On October 18–21, 2021, Sochi hosts the 18th Annual Meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club, titled “Global Shake-Up in the 21st Century: The Individual, Values, and the State”. On October 19, 2021 a special session titled “Russia and Europe – What Went Wrong?” took place. During the session the first book of the Valdai Academic Series was presented. Timofei Bordachev, Programme Director of the Valdai Discussion Club; Academic Supervisor, Centre for Comprehensive European and International Studies, National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE); Anatol Lieven, Senior Fellow, Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft (USA); John Mearsheimer, R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science, University of Chicago (USA); Nathalie Tocci, Director, Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI) (Italy); Honorary Professor, University of Tübingen; Pierre Keller Visiting Professor, Harvard Kennedy School (USA); Xiang Lanxin, Professor, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (Switzerland); Director, Institute of Security Policy (ISP), China National Institute for SCO International Exchange and Judicial Cooperation (China), participated. The session was moderated by Piotr Dutkiewicz, Professor of Political Science, Director, Centre for Governance and Public Policy, Carleton University (Canada).