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CEED Speakers Roster

Trusted Experts on Ukraine, Democracy, and Global Security

“Available for Immediate Media Commentary”

Media-ready experts available for television, radio, podcasts, and live events—on short notice.

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Why Media and Institutions Turn to CEED

CEED provides credible, experienced voices on Eastern Europe, Ukraine, and the global struggle between democracy and authoritarianism. Our speakers combine frontline experience, policy expertise, and media fluency to deliver clear, timely insights on the issues shaping today’s world.

Available Topics

  • Ukraine war: strategy, risks, and outcomes
  • U.S. and NATO policy toward Russia
  • Disinformation and hybrid warfare
  • Election interference and democratic resilience
  • Authoritarianism and global security threats
  • Human rights and Magnitsky sanctions
  • Corruption, oligarchs, and political influence
  • Eastern Europe: political and security developments

Featured Speakers

Victor Rud
International Lawyer | Former Cold War Dissident Advocate
  • Harvard & Duke Law
  • Represented Soviet-era dissidents
  • U.S. policy and Ukraine expert
View Profile
Book Victor Rud
Diane Francis
Chicago-born Journalist | Harvard Fellow | Atlantic Council
  • U.S. and global economic policy expert
  • Frequent media commentator
  • Cross-border political analysis
View Profile
Book Diane Francis
Marcus Kolga
Disinformation Expert | Sanctioned by Russia & China
  • Founder, DisinfoWatch
  • Magnitsky sanctions advocate
  • Testified before U.S. and allied governments
View Profile
Book Marcus Kolga

Seen In / Featured By

Book a CEED Speaker

Our speakers are available for media appearances, panels, conferences, and private briefings. We can accommodate short-notice requests tied to breaking news.
416-234-5678
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CEED exists to ensure that clear, truthful, and informed voices shape the global conversation on democracy and human rights.

Hi [Producer Name] —

With ongoing developments in Ukraine, rising instability across Eastern Europe, and increasing concern about democratic backsliding globally, I wanted to flag a highly credible and media-ready expert for your consideration:

Victor Rud — Ukrainian-American international lawyer with 35+ years of experience

  • Former Harvard (’72) and Duke Law (’75) graduate
  • Represented Ukrainian dissidents persecuted by the KGB during the Soviet era
  • Served as Special Counsel to a U.S. delegation member at the Madrid CSCE Conference
  • Frequent commentator in Forbes, Kyiv Post, CEPA, EU Today, and more
  • Speaker at the U.S. State Department’s Foreign Service Institute and West Point
  • Board Member and Foreign Affairs Chair, Ukrainian American Bar Association

Victor brings a rare combination of firsthand Cold War-era legal experience, deep geopolitical insight, and current policy relevance. He is available to speak on:

  • The evolving Ukraine war and what comes next for U.S. and NATO strategy
  • Russia’s long-term geopolitical objectives—and how the West misunderstands them
  • The intersection of disinformation, authoritarianism, and democratic erosion
  • Why Ukraine is central not just to regional stability—but to the future of democracy globally
  • Lessons from Soviet-era repression that apply directly to today’s political climate

Victor offers clear, historically grounded analysis that resonates with both policy audiences and the general public.

He is part of the CEED (Centre for Eastern European Democracy) Speakers Roster, an initiative dedicated to advancing democratic values and countering authoritarian disinformation through informed public dialogue.

Please let me know if you’d like to schedule Victor for an upcoming segment—we can accommodate short notice.

Best regards,
CEED Speakers Roster
Ref: 01Ceed49+
📞 416-234-5678
🌐 Ceedweb.ca

Hi [Producer Name] —

With rising geopolitical tensions, continued war in Ukraine, and growing concerns about democratic stability at home and abroad, I wanted to flag a highly relevant, U.S.-connected expert for your program:

Diane Francis — Chicago-born Canadian-American journalist, author, and global affairs expert
Visiting Fellow, Harvard Kennedy School’s Shorenstein Center

  • Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council (Washington, D.C.)
  • Editor-at-Large, National Post
  • Former Editor of the Financial Post (first woman to lead a national daily in Canada)
  • Faculty member, Singularity University (California)
  • Widely published commentator on U.S. policy, global economics, and corruption

Diane brings a unique cross-border perspective grounded in U.S. policy circles, with decades of experience analyzing the intersection of democracy, economics, and global power.

She is available to speak on:

  • The Ukraine war and why it remains central to U.S. national security
  • The economic and political consequences of weakening Western alliances
  • Corruption, oligarchy, and the global threat to democratic institutions
  • How authoritarian models are influencing Western politics—including in the U.S.
  • What U.S. leadership must do now to stabilize global order

Diane is a clear, direct, and media-savvy commentator who connects global developments to American audiences in a compelling, accessible way.

She is part of the CEED (Centre for Eastern European Democracy) Speakers Roster, focused on advancing democratic values and countering authoritarian disinformation.

Please let me know if you’d like to schedule Diane for an upcoming segment—we can accommodate short notice.

Best regards,
CEED Speakers Roster
Ref: 01Ceed49+
📞 416-234-5678
🌐 Ceedweb.ca

Hi [Producer Name] —

With escalating concerns about Russian influence operations, election interference, and the broader information war surrounding Ukraine and the West, I wanted to flag a highly credible and media-ready expert for your program:

Marcus Kolga — journalist, human rights advocate, and leading analyst on foreign disinformation and influence operations
Senior Fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, CDA Institute, and Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights

  • Founder of DisinfoWatch.org, tracking foreign disinformation targeting democracies
  • Architect of Canada’s civil society campaign for Magnitsky human rights sanctions
  • Testified before legislative bodies in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, and Estonia
  • Published in The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, Atlantic Council, and European Observer
  • Sanctioned by both Russia and China for his human rights advocacy

Marcus offers a rare, frontline perspective on how authoritarian regimes weaponize disinformation, corruption, and global institutions to undermine democracy.

He is available to speak on:

  • Russia’s disinformation playbook—and how it is actively targeting North America
  • The Ukraine war beyond the battlefield: hybrid warfare, propaganda, and influence operations
  • Election interference risks in the U.S. and allied democracies
  • The global impact of Magnitsky sanctions—and why they matter now
  • How authoritarian regimes exploit Western institutions, including Interpol

Marcus combines policy expertise, real-world experience, and compelling storytelling, making complex national security issues accessible and urgent for viewers.

He is part of the CEED (Centre for Eastern European Democracy) Speakers Roster, advancing democratic resilience and countering authoritarian disinformation.

Please let me know if you’d like to schedule Marcus for an upcoming segment—we can accommodate short notice.

Best regards,
CEED Speakers Roster
Ref: 01Ceed49+
📞 416-234-5678
🌐 Ceedweb.ca