The War in Ukraine and the Future of Arms Control

Nuclear Threats and the War in Ukraine

In the third episode of the Nuclear Threats and the War in Ukraine, Sir Lawrence Freedman, Emeritus Professor of War Studies at King's College London, and Ms. Sarah Bidgood, Director of the Eurasia Nonproliferation Program at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS), present a pessimistic view on the future of arms control. The discussion is moderated by CNS founder and director Dr. William Potter. Ms. Bidgood wrote a recent article in Foreign Policy about the real possibility of a new nuclear arms race. https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/03/15/nuclear-arms-control-race-russia-ukraine-america/

Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine has set in motion a catastrophic war. The consequences of this war will be both tragic and far-reaching, including concerning nuclear nonproliferation and risk reduction. Consistent with the CNS mission of promoting nonproliferation education and analysis, the Center offers a series of webinars about the nuclear challenges and risks that have arisen as a result of this unfolding crisis. The series focuses on questions such as

• How is the war affecting the safety and security of Ukraine’s civil nuclear energy infrastructure?
• What is the risk that nuclear weapons could be used in the context of the war in Ukraine?
• What is the likely impact of the war on the international nonproliferation regime and national decisions to forego nuclear weapons?

In a fast-changing landscape with countless unknowns, this series aims to provide timely information about these critical issues and a forum for constructive dialogue.