Crisis in Ukraine Prompts Renewed Focus on U.S. Nuclear Posture

As tensions between Russia and Ukraine escalate, U.S. foreign policy hawks contend that Russian aggression merits a second look at the U.S. military’s uncertain nuclear modernization plans.

Under President Vladimir Putin, Russia has become increasingly anti-democratic and hostile to the United States, said Mark Schneider, senior analyst at the National Institute for Public Policy. For the the United States, this should stir concerns about Russia's nuclear intentions.

"U.S. nuclear modernization programs are minimal. We are basically replacing systems only when they're 40 to 80 years of age,” he said March 19 on Capitol Hill. "Assuming everything went perfectly [with future budgets], and we actually had the funding, nothing [new] will be operational before 2020."

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