Russia's Carrot-and-Stick Strategy

April 21, 2016 | 02:00 GMT

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his foreign affairs minister, Sergei Lavrov, await a meeting with France's foreign minister on April 19. In its negotiations with the West, Russia balances conciliatory gestures with stern demands. (KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP/Getty Images)

Russia has shown signs in recent days, particularly when it comes to Ukraine, that it is willing to compromise. But Russia's goodwill goes only so far. While it was discussing prisoner swaps with Kiev and delaying elections in separatist parts of eastern Ukraine, Russian warplanes were harassing U.S. vessels and aircraft in the Baltic and Black seas and Russian artillery units were moving to the battlefields of Aleppo. Moscow is also investing heavily in its nuclear force, alarming officials in Washington and threatening to undermine two decades of arms control efforts. Click here to continue reading…