Samuel Charap

Samuel Charap, RAND’s Distinguished Chair in Russia and Eurasia Policy, offers decades of expertise on Russia-Ukraine relations. He argues a ceasefire could reduce killing but create fragile, miscalculation-prone peace. He outlines accidental escalation scenarios, snapback guarantees, phased settlements, defensive-only aid, and how to embed wider Russia-NATO talks to stabilize Europe.

In this discussion, Eric Ciaramella, a Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment, and Samuel Charap, a Senior Political Scientist at Rand Corporation, dive into the Ukraine-Russia negotiations. They explore the hurdles of achieving peace amid competing national interests. The potential for a negotiated settlement is debated, alongside security arrangements to deter future aggression. The complexities of neutrality for Ukraine and the impact of NATO aspirations also feature prominently, along with the critical need for holding Russia accountable for its actions.

In this engaging discussion, Samuel Charap, a senior political scientist at the RAND Corporation and expert on Russia, dives deep into the motivations behind Putin's invasion of Ukraine. He argues that Putin perceives Ukraine's NATO alignment as a dire threat, driving the current conflict. Charap emphasizes the importance of negotiations over military defeat to avert further devastation. The conversation also highlights the risks of NATO expansion and the delicate balance needed to prevent nuclear escalation, while stressing the need for a sustainable resolution.