NTI Resources on the War in Ukraine

President Putin’s announcement that he has put his country’s nuclear forces on heightened alert and his military’s seizure of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant has brought the world perilously close to a nuclear catastrophe. As the war in Ukraine continues, destroying cities and causing the worst humanitarian crisis in Europe in a generation, NTI’s policy experts are fanning out across the news media to discuss the implications of Putin’s actions. We’re also sharing information on social media channels and across NTI’s website. The following list of resources will be updated as events warrant.

NTI policy experts are available for members of the news media covering Ukraine, including Ernest J. Moniz, Sam Nunn, Joan Rohlfing, Lynn Rusten, Steve Andreasen, Mark Melamed, Scott Roecker, and Nickolas Roth. To arrange an interview, please contact Cathy Gwin at [email protected] or 202-270-5942.

Key interviews and statements

• NTI Co-Chair Sam Nunn spoke with Andrea Mitchell of MSNBC regarding Vladimir Putin’s nuclear threats and NTI’s fail-safe initiative.  You can watch the five-minute video here. (February 27)
• NTI Co-Chair and CEO Ernest Moniz released a statement on the New START Treaty and the one-year anniversary of the war in Ukraine.  He called Russia’s announcement that it is suspending its participation in the New START treaty “another deeply troubling development” and “counterproductive to global strategic stability.” While noting the one-year anniversary of the war in Ukraine, he emphasized that “any use of nuclear weapons is unacceptable to humanity and would further compound the grievous error Russia made in beginning this war. (February 22)
• NTI Vice President Lynn Rusten spoke with National Public Radio, for both Morning Edition and NPR.org, about Vladimir Putin’s announcement that Russia is suspending its participation in the New START nuclear treaty. “We’re not in a nuclear arms race today,” Rusten said. “But it’s very concerning that we soon will be, because the bottom line is, this is the last nuclear treaty governing nuclear weapons of the United States and Russia that is in force. And obviously it’s under incredible strain now, and potentially unraveling.” (February 22)
• NTI Senior Director Nick Roth spoke to Outrider regarding the threats to Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. “We’ve never seen the occupation of a nuclear facility, let alone with a full-scale war around it,” he said. (February 6)
• NTI Vice President Lynn Rusten spoke to The Wall Street Journal and the Government Matters television program regarding a new U.S. State Department report that found Russia is not complying with the New START Treaty. “This marks the first time I can recall that the routine treaty implementation process has been disturbed by broader political tensions, rather than insulated from them,” she said. “With the pandemic under control, the failure to resume treaty inspections is unjustified and unacceptable.” (February 5)
• NTI’s inaugural William J. Perry Distinguished Fellow Rolf Mowatt-Larssen, a former CIA officer and Moscow station chief, gave a strategic analysis of the Russia-Ukraine war in an appearance on the podcast “Intelligence Matters.” Listen to the full podcast or read a transcript here. (January 18)
• NTI Vice President Lynn Rusten spoke to Radio Free Europe and The Hill about Russia’s decision to cancel upcoming talks with the United States on the soon-to-expire New START Treaty, the last remaining treaty between the countries with the world’s two largest nuclear arsenals. “It sends a really troubling signal regarding the political will to get back into…a New START successor treaty,” she told Radio Free Europe. “I’m worried it’s a bad harbinger.” (December 2)
• NTI Co-Chair and CEO Ernest Moniz testified before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, Energy, the Environment, and Cyber at a hearing on “Russia’s Waning Global Influence.”  Moniz discussed a range of energy and nuclear security issues related to Russia’s unjustified war in Ukraine. Watch the hearing here or read his full statement here. (November 16)
• Lynn Rusten spoke with TIME regarding Vladimir Putin’s nuclear threats in Ukraine. Read the article here. (November 5)
• NTI Co-Chair and CEO Ernest Moniz spoke with MSNBC’s Ali Velshi about the status of the Iran nuclear deal and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s threats to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine. He noted Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s power to influence Putin’s actions. Watch the full interview here. (November 5)
• NTI Co-Chair and CEO Ernest Moniz appeared on the “Late Show with Stephen Colbert” to discuss Vladimir Putin’s nuclear threats.  Watch the seven-minute interview here. (November 2)
• Scott Roecker spoke to The Wall Street Journal and The Financial Times regarding Russia’s dirty bomb disinformation campaign in Ukraine. (October 24 and 26)
• Scott Roecker was featured in an Associated Press “Explainer” article describing the differences between a dirty bomb and a nuclear weapon. Read the article here. (October 24)
• NTI Co-Chair Sam Nunn appeared on Atlanta Public Radio to discuss Vladimir Putin’s nuclear threats. Listen to the five-minute interview here. (October 20)
• Nickolas Roth spoke to ABC News about the conditions at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine after a second plant official was kidnapped. Read the article here. (October 12)
• Lynn Rusten spoke with Vox about the need for U.S.-Russia nuclear cooperation even during times of tension. Read the article here.  (October 7)
• NTI’s William J. Perry Distinguished Fellow Rolf Mowatt-Larssen appeared on the Intelligence Matters podcast and told host and former Deputy CIA Director Michael Morell that Western leaders need to take Vladimir Putin’s threats seriously and that we are at the “highest point in nuclear risks” since the Cuban Missile Crisis 60 years ago. Listen to the podcast here. (October 5)
• NTI released a statement responding to Vladimir Putin’s recent nuclear threats and calling on world leaders to “waste no time and spare no effort in meeting this challenge with dedicated and aggressive diplomacy.” Read the full statement here. (September 22)
• Scott Roecker spoke to VOX for an article headlined “What Can the IAEA Do in Zaporizhzhia?” Read the article here. (September 3)
• NTI released a statement calling on the IAEA, Russia, Ukraine, and all countries with relevant capabilities to do “everything they can to prevent a nuclear catastrophe at Zaporizhzhia and to prepare to respond in the event of a disaster.” Read the statement here. (August 26)
• NTI experts have continued to raise concerns about safety and security issues at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Interviews have included Scott Roecker on ABC’s World News Tonight and CBS News and in The Washington Post.  In addition, Nick Roth appeared on BBC World Television and in the UK’s Express newspaper. (August, 2022)
• Sec. Moniz appeared on MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell Reports to discuss the Iran nuclear deal and dangers at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.  Read the transcript here. (August 11)
• NTI Co-Chair Sam Nunn spoke with author and journalist Eric Schlosser for a June article in The Atlantic headlined “What If Russia Uses Nuclear Weapons in Ukraine?”  Nunn said that three fundamental things are essential for avoiding a nuclear catastrophe: rational leaders, accurate information, and no major blunders. “And all three are now in some degree of doubt,” he said. Emeritus Board member Bill Perry also weighed in. Read the full article here. (June 20)
• Co-Chair and CEO Ernest J. Moniz spoke with MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell about Russia’s latest nuclear threats and the visit to Chernobyl by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi. Watch the five-minute interview here. (April 26)
• NTI advisor Siegfried Hecker spoke to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists for an article headlined “Putin has destroyed the world nuclear order. How should democracies respond?”  Read the Q&A here. (April 21)
• NTI Fellow Angela Kane spoke with CBC News for an article headlined “What Counts as a Chemical Weapon and How to Tell Who’s Using One.”  Read the article here.  (April 15)
• At a recent forum hosted by the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs at Georgia Tech, Co-Chair Senator Nunn asked CIA Director William J. Burns about whether Russian President Putin might use nuclear weapons.  Read more in The New York Times here.  (April 14)
• CNBC spoke with a range of nuclear experts, including Global Nuclear Policy Program Vice President Lynn Rusten, for a segment on “What Happens If There’s A Nuclear Attack.” Watch the 13-minute video here. (April 5)
• Sen. Sam Nunn spoke with Ellen Knickmeyer of The Associated Press for an article headlined “West, Russia Mull Nuclear Steps In a ‘More Dangerous’ World.” Read the full article here.  (April 2)
• Sec. Moniz appeared on Bloomberg TV to discuss Putin’s nuclear saber rattling, sole authority, tactical nuclear weapons and energy issues.  You can watch the nine-minute interview here. (March 30)
• NTI | bio Deputy Vice President Hayley Severance was featured in a TIME article headlined “Lab Leaks Are a Small But Real Risk in Ukraine.” Read the article here. (March 29)
• Hayley Severance was featured in a WIRED article headlined “Russia’s Lies About Bioweapons in Ukraine Make the World Less Safe.” Read the article here.  (March 29)
• Sen. Nunn was featured in a Politico article headlined “How the Ukraine War Could Go Nuclear.”  NTI’s fail-safe proposal, the recent EASLG statement and the recent Atomic Pulse blog on nuclear blunder were also highlighted. Read the article here.  (March 24)
• Nuclear Materials Security Senior Director Nick Roth was cited by The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists in “10 must-read Twitter threads on the war in Ukraine.” Read the article here. (March 21)
• Sec. Moniz appeared on HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher” to discuss nuclear threats relating to the war in Ukraine. You can watch the six-minute nuclear segment here, read the transcript here, and and the ten-minute “Overtime” panel segment here. (March 18)
• Sam Nunn appeared on NPR’s “Here & Now” program to discuss the various WMD threats in Ukraine. Listen to the five-minute interview here. (March 17)
• The five co-conveners of the Euro-Atlantic Security Leadership Group (EASLG) released a statement on “Ukraine and Reducing Nuclear Risks.” The statement, which can be found here, was highlighted in news coverage around the globe, including The Guardian. (March 14)
• Sam Nunn and Lynn Rusten spoke with Defense One for an article headlined “Can Russia’s War Revive the Anti-Nuke Movement?” Read the article here.  (March 12)
• Sec. Moniz appeared on CNN to discuss the threat to Ukraine’s nuclear power plants and the pause in talks to revive the Iran nuclear deal. Watch the interview here. (March 11)
• Ernest J. Moniz appeared on MSNBC to discuss rising gas prices and the threat to Ukraine’s nuclear power plants.  Watch the interview here. (March 11)
• Sam Nunn spoke with former Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson for the Straight Talk podcast. They discussed NTI’s work, the war in Ukraine, Nunn’s Senate career, U.S.-China relations, and more.  Listen to the interview here. (March 11)
• Senior Director Eric Brewer spoke to Radio Free Europe about whether Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would derail the Iran nuclear deal. Read the article here. (March 10)
• Lynn Rusten spoke to The New Republic about nuclear risks in Ukraine. Read the article here. (March 7)
• Ernest J. Moniz spoke with Ali Velshi on MSNBC to discuss nuclear dangers in Ukraine and related energy issues.  Watch the five-minute nuclear segment here, and the five-minute energy segment here. (March 5) 
• Ernest J. Moniz spoke with John Berman of CNN regarding the March 3 nuclear power plant attack in Ukraine. Read the transcript here. (March 5)
• President and COO Joan Rohlfing spoke to Newsweek about how the Ukraine conflict risks a new U.S.-Russia arms race. Read the article here. (March 3)
• Nuclear Materials Security Vice President Scott Roecker spoke with CBS News regarding the March 3 nuclear power plant attack in Ukraine. Watch the five-minute interview here. (March 4)
• Nick Roth appeared on The HillTV to discuss the recent nuclear power plant attack in Ukraine. To watch the interview, click here and scroll down to headline “Putin’s Nuclear Power Plant Strike.” (March 4)
• Ernest J. Moniz spoke with Chuck Todd for his “Meet the Press” podcast. Listen to the audio here (March 4)
• Lynn Rusten spoke to Foreign Policy about the future of arms control. Read the article here (March 1).
• Sam Nunn appeared on Georgia Public Radio with Bill Nigut and Jim Galloway. Read the transcript here and listen to the audio here (Feb. 28).  NTI Board member emerita Susan Eisenhower highlighted the interview in her blog here.
• Ernest J. Moniz appeared on MSNBC with Andrea Mitchell. Watch the video here, and read the transcript here (Feb. 27).
• Lynn Rusten spoke to Politico about the importance of military-to-military communication.  Read the article here (Feb. 27)
• NTI statement from Ernest J. Moniz, Sam Nunn, and Joan Rohlfing on the Russian invasion can be found here. (Feb. 24)
• Sam Nunn appeared on MSNBC with Andrea Mitchell and Admiral James Stavridis.  Watch the video here, or read transcript here. (Feb. 16)

Op-eds and blog posts

• In a Washington Post op-ed headlined “What Xi Must Tell Putin Now,” NTI Board members Mike Mullen, Sam Nunn, and Ernest J. Moniz call on China to wield its “unique position of influence” to encourage more “rational” decision-making by Russian President Vladimir Putin. (September 29)
• NTI intern Lia Sokol wrote a blog for Atomic Pulse headlined “Russia’s Kinzhal Hypersonic Missile: A Game-Changing Weapon or a Distraction?”  Read her blog post here. (April 7)
• Sec. Moniz co-authored an op-ed with Dick Meserve in Defense One on how to secure nuclear facilities globally in light of the recent attacks in Ukraine. Read the op-ed here. (March 23)
• Sec. Moniz wrote an op-ed for The Economist’s “By Invitation” section on “Vladimir Putin’s Reckless Nuclear Threats.” Read the op-ed here. (March 18)
• NTI consultant Christopher Colletta wrote a blog post for Atomic Pulse on “Blundering into a Nuclear War in Ukraine: A Hypothetical Scenario.”  Read the blog here.  (March 18)
• NTI Communications intern Aya Al-Shakarchi wrote a blog post for Atomic Pulse on “Watching a War Unfold on TikTok.”  Read the blog here.  (March 18)
• “Russian Propaganda Establishes Dangerous, Permissive Environment.” NTI | bio’s Hayley Severance and Jacob Eckles address false claims that Ukrainian biological research facilities are secretly being used to build bioweapons. Read the Atomic Pulse post here. (March 11)
• “What happened at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and what are the implications?” Atomic Pulse post by Senior Director Nick Roth here. (March 9)
• “The Ukraine invasion highlights why Biden’s Nuclear Posture Review should endorse bold new vision for nuclear security.” Op-ed by Nick Roth for The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Read the op-ed here. (Feb. 28)
• “Leaders must untie the ‘knot of war’ in Europe.” Op-ed in The Hill by NTI Board member Amb. Jon Huntsman, Ernest J. Moniz, and Sam Nunn. Read op-ed here (Feb. 10).

NTI on Twitter

NTI: @NTI_WMD

Co-Chair and CEO Ernest J. Moniz: @ErnestMoniz

Nuclear Materials Security Vice President Scott Roecker: @scottroecker

Nuclear materials Security Senior Director Nick Roth: @Nickolas_Roth

President and COO Joan Rohlfing: @JoanRohlfing

Other resources

NTI’s updated Ukraine country page can be found here.