Dear CCI Friends,

The debate over proposed peace plans for Ukraine is ongoing although the Russians appear to be excluded from the discussion while the Europeans and the Zelensky government are seemingly doing their level best to scuttle realistic diplomacy.  Not even a Christmas truce looks likely.

It  would seem obvious that a perfect peace, i.e., one that gives every party everything they want, is not possible.  The analyst below addresses that issue head on by asserting that “an imperfect peace is better than a worsening war.”

Is the world ready for that?

Sincerely,

The Directors

Center for Citizen Initiatives

“Trump’s Ukraine Proposal Is The Least Bad Option Out There”

Dear CCI Friends,

You may have been as distracted by Donald Trump’s new National Security Strategy for the past week as we at CCI have been.  Does it mean a major shift in US foreign policy away from the current ‘the-US-must-control-the-world’ model to one of ‘the-US-will-henceforth-mind-its-own-business’ model?  Or is it empty rhetoric that will bounce off an impregnable wall of resistance to change?

Since CCI’s mission is to foster improved US/Russia relations, we are sharing three articles with you that focus on what a policy re-set such as that set out by President Trump would mean in that sphere. 

Harvard’s Russia Matters reviewed only one segment of the NSS but it is perhaps the most significant for our purposes in that it lays out an entirely new, sane approach to America’s future engagement with the Kremlin:

Russia in Review, Nov. 25–Dec. 5, 2025 | Russia Matters

Alastair Crooke points out that both Europe and American Democrats find the new policy a catastrophe, meaning they may do their utmost to undermine it:

Europe in Panic Over US Strategy for Stability With Russia – Consortium News

Stephen Bryen sees the strategic importance of a “balanced relationship” between the two superpowers – a CCI goal for more than 40 years:

Sinking NATO: The Implications of All Out Support for Zelensky’s Hard Line

Enjoy the reading, friends, and as always, let us know what you think.

Sincerely,
The Directors
Center for Citizen Initiatives

Dear CCI Friends,

The fast current of news this week and last is more than most can navigate, assimilate and comprehend in a timely manner.  Certainly there is too much – and too much of it contradictory – to allow us to make reasonable predictions for our future.  In many ways it feels as if the future is a murky cloud at the foot of the precipice we are teetering over.

While the tragedy in Ukraine appears to be in its final act, there is no agreement on how or when it will end.  Looking at how a deadly conflict that never should have happened (which we may say about all wars?) came about may serve as a guide.  

Ted Snider at The American Conservative reviews how we got to this unbelievable moment in time when corruption and a coup in Ukraine brought the Europeans and Great Britain to the point of salivating at the prospect of all out war with Russia.  Who could have anticipated such madness?

Patrick Lawrence does another quick review of how we got to the Europe/Ukraine/Russia/US impasse and how we might actually work our way out of it in one piece – thanks to Donald Trump.  And how many, in the West and in the US (even in the US government), are prepared to accept such an outcome?

Finally, Gilbert Doctorow and Judge Napolitano have a short discussion of Vladimir Putin’s perspective on the deadly drama of our time.  Is the West prepared to concede that Russia’s position deserves respectful consideration?

All heady questions, friends, and more than we can solve. Please give them your consideration in view of the following and  let us know  what you think.

Sincerely, 

The Directors
The Center for Citizen Initiatives

Ted Snider, The American Conservative

Zelensky – Fake Promises of Peace and Public Integrity 

Patrick Lawrence, The Floutist

Who Destroyed Ukraine?

https://thefloutist.substack.com/p/what-is-this-peace-in-our-time?

Gilbert Doctorow, With Judge Napolitano

US/Russia Negotiations; A Waste of Time?

Dear CCI Friends,

Best wishes to you all during the week when we in the US gather to count our blessings.  We want to thank you all for your support, friendship, criticisms, kudos, caustic comments and helpful recommendations.  It is our pleasure to meet with you regularly in this wonderful online space – until we meet again in the real world.

And if you have time for a reflective respite during this very busy week, please consider the following tantalizing possibility:

Peace in a Multi-Civilizational World

https://glenndiesen.substack.com/p/paul-robinson-russias-world-order?utm_source=podcast-email&publication_id=2670149&post_id=178737219&utm_campaign=email-play-on-substack&utm_content=watch_now_gif&r=1ow2st&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Directors
The Center for Citizen Initiatives

Dear CCI Friends,

As most of you know, Center for Citizen Initiatives was first organized in 1983 by Californians determined to do something at the grass roots level to avert nuclear war between Russia and the United States.  Formally incorporated two years later, its mission was – and is to this day – to bring Russian and American citizens together in peace.  Developing, sharing and promoting programs and educational materials on the cultures of the two countries is what we do.

Since the war in Ukraine broke out in 2022, some of our friends and followers have been disturbed that we continue to promote friendly, respectful relations between Russia and the US.  The question frequently asked is,  “What about Ukraine?!”  The implication seems to be that the ongoing bloody conflict in that country must somehow nullify our mission to avoid a nuclear war with Russia.  It does not.  On the contrary, we feel the tragedy in Ukraine makes our work of promoting understanding more critical than ever. 

The video below features an interview with Professor Nicolai Petro, University of Rhode Island, hosted by Glenn Diesen.  Prof. Petro’s credentials as a scholar and expert on Russian and Ukrainian geopolitical history are extensive and we hope you will take the time to carefully consider his analysis of the entwined cultural roots shared by Russia and Ukraine.  His perspective will deepen your understanding greatly.

The video is long and for those of you who prefer to receive information in a written format,  a CCI friend has kindly taken the time to create what he calls a ‘rough’ transcript which follows the video.  It is very helpful and much appreciated!

We look forward to your comments.

Center for Citizen Initiatives

“Deep Roots,” by Prof. Nicolai Petro:

Transcript

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1U18uip7gBefDHARzOS_sp1agPQJnldVy/edit