US-Russian relations have reached their lowest point since the end of the Cold War. Under Vladimir Putin’s leadership, Moscow has gone to great lengths to challenge the United States and the West, and undermine the values and principles of the rules-based democratic order. As the Trump administration begins to shape its national security strategy, determining how to deal with Russia will be a high priority.   

Over the past year, strategy experts from the United States and its key democratic allies have been working to craft a new strategy for Russia – one that advances our shared interests and values. The release of this proposed strategy of “constrainment,” and a how the US and its allies should counter Putin’s Russia and preserve the legitimacy of the US-led international order, was discussed.

This event was organized by the Atlantic Council’s Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security and the Centre for International Governance Innovation. Atlantic Council Executive Vice President Damon Wilson provided opening remarks and was followed by a summary of the report by Ambassador Alexander Verbshow. A panel with Atlantic Council senior fellow Ash Jain, Chatham House Russia and Eurasia program head James Nixey, former Director of NATO Policy Planning Fabrice Pothier, and Brookings senior fellow Constanze Stelzenmuller. discussed the report and various challenges facing the US-Russia relationship. Carol Lee of the Wall Street Journal, who moderated the panel, then opened the discussion to the audience for Q&A.

Image: The panel takes questions from the audience