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 own “revolution of common sense”.

*The Trialogue Podcast is hosted by the Stimson Center and produced by University FM.

Time Stamps:

• 01:08 Evaluate the Russia-Ukraine talks and the Trump-Putin phone call
• 03:17 Why does Russia oppose an immediate ceasefire?
• 08:08 What are Russia’s core objectives?
• 10:54 What kind of military caps does the Kremlin want to put on Kyiv?
• 13:56 Three scenarios for US policy
• 19:43 Russian and Chinese perspectives on Europe
• 23:05 Russia as a conservative “civilization-state”
• 26:00 A positive US-Russia bilateral agenda
• 35:27 How long will the Trump movement last?
• 42:40 Ukraine v US-Russia normalization
• 45:51 What kind of Europe does Russia want?
• 51:46 Predictions for the summer