14
February 2023
Past Event
Preparing for the Dissolution of the Russian Federation

Event will also stream live on this page.

Preparing for the Dissolution of the Russian Federation

Past Event
Hudson Institute
February 14, 2023
OLEKSANDRIVKA, UKRAINE - JANUARY 3: A cross near a destroyed vehicle commemorates a Ukrainian soldier who died during the liberation in November 2022 on January 3, 2023 in Oleksandrivka, Ukraine. The town located on the shore of the Dniprovska Gulf was occupied by Russian forces from February to November 2022. (Photo by Pierre Crom/Getty Images)
Caption
A cross near a destroyed vehicle commemorates a Ukrainian soldier who died during the liberation of Kherson in Oleksandrivka, Ukraine, on January 3, 2023 . (Pierre Crom/Getty Images)
14
February 2023
Past Event

Event will also stream live on this page.

Speakers:
 Alexii Goncharenko
Alexii Goncharenko

Ukrainian Member of Parliament

jb
Janusz Bugajski

Senior Fellow, Jamestown Foundation

paul goble
Paul Goble

Senior Analyst, Jamestown Foundation

PRESIDENT OF FREE RUSSIA FOUNDATION
Natalia Arno

President, Free Russia Foundation

inal
Inal Sherip

Foreign Minister of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria

luke_coffey
Luke Coffey

Senior Fellow, Center on Europe and Eurasia

fred starr
Fred Starr

Founding Chairman, Central Asia-Caucasus Institute and Silk Road Studies Program

Temuri Yacobishvili
Ambassador Temuri Yacobishvili

Former Ambassador of Georgia to the US

Moderator:
glen howard
Glen Howard

President, Jamestown Foundation

Peter Rough Hudson Institute
Peter Rough

Senior Fellow and Director, Center on Europe and Eurasia

Key Takeaways

 

1. Preparing for every possibility of what the Russian Federation could look like at the end of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, whenever it may end, is not synonymous with calling for regime change. It is prudent for US and allied policymakers to have an awareness of the different social and ethnic dynamics within the Russian Federation and the potential cracks that may erupt.

2. Unlike the fall of the Soviet Union, when scholars and policymakers knew what the resulting 15 states would look like, it is unknowable which, and how many, ethnic groups in Russia may seek independence, let alone when. But it is almost certain that these ruptures will not align perfectly along the oblasts and republics depicted on the map today.

3. The first step in mitigating the effects of this potential dissolution is for US and allied policymakers to show up in the region as well as in friendly countries throughout the Caucasus and Central Asia. It will also require working with sometimes difficult allies like Turkey to ensure that China does not fill the power vaccum left on the Eurasian landmass.

 

While it is unknown when Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine will end, a Russian defeat would likely lead to the dissolution of the Russian Federation as it is known today. Because of the Kremlin’s decision to attack Ukraine, Moscow’s once extensive influence across Eurasia has dwindled, and the war has devastated Russia’s economy, military, and social stability. US and allied policymakers need to understand this possibility and prepare for the new Eurasian geopolitical reality that a fall of the Russian Federation might bring.

Join Hudson Institute and The Jamestown Foundation to discuss Russian domestic social friction and what US and allied policymakers need to do now to prepare for the country’s possible collapse.

Agenda: 

9:00 a.m. | Keynote Speech

Alexii Goncharenko, Ukrainian Member of Parliament

9:30 a.m. | Panel 1:  Ethnic and Social Fault Lines in the Russian Federation

Panelists:

  • Janusz Bugajski, Senior Fellow, Jamestown Foundation  
  • Paul Goble, Senior Analyst, Jamestown Foundation
  • Natalia Arno, President, Free Russia Foundation
  • Inal Sherip, Foreign Minister of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria

Moderator: 

  • Glen Howard, President, Jamestown Foundation 

11:00 a.m. | Panel 2: What Can Be Done to Prepare for the Collapse of the Russian Federation?

Panelists:

  • Luke Coffey, Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute 
  • Fred Starr, Founding Chairman, Central Asia-Caucasus Institute and Silk Road Studies Program 
  • Ambassador Temuri Yacobishvili, Former Ambassador of Georgia to the US

Moderator:

  • Peter Rough, Senior Fellow and Director of the Center on Europe and Eurasia, Hudson Institute
Related Events
18
February 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Democracy in Poland
Featured Speakers:
Matthew Boyse
Peter Doran
Moderator:
James Carafano
Getty Images
18
February 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Democracy in Poland

Join Senior Fellow Matt Boyse and Peter Doran of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies for a discussion of their recent in-depth examination of objectivity, consistency, and politics in the debate about democracy, rule of law, media freedom, and more. 

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
Matthew Boyse
Peter Doran
Moderator:
James Carafano
19
February 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Righting the Ship: Strengthening US Navy Shipbuilding and Ship Repair
Featured Speakers:
Hon. Nickolas Guertin
Glen Kim
Brian Holland
Greg Little
Tom Moore
Paul Clifford
Brad Moyer
Rob Lehman
Chris Clark
Moderators:
Tim Walton
Michael Roberts
Caption: Fast-attack submarine USS Scranton (SSN 756) prepares to depart the floating dry dock ARCO (ARDM 5) at Naval Base Point Loma, California, on September 4, 2024. (US Navy photo by Aaron T. Smith)
19
February 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Righting the Ship: Strengthening US Navy Shipbuilding and Ship Repair

Please join Hudson Senior Fellow Tim Walton for a discussion with Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisition Nickolas Guertin. Following the discussion, two panels of industry experts will address further challenges and opportunities to expand the US Navy fleet.

Caption: Fast-attack submarine USS Scranton (SSN 756) prepares to depart the floating dry dock ARCO (ARDM 5) at Naval Base Point Loma, California, on September 4, 2024. (US Navy photo by Aaron T. Smith)
Featured Speakers:
Hon. Nickolas Guertin
Glen Kim
Brian Holland
Greg Little
Tom Moore
Paul Clifford
Brad Moyer
Rob Lehman
Chris Clark
Moderators:
Tim Walton
Michael Roberts
07
February 2025
Past Event
Gaza’s Future: Are Trump and Netanyahu on the Same Page?
Featured Speakers:
Gadi Taub
Michael Doran
Getty Images
07
February 2025
Past Event
Gaza’s Future: Are Trump and Netanyahu on the Same Page?

To explore these questions, Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East Director Michael Doran will sit down with Dr. Gadi Taub.

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
Gadi Taub
Michael Doran
06
February 2025
Past Event
Faith and Freedom: Constitutional Law and Religious Liberty | Political Studies Policy Certificate Program
Featured Speakers:
Rachel Mackey
Nina Shea
Professor Murray Dry
(Getty Images)
06
February 2025
Past Event
Faith and Freedom: Constitutional Law and Religious Liberty | Political Studies Policy Certificate Program

The Hudson Institute Political Studies Policy Certificate Program gathers talented early career professionals for advanced study of American foreign and domestic policy and national security, led by policy experts and experienced government officials.

(Getty Images)
Featured Speakers:
Rachel Mackey
Nina Shea
Professor Murray Dry