RUSSIA RESET REDUX: BUSINESS BONANZA OR BUST? - The Trump administration has spoken out about the opportunities awaiting US businesses if it can secure peace in Ukraine and a reset of US-Russia relations. However, there remain many challenges to the president’s vision of leveraging diplomacy for economic opportunities in Russia, given that the Kremlin is the obstacle to peace.

A cyclical series of high potential followed by political and economic roadblocks has been the defining characteristic of US business ventures in Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union. In the 1990s, US companies were drawn into Russia by privatization and a growing consumer market, but corruption, weak legal protections, and instability led to many failures. The 2000s saw renewed interest, but increasing state control under Russian President Vladimir Putin and the 2014 annexation of Crimea forced many firms to scale back or exit. Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Russian market has remained a no man’s land for Western investment and enterprise.

Any reset with Russia would likely demand concessions on Ukraine, threatening its sovereignty and US strategic interests. Moreover, US business prospects in Russia remain subject to unpredictable geopolitical shifts and rule of law minefields, raising questions about their long-term viability.

This expert panel discusses the history of US-Russian business relations and the prospects for future American businesses in Russia.

ORIGINAL AIRDATE: 04/07/2025