Ongoing tensions between Russia and the United States and its allies pose a major challenge to global peace and security. The lack of communication between the U.S. and Russia increases the risk of an unintentional armed conflict and hampers the resolution of important international security issues where Russia’s constructive engagement is essential. Amid the transition to a more multipolar world, bridging this ever-widening divide remains a critical task.
The Russia program provides a non-partisan platform for non-governmental dialogue between American and Russian experts and retired military leaders with the aim of overcoming strategic divides and addressing issues of common concern. This program was founded during the Cold War at the EastWest Institute (EWI) and relaunched at the Stimson Center in 2021. The program brings together leading representatives of the diplomatic, military, business, academic, and other professional communities from the U.S. and Russia for joint efforts to clarify mutual misperceptions, reduce the risk of inadvertent military confrontation, and develop constructive solutions to major security challenges
Victoria Panova, Vice Rector of HSE and Head of Russia’s BRICS Expert Council, joins us to discuss the history of BRICS, Russia’s attitude toward the association, and the differences between BRICS and other international formats, such as the G7 and the G20.
August 15, 2025
Curtis Yarvin returns to discuss the logic of the “empire of love” and the possibilities of an American “perestroika.” He calls on Washington to shutter its foreign embassies, withdraw from the UN, and dissolve the transatlantic relationship.
August 4, 2025
Xiang Lanxin, Distinguished Fellow at the Stimson Center, joins us to discuss Trumpian “kayfabe,” the possibility of a grand bargain over Taiwan, and the US-Russia-China “grand strategic triangle,” among other subjects.
July 25, 2025
Sunjoy Joshi, Chairman of India’s Observer Research Foundation, joins us to discuss Indian philosophy, subtleties of the subcontinent, and India’s relations with the US, China, and Russia.
July 18, 2025
Curtis Yarvin joins us to discuss the Anglo-American “empire of love,” the bohemian libertines of the ancien régime, Putin’s relative weakness, Xi’s advantages over Mamdani, and populism’s last chance.
July 14, 2025
Samuel Charap, Distinguished Chair in Russia and Eurasia Policy at RAND, joins us to discuss US policy toward Russia since 2008, the war in Ukraine, and the prospects of a settlement.
June 20, 2025
To secure a non-nuclear Iran, Trump should guarantee regime security in Tehran
June 18, 2025
Maksim Suchkov, Director of the Institute of International Studies at MGIMO University in Moscow, joins us to discuss direct Russia-Ukraine talks, US-Russia relations, and Russia’s “revolution of common sense”.
May 30, 2025
