The Ukraine War Now: Diplomacy, Power Plays, and Driving New Nuclear Arms Races

Trump seems eager to end the Ukraine War on Putin’s terms: full Russian control of Donbas. “Peace negotiations” between Russia and Ukraine are reportedly being planned. Putin has signaled that he is in no mood to make concessions. While Putin unleashes massive drone and missile attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and people, Trump says that what Putin is doing in Ukraine is “fine.” Zelensky is striking back, and Europe has yet to sign onto the “peace negotiations. Quoting Dylan. “… something is happening and ya’ don’t know what it is.” The war, compounded by uncertainties over U.S. commitments to NATO and a growing hybrid war beyond Ukraine’s borders, is exaggerating European fears of future Russian aggression. This fuels broad and massive militarization across Europe that provides more openings for anti-democratic far-right forces to assume power and influence.

The Ukraine War is driving a new conventional and nuclear arms race in Europe and East Asia. NATO has a new escalation dominance strategic doctrine that will fuel a spiraling arms race. The Pentagon declares that it could use tactical nuclear weapons (potentially Hiroshima-sized) as it lowers its threshold for nuclear weapons use “to give the president and secretary [of War] credible, rational nuclear options.” Make sense of this madness with Anatol Lieven and George Bebe as we recalibrate for post-election advocacy to stop the killing and to end the war on as just a basis as possible.

Initiated by the Campaign for Peace, Disarmament and Common Security Co-sponsored by Massachusetts Peace Action and by New Hampshire Peace Action