As he did in this first presidential term, President Trump has continued to signal closer alignment with Vladimir Putin. This included a tense February Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, where he claimed Ukraine was responsible for the war.   The U.S. also joined Russia in voting against a UN resolution condemning Russia’s action in Ukraine and Vice President Vance has called for a re-evaluation of the U.S.'s relationship with NATO. Could these actions, and others, help chart a return to a state of improved U.S.-Russia diplomatic relations or lead America toward defeat in the region and beyond? Those who argue that Trump’s actions signal a return to normalcy say that European security should be Europe’s responsibility, which could lead to a stronger, more self-sufficient NATO, and that recent years of antagonism have failed to alter Russian behavior. The Trump administration could help bring U.S.-Russia relations into constructive focus at a high-stakes moment.  However, those who declare this a defeat for America argue that Trump warming up to Putin will only encourage Russian aggression, hurt Ukraine, and erode our allies’ trust. 

With this background, we debate Trump’s Russia Policies: Return to Normalcy or Defeat for America? 

Arguing "Defeat for America": 

Bill Browder, Head of the Global Magnitsky Justice Campaign  

Alina Polyakova, President and CEO of the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) 

Arguing "Return to Normalcy":  

Jeffrey Sachs, Economist, Public Policy Analyst, and Professor at Columbia University 

Thomas Graham, Distinguished Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations; Co-founder of Yale University’s Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies Program  

Emmy award-winning journalist John Donvan moderates 

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