Tom Graham opens the session on U.S.-Russia relations
On April 18, the NCAFP hosted a timely panel on the current prospects for U.S.-Russia relations entitled "Russia Reconsidered." Joining us for the panel were Matthew Rojansky, Director of the Kennan Institute, and Andrew Weiss, Vice President for Studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Thomas E. Graham, Managing Director of Kissinger Associates and Senior Fellow at Yale's Jackson Institute, moderated the session.
Andrew Weiss offers his views
The new Administration in the United States has rhetorically demonstrated a profound interest in easing tensions in the U.S.-Russia relationship. This comes in the wake of a particularly challenging few years in U.S.-Russia relations that saw Russia grant asylum to Edward Snowden, the devolution of crises in Ukraine and Syria, and the ongoing investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election.
Dr. Ivan Safranchuk poses a question from the audience
Our panelists were asked to focus on questions such as: with few indicators in the way of tangible policy declarations, what are the realistic prospects for the future of U.S.-Russia relations? What challenges will the Administration face in efforts to engage with Russia? Is Russia motivated to engage differently with the U.S. under a new Administration, or will things continue to be “business as usual” in Moscow?
This off-the-record session saw a sellout crowd and a lively reception, during which time these and many other questions received great attention.