For many years, experts have predicted a return to Cold War between Russia and the West. President Vladimir Putin’s decision this week to recognize the independence of Ukraine’s separatist republics, however, means that a different form of warfare—a hot war—is almost inevitable. The key questions at this point are how extensive the war in Ukraine will be, whether Washington and Moscow can successfully manage the dangers of unwanted escalation into direct US-Russian conflict, and what role China is playing in the tensions.

The Center for the National Interest convened a number of leading American and Russian experts on Friday, February 25, 2022, to discuss these critical issues.

George Beebe is Vice President and Director of Studies at the Center for the National Interest, a former director of Russia analysis at the Central Intelligence Agency, and author of The Russia Trap: How Our Shadow War with Russia Could Spiral Into Catastrophe.

Douglas Macgregor, Col. (ret.) is a decorated combat veteran, a former advisor to the Secretary of Defense in the Trump administration, and the author of five books.

Paul Heer is a distinguished fellow at the Center for the National Interest, a former analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency, and a former NIO for East Asia.

Dimitri K. Simes, president of The Center for the National Interest and publisher & CEO of The National Interest, moderated the discussion.

Image: Reuters.