Commentary & Analysis

Putin and the US Senate

By Anna Borshchevskaya

On October 12, the U.S. Senate held a hearing to confirm National Security Council official Michael McFaul to be the next U.S. ambassador to Russia. McFaul used his testimony to defend the Obama administration’s “reset” policy, even though the policy has neither reversed the antagonism which marks the U.S.-Russian relationship nor improved U.S. national security. […]

Getting Caspian and Other Regional Gas to Europe: the View from Greece

By Jason Harmala

On October 13, the Atlantic Council held an off-the-record discussion with Harry Sachinis, Chairman and CEO of DEPA S.A., Greece’s Public Gas Corporation, on the Southern Corridor being developed to bring Caspian gas to markets in Europe and potentially elsewhere. Senior experts from the energy industry and various governments attended the session. DEPA imports both […]

Russian Musical Chairs: A Country on the Stop

By Ross Wilson

President Dmitri Medvedev’s public dressing down and dismissal of his country’s deputy prime minister and finance minister, Alexei Kudrin, on September 26 has attracted widespread attention in Russia and abroad.

Caspian Natural Gas Inches Closer to Markets

By Boyko Nitzov

Earlier this month, two events occurred which are likely to significantly boost Europe’s hopes for diversifying its gas supply and help realize Caspian gas exporting countries’ aspirations for reaching global gas markets. 

Redrawing Europe’s Energy Map: Poland’s Offer

The Russian state-owned energy giant Gazprom enjoys unwavering control of gas exports to Europe with little current viable competition. The European Union, overall, receives 25 percent of its natural gas supply via pipelines from Russia, with some (mostly Eastern European) consumers almost completely dependent on the large supplier. These consumers have been actively in pursuit […]

Discussion with Ambassador John Ordway

By Jason Harmala

On September 22, the Atlantic Council held an off-the-record discussion with John Ordway, who just completed nine months as U.S. Chargé d’Affaires in Kazakhstan that followed his earlier tenure as American ambassador there in 2004-2008 and a long U.S. Foreign Service career that included assignments in Armenia, Russia and the Soviet Union.

Strategy Session on Southeast Europe with Eric Rubin

By Jason Harmala

On September 14, the Atlantic Council held an off-the-record strategy session for Eric Rubin, the new US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs responsible for American relations with Turkey, Greece, Cyprus and the three Caucasus countries.