Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, now in its third year, is by far the largest military conflict in Europe since the end of WWII. In the aftermath of WWII, a senior diplomat in the US embassy in Moscow responded to questions from Washington about Soviet resistance to Allied recovery plans with what remains the longest diplomatic dispatch in US history. This “Long Telegram,” authored by George F. Kennan, described the Kremlin’s motivations and provided recommendations that became the foundation of America’s containment policy against the Soviet Union that endured for over four decades. Part of his legacy includes the establishment 50 years ago of the Kennan Institute at the Wilson Center to connect advanced research to public and policy audiences.

Kennan’s recommendations contributed to a peaceful resolution of the Cold War. What lessons should be taken from him in our newest conflict with Moscow? In partnership between the Wilson Center and William & Mary, this wide-ranging conversation to commemorate the Kennan Institute’s 50th anniversary, former Secretary of Defense and Chancellor of William & Mary Robert M. Gates and Wilson Center President & CEO Mark A. Green discuss the national challenges posed by the current conflict and the risks to our national security.