There is a connection between the troubling situations in both Ukraine and also on the Korean Peninsula. Is it conceivable that an informal joining of these two issues—facilitated by Kiev’s new willingness to negotiate seriously with Moscow—could simultaneously break the unfortunate deadlock on the two very hardest issues in European and also East Asian security? Would Trump significantly soften sanctions on Russia in return for Putin delivering a concrete and feasible arms control agreement covering North Korea’s arsenal that Kim accepts? Unfortunately, such a diplomatic masterstroke is far too much to hope for in these confused and tense times.

Lyle J. Goldstein is Research Professor in the China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI) at the United States Naval War College in Newport, RI. In addition to Chinese, he also speaks Russian and he is also an affiliate of the new Russia Maritime Studies Institute (RMSI) at Naval War College. You can reach him at [email protected]. His opinions are entirely his own and do not reflect the official assessments of the U.S. Navy or any other agency of the U.S. government.

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