Policy Currents | The newsletter for policy people
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** Sept. 23, 2025
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Designing a Ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine War
A ceasefire will be an essential part of any negotiated end to the Russia-Ukraine war. With deep mistrust on both sides, what will it take to reach an agreement that sticks?
In a new report, RAND researchers explore this challenge and outline practical recommendations for working toward a durable peace in Ukraine.
Here are their top-line recommendations for policymakers and stakeholders involved in the details of a future ceasefire agreement:
- Start designing the ceasefire long before negotiations begin.
- Negotiate big-picture geopolitical questions in parallel with, but on a separate track from, ceasefire talks.
- Design a formal ceasefire agreement that clearly defines roles and responsibilities, protocols, and operating procedures.
- Ensure that the agreement includes demilitarized zones along the front line, confidence-building measures, dispute-resolution mechanisms, third-party monitoring capabilities, and accountability mechanisms.
- Include a robust remote-sensing infrastructure to help monitor the roughly 2,000-mile conflict line and ensure that any interference with sensors is treated as a violation.
- Add mechanisms that allow for political-level oversight of implementation and possibly specified conditions that would trigger renegotiation.
The authors emphasize that, although political will is necessary to make an agreement work, it is not enough to ensure ceasefire success. The design of the deal matters.
"Poorly designed agreements can, in fact, lessen political investment in a peace process," they write. "Well-designed agreements can reduce incentives to renew fighting, mitigate uncertainty, and help prevent accidents, therefore contributing to the maintenance of peace."
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America's Middle Class: Q&A with Melanie Zaber
Making it in the middle class--and staying there--is becoming more and more difficult. RAND's Melanie Zaber studies this challenge with a single objective in mind: help more Americans find meaningful work and a path to the middle class. In a new Q&A, she discusses her work, including her latest projects in West Virginia, where she's working with state leaders to strengthen apprenticeship programs, technical education, and career pathways.
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Why U.S. Public Health Needs Employers at the Table
How might U.S. employers play a larger role in supporting public health? According to RAND's Mahshid Abir, state and local health departments can team up with employers to deliver disease education, prevention, and screening programs. If companies become "true partners in public health," Abir says, then it could result in a win-win-win: a healthier community, a more resilient workforce, and a more productive economy.
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** RAND Recommends
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** Events
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Can Europe Deter Russia?
Wednesday, September 24, 2025 (Online)
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RAND Europe Foresight Forum
Monday, October 13, 2025 (London)
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The State of Apprenticeship in West Virginia
Wednesday, September 24, 2025 (Online)
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China's Economic Future
Tuesday, October 14, 2025 (London)
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An Examination of Migration in Afghanistan
Wednesday, October 22, 2025 (Online)
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The 'Big Shift' from Hospitals to Communities
Thursday, November 6, 2025 (Online)
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** Policy Minded, RAND's Flagship Podcast
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On Policy Minded, we pick the brains of the world's top policy experts. In each episode, RAND researchers join us for conversations that go beyond the headlines--bringing you insights you can't find anywhere else.
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