Russian Roulette

This week, Max and Maria were joined again by Michael Kimmage, and Michael's frequent co-author and a fellow for Europe at the Council on Foreign Relations, Liana Fix. Recently, Michael and Liana published a piece in Foreign Affairs titled, "A Containment Strategy for Ukraine: How the West Can Help Kyiv Endure a Long War," and they shared their piece's main arguments and conclusions over the course of the episode. This conversation was recorded on December 8, 2023.Learn More:"A Containment Strategy for Ukraine: How the West Can Help Kyiv Endure a Long War," by Liana Fix and Michael Kimmage

On this week's episode, Maria fills in Max and Michael Kimmage after her recent trip to Kyiv. The three of them then discuss the current state of the war with Russia, and examine some of the key questions facing Ukraine and its partners as we head into 2024.

Renowned professor of economics Sergei Guriev discusses the ideology of Putinism and its impact on governance and foreign affairs. The podcast also explores key tenets of Putinism in Russia, analyzes the share of GDP spent by governments, Putin's strategy of eliminating checks and balances, and the role of indifference and ideology in Russian politics.

On this week's episode, tune into a conversation Max had on October 24, 2023 with CSIS Senior Associate non-resident fellows, Michael Kimmage and Hanna Notte. Hanna, based in Berlin, is an expert on Russian foreign policy, the Middle East, and arms control and nonproliferation. While Hanna was in DC, she sat down with Max and Michael to discuss Russia's strategy towards the Global South in the wake of Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.Learn More:"Putin is Getting What He Wants," by Hanna Notte (The New York Times)"How Russia Globalized the War in Ukraine," by Michael Kimmage and Hanna Notte (Foreign Affairs)"Russia's Axis of the Sanctioned," by Hanna Notte (Foreign Affairs)"The Age of Great-Power Distraction" by Michael Kimmage and Hanna Notte (Foreign Affairs)"Seller's Remorse: The Challenges Facing Russia's Arms Exports," by Max Bergmann, Maria Snegovaya, Tina Dolbaia, and Nick Fenton (CSIS)

In this engaging discussion, Paul Schwartz, a non-resident senior associate with CSIS, and John Deni, a research professor at the U.S. Army War College, delve into Russia's military decline due to sanctions and the war in Ukraine. They explore how equipment shortages affect Russia's operational capabilities and pose strategic challenges for NATO. The conversation also touches on the dynamics of Russian and Chinese interests, along with recommendations for enhancing U.S. military support for Ukraine amidst evolving global tensions.

This week, Maria interviews Max about the emerging crisis around the future of U.S. security assistance to Ukraine. Max deep dives into the mechanics of how U.S. funding for Ukraine's war effort actually works, the impact of the ouster of Kevin McCarthy from the House speakership on the funding debate, and the potential role of the EU in filling the gap if the Biden administration fails to gain additional congressional authorization to support Kyiv.Learn More:"U.S. Security Assistance to Ukraine Is Going to Get Complicated," by Max Bergmann (War on the Rocks, 3/3/2023)

On this week's episode, Max is joined by Eric Ciaramella of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, to discuss his recent writing on possible long-term security arrangements for Ukraine while the country remains outside of the NATO alliance.Learn More:"How the West Can Secure Ukraine's Future: Kyiv Needs a Binding Commitment Before NATO Membership" by Eric Ciaramella (Foreign Affairs)"Envisioning a Long-Term Security Arrangement for Ukraine" by Eric Ciaramella (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace)

In this discussion, Professor Michael Kimmage, an expert on Russian politics from Catholic University, delves into the aftermath of Yevgeny Prigozhin's demise and its implications for Putin's regime. He analyzes shifting power dynamics within the Russian elite and the evolving military strategies amid Ukraine's counteroffensive. The conversation highlights the rising challenges of European political stability due to the Russian threat, as well as the impact of sanctions on Russia's economy and its strategic resilience against international pressure.

On this week's episode, Max and Maria are joined by long-time Russia hand and national security specialist, Rose Gottemoeller, for a wide-ranging conversation on Russian politics, the war in Ukraine, NATO, and nuclear non-proliferation. A former Deputy Secretary General of NATO and Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security at the U.S. Department of State, Rose reflects on her many years working in U.S.-Russian relations to provide insight on global politics today.

Elina Ribakova, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute focusing on the Russian economy, and Sergey Aleksashenko, a former Deputy Minister of Finance, share their insights on Russia's economic landscape. They discuss the impact of sanctions, revealing military production as a growth driver while non-military sectors struggle. The conversation also explores inflation issues, the ruble's devaluation, and the potential shift towards a Soviet-style economy. Additionally, they analyze the roles of China and other countries in Russia's trade dynamics.