Brussels Sprouts

Brussels Sprouts LIVE: Europe with Less U.S.: Preventing Russia Opportunistic Aggression in Europe

Despite the degradation of Moscow’s military in Ukraine, senior western officials estimate that it could reconstitute its forces within two to five years. A new CNAS report considers how a crisis in the Indo-Pacific could shape Russia’s willingness to test NATO. U.S. involvement in a major crisis in Asia would cause Washington to redeploy resources and would-be reinforcements for Europe to the Indo-Pacific, which would create meaningful gaps in NATO defenses. This, in turn, could lead Moscow to perceive a golden opportunity to accomplish its aims: divide the United States and Europe, expand its sphere of influence, and revise the security order in Europe.
To discuss the latest Russian provocations and how NATO can fill the gaps in its defenses, we are very fortunate to be joined by General (Ret.) Philip Breedlove and Admiral (Ret.) James Foggo.
General (Ret.) Philip Breedlove served as NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe and Commander, U.S. European Command from 2013-2016, capping a 39-year Air Force career.
Admiral (Ret.) James Foggo served as Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples and Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa from 2017-2020, capping a 39-year Navy career.

Drones over Poland with Doug Lute and Kurt Volker

In the early hours of September 10th, Polish authorities detected 19 Russian drones over Polish airspace. This incident represents a major escalation, with Poland triggering Article 4 of the NATO Treaty. At a minimum, this was an attempt by Russia to get European nations to back down from their support for Ukraine and to expose the Alliance as a paper tiger. The attack also provided the Kremlin with key insights into Poland and NATO's air defenses and its chain of response. So how do we understand what happened and what needs to happen?
To answer those very hard questions, we're very fortunate to have Doug Lute and Kurt Volker with us.
Ambassador (Ret.) Douglas Lute served as the United States Ambassador to NATO from 2013–2017.
Ambassador (Ret.) Kurt Volker served as the United States Ambassador to NATO from 2008–2009 and as the U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations from 2017–2019.

Ukraine Negotiations: Europe’s Perspective and the Next Steps

This week, we continue our assessment of the Trump-Putin and Trump-Zelensky meetings in August. European leaders can take solace in the fact that their presence at the Washington meeting means that their views are not being entirely ignored, but significant outstanding questions remain relating to how the discussions of western security guarantees for Ukraine could materialize. Now that any appearance of momentum from the meetings has petered out, we take stock of European leaders’ takeaways from the Washington meeting and where Europe goes from here in its efforts to support Ukraine.
To share their views on the future of the European security order, we are very happy to welcome Shashank Joshi and Janis Kluge.
Shashank Joshi is the Defense Editor at The Economist 
Janis Kluge is Senior Associate at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) in Berlin, Germany

Ukraine Negotiations: Confusing Activity with Progress

The past week has seen a flurry of diplomacy from President Trump as he seeks to bring about a negotiated solution to Russia’s war on Ukraine. While activity has been undeniably high, what fruit has all this effort borne? Sam Charap and Angela Stent join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to help make sense of a whirlwind few days and the implications for the future of Ukraine and the transatlantic relationship writ large.
Samuel Charap is Distinguished Chair in Russia and Eurasia Policy and a senior political scientist at RAND.
Angela Stent is Professor Emerita of Government and Foreign Service at Georgetown University and a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.

Bonus: The Axis of Upheaval's Emerging Military Cooperation

One of the most transformative geopolitical developments in recent years has been the increasing alignment among Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea.  Accelerated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the deepening economic, military, and technological ties among these four countries have resulted in a new Axis of Upheaval—united by shared opposition to a U.S.-led global order.
On July 30, CNAS hosted a virtual panel discussing the new report, The Axis of Upheaval: Gauging the Growing Military Cooperation Among Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. The panel featured:
Richard Fontaine, chief executive officer at CNAS
Andrea Kendall-Taylor, senior fellow and director of the transatlantic security program at CNAS
Karim Sadjadpour, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
The event was moderated by David McKenzie, director of communications at CNAS
Read the report!
https://www.cnas.org/publications/reports/the-axis-of-upheaval

Russia, Ukraine, and the Global Order with Fiona Hill

Jim and Andrea sit down with Fiona Hill, one of the leading thinkers on Russia, U.S.-Russia relations, and transatlantic affairs. The conversation takes place against a dizzying backdrop of issues, including Russia's escalating attacks on Ukraine and its civilian centers, and political unrest in Ukraine over moves by the Zelensky government to strip anti-corruption agencies of their independence. There are also questions about whether President Trump's 50-day ultimatum to Putin to get to a ceasefire represents a genuine change and a new, harder stance on Russia. Trump was across the pond in the UK over the weekend, and met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to finalize a trade deal with the bloc. But despite reaching a deal, the U.S. forced posture review in Europe, of course, still looms over the future of transatlantic affairs.
Fiona Hill is a senior fellow in the Center on the United States and Europe within the Foreign Policy program at Brookings. She is also the Chancellor of Durham University in the United Kingdom. 
 

Ukraine War Update with Ben Hodges and Jana Kobzova

During the past several weeks, and since around March of this year, Russia has increased the intensity of its attacks on Ukraine. Moscow is launching brutal aerial assaults on cities and civilian centers, amounting to the largest drone and missile attacks to date in this war. Many eyes are now on Washington as the Trump administration sends inconsistent signals that give onlookers whiplash. Additionally, the bipartisan Senate bill to sanction countries that are still purchasing Russian energy has gained momentum in Congress. But with the August recess fast approaching, it will be a race to get to a vote this month.  
To give us an update on the war in Ukraine, we're very pleased to welcome General Ben Hodges and Jana Kobzova. 
Ben Hodges is a retired Lieutenant General in the United States Army and the former Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe 
Jana Kobzova is the Co-Director of the European Security Programme and the European Council on Foreign Relations 
This episode was recorded on July 11, 2025 

NATO's Biggest Threats

In the wake of a very short communiqué and an abbreviated Summit, many questions have been left unanswered by allies. How NATO would manage a reduction of military assets in Europe, support for Ukraine, nuclear strategy, and the rollout of the 5% spending benchmark are all uncertain at the moment, as is the transatlantic relationship. 
To help us understand transatlantic dynamics following the Hague Summit, we’re very pleased to welcome Constanze Stelzemüller and Gabrielius Landsbergis  
Constanze Stelzemüller is the Director of the Center on the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution 
Gabrielius Landsbergis is the former Foreign Minister of Lithuania  

The Future of Arms Control Part 2: The Case for Saving Global Arms Control

This week’s episode of Brussels Sprouts is the second part in our series on the future of the New START treaty and the viability of arms control between Russia and the United States. If you haven’t already heard this week’s earlier episode with Frank Miller and Eric Edelman, be sure to give it a listen!
In a Foreign Affairs piece from April, one of this week’s guests argues that the U.S. should pursue parallel nuclear arms control negotiations with Russia and China, given the deepening Moscow-Beijing partnership, the U.S. faces the realistic prospect of coordinated nuclear threats or a three-way arms race that could dwarf Cold War tensions. While New START's bilateral framework may be outdated, the piece suggests the window for meaningful arms control hasn't closed entirely—but it requires confronting the new reality of great power competition where America's nuclear rivals are increasingly aligned.
This week, Rose Gottemoeller and Jon Wolfsthal join to discuss the future of arms control.
 
Rose Gottemoeller is a Research Fellow at the Hoover Institution and the former U.S. Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security.
Jon Wolfsthal is the Director of Global Risk at the Federation of American Scientists and an adjunct senior fellow at CNAS

The Future of Arms Control Part 1: "No New START"

On this week’s episode of Brussels Sprouts, we’re kicking off a special 2-part series on the future of the New START treaty and the viability of arms control between Russia and the United States. Tune in now to part 2 to hear the other side of this debate! 
In a recent piece in Foreign Affairs, "No New START," this week’s guests argue that in the current geopolitical context, with Russia and China’s increased coordination, military capabilities, and aggression against the West, nuclear arms control only hurts the U.S.’s ability to deter them. With the possibility of conflict in more than one theater, the United States needs to reverse the material constraints put in place by New START in order to curb Russian and Chinese aggression. 
So, this week, we’re very pleased to welcome Eric Edelman and Franklin Miller to discuss the U.S.’s future nuclear posture with Russia. 
Eric Edelman is a counselor at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, and was the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy from 2005-2009 
Franklin Miller is a principal at the Scowcroft Group and served as a senior nuclear policy and arms control official in the Pentagon for 3 decades.