Russia's War in Ukraine: Past, Present, and Future with Laura K. Cooper

Watch the recording of our Buffett Conversation on the past, present, and future of Russia's war in Ukraine with  Laura K. Cooper—Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia—moderated by Ian C. Kelly, Ambassador (ret.) in Residence at Northwestern University’s Roberta Buffett International Studies Program. 

Drawing on her experience as a key architect of US defense policy, Cooper offered insider perspective on the policy decisions that defined Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The conversation began with a personal retrospective on the first three years of the conflict, examining key questions such as whether earlier actions by the US and its allies could have deterred Russia’s invasion or enabled Ukraine to secure a faster victory. Cooper and Kelly then explored what the war reveals about the changing face of modern warfare and its potential future directions: What policy choices remain available to the US and its allies, and how might those choices shape not only the outcome in Ukraine but also the broader global security landscape?