On April 25, 2007, EWI formally unveiled its three-year US-Russia Constructive Agenda Initiative with an inaugural roundtable discussion co-sponsored and hosted by the Kennan Institute. This discussion on the way forward for Russian-American relations took place on an auspicious date: 62 years ago to the day, Russian and American troops met and embraced on the Elbe, indicating clearly that the end to a bloody and vicious war was in sight. On a more somber note, the discussion was held on a national day of mourning in Russia occasioned by the funeral of Russia's first president, Boris Yeltsin.