This week, our guest is Dmitry Stefanovich, research fellow in the Center for International Security at the Russian Academy of Sciences. We discuss recent revisions to Russia’s nuclear doctrine, deterrence during the war in Ukraine, Russian red lines, and the evolution of Chinese nuclear policy.

01:39 Dmitry’s Odessa origins and involvement in the Sochi Olympics

04:08 Deterrence during the Ukraine war

08:39 When were we closest to nuclear use?

11:30 Russia’s revised nuclear doctrine 

20:05 US nuclear doctrine in the first Trump administration

26:05 What is the point of nuclear doctrines?

29:27 Karaganov and the Russian domestic debate about nuclear use 

33:32 US and Russian mutual misperceptions

36:10 Russian red lines

40:42 China’s nuclear policy