Defense & Aerospace Report DEFAERO Strategy Series [Aug 26, 25] Sam Bendett & Eugene Rumer on Russia, Ukraine
Aug 26, 2025
In this enlightening discussion, Sam Bendett, an adviser with the Russia Studies Program at CNA, and Eugene Rumer, director of the Russia and Eurasia program at the Carnegie Endowment, explore the complex dynamics of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. They analyze the implications of recent high-profile diplomatic meetings, strategies on the battlefield, and the challenges of potential peace agreements. Their insights delve into Ukraine's innovative countermeasures against Russian advances and the broader geopolitical stakes involving European military support and the future of international relations in the region.
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Diplomacy Changed Little
- Putin shows no real interest in a ceasefire or compromise that preserves Ukrainian sovereignty.
- The diplomatic flurry after the Alaska and White House meetings changed little on the core positions of the actors.
Russian Online Reaction Was Skeptical
- The Russian blogosphere largely dismissed the Alaska meeting as unnecessary and unlikely to yield concessions.
- Many Russian commentators expected Putin to avoid giving ground given perceived battlefield positions.
Slow, Small-Unit Russian Gains
- Russian territorial gains are happening but slowly and in small-unit actions rather than large mechanized offensives.
- Those small advances often fail to be exploited because Russia cannot mass forces to capitalize on gaps.