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Move U.S.-Russian relations off a war footing

The war in Ukraine has heightened the risk of direct war between the world’s two largest nuclear powers. Even in the absence of a settlement, the U.S. should work to achieve predictable and stable relations with Russia and focus on cooperating over issues of mutual interest.

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RUSSIA EXPERTS

Benjamin
Friedman

Policy Director

Defense Priorities

Jennifer
Kavanagh

Senior Fellow & Director of Military Analysis

Defense Priorities

Gavin
Wilde

Former Non-Resident Fellow

Defense Priorities

Gil
Barndollar

Non-Resident Fellow

Defense Priorities

Daniel
DePetris

Fellow

Defense Priorities

Christopher
McCallion

Fellow

Defense Priorities

Op-edRussia, Europe and Eurasia, Ukraine, Ukraine‑Russia

Trump’s sanctions waiver is about America, not Russia

By Jennifer Kavanagh

October 18, 2026

Late on Friday night, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order exempting Russia from a sanctions measure passed by […]

In the mediaChina, Asia, Russia

Turkmenistan grows its arsenal of Chinese air defenses as Russia’s role shrinks

Featuring Lyle Goldstein

October 6, 2026

Op-edUkraine‑Russia, Europe and Eurasia, Russia, Ukraine

Vladimir Putin’s extension of the war beyond Ukraine has European leaders worried

By Daniel DePetris

September 22, 2026

Symposia: Lessons from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

As the one-year mark of the Ukraine-Russia war approaches, Moscow has failed in many of its objectives. Ukraine has effectively blunted several major Russian advances and reclaimed large swaths of its territory from invading forces. Though the war continues, and seems far from over, there are already many key takeaways from the fighting—and the conflict’s causes and implications remain hotly contested.

Defense Priorities (DEFP) organized this symposium to stimulate thinking about the most important lessons learned from this ongoing war. Top experts, writing from a range of perspectives, share their insights in an effort to inform and improve U.S. policy.