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Steven Pifer
Beijing, China
Commentary

What comes after New START?

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What comes after New START?

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The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty lapsed on February 5, 2026. U.S. President Donald Trump has said he will seek a better agreement, and Washington wants to bring in China and limit all Russian nuclear warheads, not just the deployed strategic warheads captured by New START.

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Trump and Zelenskyy
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A year of failure: Trump’s attempt to end the Russia-Ukraine war

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A year of failure: Trump’s attempt to end the Russia-Ukraine war

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President Trump returned to the White House in 2025 claiming he would quickly end the Russia-Ukraine war. But the sides today remain far apart on key issues while the war rages on.

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Flags of the United States and Russia
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With New START expiring, it’s now dialogue or arms racing

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With New START expiring, it’s now dialogue or arms racing

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Putin and George Bush
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A NATO Promise Not to Enlarge? No, Not Even According to Putin 1.0

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A NATO Promise Not to Enlarge? No, Not Even According to Putin 1.0

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Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed in his end-of-the-year press conference that Western “promises that they had given us about refraining from expanding NATO were being ignored.”

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Trump and Putin shake hands
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New START’s death is around the corner. Please, someone, tell the President

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New START’s death is around the corner. Please, someone, tell the President

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The 2010 New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) is on the path to a quiet death in two months. The treaty’s demise will end the last agreement constraining US and Russian nuclear weapons.

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Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in conversation on the tarmac of the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on August 15, 2025 in Anchorage, Alaska.
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A new push for an end to the war?

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A new push for an end to the war?

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A flurry of diplomacy over the weekend seems to have improved Ukraine’s position.

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ukraine apartment
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Positive developments for Ukraine in a time of challenge

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Positive developments for Ukraine in a time of challenge

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While Ukraine faces steep challenges, several recent developments could strengthen Kyiv’s hand.

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Nevada nuclear test site sedan crater
Commentary

Resumed U.S. Nuclear Testing? Unnecessary and Unwise

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Resumed U.S. Nuclear Testing? Unnecessary and Unwise

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In an October 29 Truth Social post, President Donald Trump said he had ordered the Defense Department to resume testing U.S. nuclear weapons. Four days later, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright clarified that the United States did not intend to conduct nuclear explosive tests.

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Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in conversation on the tarmac of the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on August 15, 2025 in Anchorage, Alaska.
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Responding to Putin’s Proposal to Extend New START

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Responding to Putin’s Proposal to Extend New START

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With the [New START] treaty due to expire in February 2026, the Trump administration must decide how to respond to a Russian proposal to extend the treaty’s quantitative limits for one year.

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Trump meeting Aug 18, 2025
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Guaranteeing Ukraine’s Security

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Guaranteeing Ukraine’s Security

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European leaders came to Washington to bolster Zelensky’s position following Trump’s grievous Alaska conversation with Russian President Putin.

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Trump hosting world leaders at white house
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Repairing the damage done in Alaska?

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Repairing the damage done in Alaska?

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President Donald Trump traveled to Alaska on August 15 intending to get Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire.

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Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in conversation on the tarmac of the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on August 15, 2025 in Anchorage, Alaska.
Commentary International Relations Conflict Diplomacy Russia Ukraine Europe United States

After the Trump-Putin Summit, Is Ending the Ukraine-Russia War Any Closer?

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After the Trump-Putin Summit, Is Ending the Ukraine-Russia War Any Closer?

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FSI scholars Michael McFaul, Steven Pifer, and Rose Gottemoeller analyze the Alaska meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin and its implications for Ukraine’s security and sovereignty.

Commentary International Relations Conflict Diplomacy Russia Ukraine Europe United States
Trump and Putin
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How Disastrous Was the Trump-Putin Meeting?

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How Disastrous Was the Trump-Putin Meeting?

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The Europeans are coming to Washington in an attempt to salvage Ukraine’s position.

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Putin and Trump
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Avoiding Putin’s trap in Alaska

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Avoiding Putin’s trap in Alaska

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Is Trump prepared to play tough with Putin?

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Trump rally
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Trump’s New Deadline for Moscow—Does He Mean It this Time?

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Trump’s New Deadline for Moscow—Does He Mean It this Time?

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Trump set earlier deadlines for the Kremlin and took no action when they passed. Also, his threatened punitive steps may not worry Putin much.

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The Russian and American flags flying side by side
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Displaying Weakness to the Kremlin

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Displaying Weakness to the Kremlin

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For a U.S. administration claiming that it wants to restore American power in order, among other things, to negotiate from a position of strength, the past week has not advanced the cause.

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Putin and Witkoff
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Trump’s impotent words on the Ukraine War

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Trump’s impotent words on the Ukraine War

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Putin has taken no serious steps in response to Trump’s calls to halt the fighting. Trump should therefore back his words with actions.

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Steve Witkoff
Commentary

Is a deal really emerging on Russia-Ukraine?

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Is a deal really emerging on Russia-Ukraine?

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A just and durable peace that brings an end to this brutal war would certainly be welcome. However, the details described by Witkoff to date leave considerable doubt about the prospects of his plan.

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Flags of the United States and Ukraine displayed side-by-side.
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Trump Is Failing to End the War in Ukraine

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Trump Is Failing to End the War in Ukraine

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But is he even trying?

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New START
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New START’s Final Year—What Next?

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New START’s Final Year—What Next?

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President Donald Trump has expressed interest in “denuclearization.” However, negotiation of a follow-on agreement would have to deal with difficult issues of substance.

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Putin and Trump
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Trump craves better relations with Russia — Why?

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Trump craves better relations with Russia — Why?

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Feb 28th Oval Office Ukraine
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Why a ceasefire holds little appeal for Zelenskyy

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Why a ceasefire holds little appeal for Zelenskyy

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Ukrainians have several reasons for opposing a stand-alone ceasefire.

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Steven Pifer on World Class podcast
Commentary Conflict International Relations Security Ukraine Russia Europe United States

Assessing Europe's Security After Three Years of War in Ukraine

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Assessing Europe's Security After Three Years of War in Ukraine

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Steven Pifer joins Michael McFaul on World Class to discuss how America's relationship with Ukraine and Europe is shifting, and what that means for the future of international security.

Commentary Conflict International Relations Security Ukraine Russia Europe United States
Flags of the United States and Ukraine displayed side-by-side.
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Has Trump flipped Ukraine … for Russia?

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Has Trump flipped Ukraine … for Russia?

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February 28 will go down as a bad day for Ukraine and a good one for the Kremlin.

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Donald Trump at a rally
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Trump’s Two-Week Capitulation to Putin

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Trump’s Two-Week Capitulation to Putin

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The president gave the Russian dictator the best run of good news he’s had in years.

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