How should we negotiate with Russia if its leaders expect betrayal? I begin with the story of the Rus’ princes and the Mongols at the Kalka River, then turn to two Cold War confrontations: the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Berlin Airlift. Each offers a different view of mistrust, leverage, and the willingness to act when words alone are not enough.
The argument is that successful diplomacy with Russia must account for suspicion, a zero-sum view of concessions, and brinkmanship. That does not make negotiation impossible or excuse aggression. It does require understanding the other side’s assumptions. The airlift offers a particularly useful question: how can military capability demonstrate resolve and support diplomacy without becoming an act of war?
Read the essay and sources: https://joelkdouglas.com/2025/04/22/negotiating-with-russians/
