Fyodor Lukyanov, Chicago Council on Global Affairs Journalist Profile

Articles

What’s Next After the West’s Decline?

2 weeks ago | slguardian.org | Fyodor Lukyanov

The United States still holds a commanding position in global affairs. Its influence – political, military, economic, and cultural – remains immense, the result of a historical head start built over decades. It would take a catastrophic event on the scale of the Soviet collapse to knock Washington out of the top tier of global power. That scenario seems unlikely. However, what is changing – gradually, but noticeably – is the way the US perceives its own role.
Fyodor Lukyanov: The West no longer leads - here’s what happens now

2 weeks ago | nexusnewsfeed.com | Fyodor Lukyanov

Russia, China, and the US form a strategic triangle of powerBy Fyodor Lukyanov, the editor-in-chief of Russia in Global Affairs, chairman of the Presidium of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, and research director of the Valdai International Discussion Club.
Neither Kiev nor Europe received encouraging news

1 month ago | russiancouncil.ru | Fyodor Lukyanov

As expected, the hype surrounding the Putin-Trump call proved exaggerated. Attempts to portray it as decisive and historic fell flat. Still, it remains a meaningful step forward, allowing several preliminary observations. First, developments align closely with Russia’s preferred approach. Moscow resisted immediate ceasefire calls, emphasizing the necessity for carefully structured long-term agreements. This effectively deflected Washington’s urgency, especially after the talks in Jeddah.
Putin and Trump Usher in an Era of New Diplomacy

1 month ago | eng.globalaffairs.ru | Fyodor Lukyanov

Just two months ago, the idea of serious negotiations between Russia and the United States over Ukraine – let alone a broader normalization of relations – seemed like utopia. Yet today, what once appeared impossible is happening. It proves that, with realism and a genuine will to achieve results, much can be accomplished.
Munich 2025: A Moment of Truth for Europe?

1 month ago | eng.globalaffairs.ru | Fyodor Lukyanov

Europe remains unusually quiet regarding the US-proposed 30-day ceasefire, which Ukraine has endorsed. Yet beneath and beyond this 21st-century iteration of All Quiet on the Western Front, the old world appears moving beyond its “abusive relationship” with Washington.
What in the World Is the “World Majority”?

1 month ago | eng.globalaffairs.ru | Fyodor Lukyanov

Multipolarity is not a correct description anymore. Because “pole” means that other countries, minor countries gravitate towards you. And the main idea today for anybody, any country, bigger ones, smaller one, is not to be subordinated not to be gravitated by force. The collective West, the political West, is a world minority.
Fyodor Lukyanov: Here’s the apocalyptic Trump choice facing the EU

1 month ago | nexusnewsfeed.com | Fyodor Lukyanov

Without the US, the blocs Ukraine strategy will fall apartBy Fyodor Lukyanov, the editor-in-chief of Russia in Global Affairs, chairman of the Presidium of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, and research director of the Valdai International Discussion Club. Russia in Global AffairsRGA on Telegram Britain’s Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer (L) welcomes Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky to 10 Downing Street on March 1, 2025 in London England.
Trump’s America is No Friend – Russia Must Stay the Course

1 month ago | eng.globalaffairs.ru | Fyodor Lukyanov

When Vladimir Putin launched Russia’s military operation in February 2022, he made it clear that the conflict was not merely about Ukraine. It was about Moscow’s broader struggle against the “entire so-called Western bloc,” shaped in the image of the United States.
Ukraine, Russia, and the West’s Fatal Miscalculation

1 month ago | eng.globalaffairs.ru | Fyodor Lukyanov

It’s always easy to feel prescient in hindsight. I recall conversations from 15 or 20 years ago with Western interlocutors – who are now from unfriendly nations – on NATO expansion. The discussions always began in a relatively solemn manner. From our side, we politely asked, why are you doing this? The bloc was creeping ever closer to Russia’s borders, despite assurances that it was not an anti-Russian project. Their response was equally polite: What are you talking about?
The Last Battle of the Cold War Just Took Place in Germany

2 months ago | eng.globalaffairs.ru | Fyodor Lukyanov

This year’s Munich Security Conference attracted as much attention as it did 18 years ago. Back then, it was Vladimir Putin who caused an uproar; this time, it was US Vice President J.D. Vance. Though separated by nearly two decades, these two speeches share a critical theme: both challenged the transatlantic order built on the legacy of the Cold War. And in both instances, the Western establishment failed to offer a substantive response.