Nico Lange

1 week ago | cepa.org | Nico Lange |Elena Davlikanova |Edward Lucas |Aura Sabadus

For weeks now, Russia’s main axis of attack in southern Donbas has been faltering. Ukraine is conducting local counterattacks near Pokrovsk, Toretsk, and Chasiv Yar and is unexpectedly pushing back against Russia. That progress has been aided by technical evolution; Ukraine has extended the range of its fiber optic drones by several kilometers, and these cannot be disrupted by Russian electronic warfare. This allows Ukraine to disable Russian artillery pieces and logistical facilities.

2 months ago | cepa.org | Stephen Blank |Colby Badhwar |Nico Lange

Statements by leading members of the Trump administration regarding European security quickly reveal something worrying — a series of uncertainties and contradictions that make its positions hard to understand and risk serious worldwide consequences.

2 months ago | cepa.org | Andrew Novo |Stephen Blank |Philip Wasielewski |Nico Lange

President Trump’s proposed peace negotiations for Ukraine will be tricky. The campaign vow to end fighting in 24 hours is gone, replaced by an ambitious, but more feasible, mandate for special envoy Lt Gen (ret.) Keith Kellogg to end the war in 100 days. Part of Kellogg’s challenge will be that in a negotiation any pre-determined timeline can help the other side. As any negotiator will tell you, the more obvious one side’s eagerness for a deal, the harder the other side will push.

2 months ago | cepa.org | Andrew Novo |Stephen Blank |Philip Wasielewski |Nico Lange

The United States and its European allies should negotiate with Russia only from a position of strength, which requires gaining greater leverage over Moscow. To achieve this, transatlantic allies should adopt a maximum pressure strategy to bring Russia to the negotiating table in good faith.  The United States and its allies should provide immediate materiel support to Ukraine without caveats, aiming to wear down Russia’s military and thereby improve Ukraine’s negotiating position.