow from 1992 to 2004 and worked as a consultant for the Russian Privatization Agency, partner and head of sales at the Brunswick Warburg investment bank and was an active member of the board of United Way Moscow. She holds a Ph.D. in government from Harvard University and wrote her dissertation on corruption in Russian pharmaceutical markets. She was the Executive Director at the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard from 2010 to 2025.
Ambassador Gregory Slayton is an American author, diplomat, professor, businessman, and philanthropist. After graduating magna cum laude from Dartmouth College and earning a master's degree as a Fulbright Scholar, he received an MBA with honors from Harvard Business School. He went on to work for McKinsey and Company for five years and spend a decade in Silicon Valley leading high-tech company turnarounds, serving as CEO of companies like MySoftware and Paragraph International. As the Managing Director of Slayton Capital, he was on the Board of Advisors of Google and Salesforce.com as well as Bloom Energy. Appointed by President George W. Bush, Ambassador Slayton served as the U.S. Consul General and Chief of Mission to Bermuda from 2005 to 2009. Beyond his venture capital work and role as a Distinguished Visiting Professor of Leadership at Peking University, he has authored several books—including the bestseller Be a Better Dad Today.
In response to the conflict in Ukraine, Ambassador Slayton has actively engaged in extensive humanitarian relief, public advocacy, and philanthropic work. Following the 2022 invasion, his foundation, Family First Global, partnered with faith-based non-profits to establish a logistics hub near Warsaw, Poland, delivering over 15 million pounds of food and medical supplies directly to war-impacted regions in eastern and southern Ukraine. He also co-authored the bestseller Portraits of Ukraine A Nation at War featuring photojournalism by his daughter Alessandra and an opening statement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. All book profits are donated to pro-Ukrainian charities.
Cost:
$15 for Harvard Club of Dallas Members, may bring one guest at the member price.
$25 for Nonmembers.
Address: Turtle Creek Park, Dallas. Specific address to be provided to registrants.