Peace Through Strength: The Path Forward in Russia–Ukraine
Schedule
Wed Feb 25 2026 at 05:00 pm to 06:00 pm
UTC-05:00Location
The Institute of World Politics | Washington, DC
About this Event
About the Lecture:
As negotiations intensify and the prospect of a negotiated settlement between Russia and Ukraine moves closer to reality, America First Global and The Institute of World Politics will convene a high-level panel to examine what peace must look like and what it must achieve for the United States and its allies.
This timely discussion will take place just ahead of an expected potential peace framework and will focus on the diplomatic, economic, and strategic dimensions shaping outcomes.
The conversation will be moderated by Professor James Robbins, Dean of Academics at The Institute of World Politics and a respected scholar of national security and strategic affairs. His expertise in U.S. defense policy and international relations will guide a focused and substantive exchange.
The panel will address several key questions:
- What does a realistic and enforceable peace agreement look like at this stage of the conflict?
- How should sanctions relief be sequenced and conditioned?
- What role should economic reconstruction and private capital play in stabilizing Ukraine?
- How can the United States ensure that a negotiated settlement strengthens, rather than weakens, deterrence?
- What are the risks of escalation if diplomacy falters?
The discussion will recognize a core reality: no one benefits from an indefinite war of attrition. The humanitarian toll, fiscal burden, and geopolitical uncertainty demand a clear-eyed evaluation of pathways to peace. At the same time, a rushed agreement absent enforcement mechanisms would invite renewed instability.
From energy markets to global food supply chains, the Russia–Ukraine conflict has reshaped economic calculations worldwide. Sanctions have reconfigured trade routes. Defense spending has surged. Emerging powers have recalibrated alliances. NATO is shifting. As negotiations progress, the strategic question is not simply how to end the fighting, but how to secure a framework that protects American interests, restores stability, and deters future conflict.
Media attendees can expect candid analysis, policy clarity, and forward-looking recommendations. Stand up interviews will be available after the event.
The Institute of World Politics provides the ideal setting for this exchange, a venue dedicated to advancing principled statecraft, national security scholarship, and strategic leadership. In partnership with America First Global, this event underscores the importance of disciplined diplomacy, economic realism, and peace through strength.
With negotiations evolving rapidly, February 25 will offer an opportunity to examine where things stand, and where they must go, before the ink is dry on any agreement.
For media inquiries and attendance confirmation, please contact America First Global.
About the Speakers:
Gentry Beach, Founder of America First Global, will offer perspective on the economic dimension of peacemaking, particularly the role of sanctions architecture, reconstruction incentives, and global trade realignment in securing a durable peace. Drawing on his recent writing on economic diplomacy as a driver of conflict resolution, Beach will examine how financial leverage, energy markets, and economic incentives can create conditions for stability without endless military escalation. He will also address how the United States can structure sanctions relief in a way that protects American interests while encouraging compliance and accountability.
A 34-year veteran of the U.S. Intelligence and Foreign Affairs communities, Professor Glenn Corn served for over 20 years abroad, including tours in Russia, Turkey, Central Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East. He also held senior leadership positions within the Intelligence Community in the U.S. and is a graduate of multiple specialized training programs in the fields of Intelligence, Security, Adult Education and Training and Executive Leadership. He is a founding partner of the Strategic Advisory and Consulting firm “Varyag” and Expert contributor to the “Cipher Brief”.He has a master’s degree in Russian Language and Literature from American University and a bachelor’s degree in Russian Studies from Hofstra University, and he is also a graduate of the U.S. Army Russian Institute. He speaks Russian and Turkish. He also is a faculty member at The Institute of World Politics and teaches courses on Soviet and Russian Intelligence and Security Services, as well as Turkish Foreign Policy and Intelligence.
Dr. James S. Robbins is IWP faculty and the current Dean of Academics. He is also a national security columnist for USA Today and Senior Fellow in National Security Affairs at the American Foreign Policy Council. Dr. Robbins is a former special assistant in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and in 2007 was awarded the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joint Meritorious Civilian Service Award. He is also the former award-winning Senior Editorial Writer for Foreign Affairs at The Washington Times. His work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, National Review, and other publications, and he appears regularly on national and international television and radio. Dr. Robbins holds a Ph.D. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and has taught at the National Defense University and Marine Corps University, among other schools. His research interests include terrorism and national security strategy, political theory, and military history.
Where is it happening?
The Institute of World Politics, 1521 16th Street Northwest, Washington, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00 to USD 1068.91
