U.S. Strategies to Counter Russia: A Commentary Series

Nearly five years after the United States and the European Union implemented a wide-ranging set of sanctions in response to Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea, Russia continues to occupy territory in Ukraine, interfere in the elections of the United States and its allies, use chemical weapons in allied countries, and violate human rights. As a result, U.S. policymakers face increasing questions about the effectiveness of sanctions, whether EU partners are willing to pursue additional sanctions in coordination with the United States, and what threats sanctions can and cannot address successfully. All of these Russian actions have increased the pressure on U.S. leaders to find new and more aggressive measures to respond. As the new U.S. Congress crafts its approach to Russia, it has an array of decisions to make about how to counter threats from Moscow in U.S. law and in oversight of the executive branch.

CNAS has assembled expert commentaries to consider different viewpoints and key issues facing U.S. policymakers responsible for policy toward Russia. Each piece aims to provide context and suggestions for policymakers as they develop new sanctions and diplomatic efforts, engage allies and partners about shared threats, and develop a more coordinated U.S. strategy to push back effectively against Russia.

These commentaries cover a range of topics, including Russia's economic performance and prospects, its ties to China, its vulnerability to popular sentiment, and U.S. and EU potential for collaboration or divergence on Russia policy. All of these issues will play a major role in assessing how Russia will respond to U.S. policy and what strategies are likely to be effective in countering threats from Russia.

This series will be released over several days, with the first two published on January 18, 2019.