![](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/files.cnas.org/title/BrusselsSprouts-PodcastPage-Hero.jpg)
February 23, 2022
Flash Release: Rob Lee Reacts to Ongoing Russian Military Developments
Earlier this week, Russia escalated its ongoing aggression toward Ukraine by announcing that it would formally recognize the independence of the separatist territories of Donetsk and Luhansk, a decision that the Kremlin has backed up by deploying troops to both Eastern Ukrainian regions. In preparation for the possibility of a wider conflict, more serious sanctions have been threatened and additional troops have been moved to NATO’s eastern flank. Yet it remains unclear what Vladimir Putin’s next move will be—while many believe that he is poised to go further and launch a massive military attack against Ukraine, some have argued that he may stop short of a full-blown war. Rob Lee joins Andrea Kendall Taylor and Jim Townsend to assess the events and implications of this major global crisis.
Rob Lee is a Senior Fellow in the Foreign Policy Research Institute’s Eurasia Program, as well as a PhD student researching Russian defense policy at King’s College London’s War Studies Department. He is a former Marine infantry officer, Alfa Fellow, and visiting fellow at the Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies (CAST), a Russian think tank focused on defense policy.
More from CNAS
-
U.S. officials warn of Russia's sabotage operations in Europe
NPR’s Scott Simon speaks with national security expert, Andrea Kendall-Taylor, after officials warn that Russia is stepping up a campaign of covert sabotage across Europe. Li...
By Andrea Kendall-Taylor
-
Putin on the brink as Ukraine membership ‘irreversible’
“This is irreversible. This means it’s going to happen. Nato isn’t going to step back, it’s not going backwards on its commitment to Ukraine.” Live at the NATO Summit, Times ...
By Jim Townsend
-
The High Stakes of European Security with Thomas Wright at the 2024 CNAS National Security Conference
The current moment in the transatlantic relationship is one of high stakes. The United States and its European allies are continuing to grapple with numerous difficulties, inc...
By Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Jim Townsend & Thomas Wright
-
Richard Fontaine and Hal Brands Discuss the Axis of Upheaval
The effects of Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine are reverberating far beyond Ukraine’s borders. Perhaps most fundamentally, Putin’s invasion has catalyzed deepening cooperation...
By Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Jim Townsend, Richard Fontaine & Hal Brands