How to defend Ukraine after a ceasefire

How to defend Ukraine after a ceasefire

From Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes by ECFR

February 27, 2026 · 32 min

About this episode

Mark Leonard and Jennifer Kavanagh discuss Ukraine's security status and US foreign policy in the context of a potential ceasefire with Russia.

As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine enters its fifth year, negotiations are finally entering a productive phase.  Mark Leonard  is joined by  Jennifer Kavanagh , senior fellow and director of military analysis at Defense Priorities, and author of the new report, “An Armed Nonalignment Model for Ukraine’s Postwar Security”, to examine Ukraine’s security status and US foreign policy towards it. Mark and Jennifer explore her proposal that Ukraine should position itself as an “armed nonalignment” state, the future of the transatlantic alliance, and America’s National Defense Strategy.     Can Ukraine be nonaligned but also “armed to the teeth”? Could it become a porcupine that Russia cannot swallow? What should Europe and Ukraine do if future US foreign policy focuses more on the Indo-Pacific and the western hemisphere? Could Russia feasibly invade Ukraine again? And what happens if it does?    Bookshelf &nbsp…

People in this episode

Host: Mark Leonard

Guest: Jennifer Kavanagh

Topics covered

  • Ukraine
  • ceasefire
  • US foreign policy
  • armed nonalignment
  • transatlantic alliance
  • Russia

Keywords

  • Ukraine
  • ceasefire
  • US foreign policy
  • armed nonalignment
  • transatlantic alliance
  • Russia invasion
  • military analysis

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Defense Priorities

Books & works: An Armed Nonalignment Model for Ukraine’s Postwar Security

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