Europe & Eurasia

Russia’s Brinkmanship Raising Tensions in Europe

By Jeremy Diamond and Greg Botelho, CNN

The war of words between America and Russia is escalating. So, too, is the movement of implements of war — from U.S. fighter jets to Russian nuclear weapons.

Russian Ambassador Warns of ‘Risks’ Should Sweden Join NATO

By The Local (Sweden)

On Thursday, Russia’s ambassador to Sweden, Viktor Tatarintsev, hit out in an interview with the Dagens Nyheter daily at what he called an “aggressive propaganda campaign” by Swedish media.

Switching Spymasters Amid War is Risky

By Brian Mefford

Valentin Nalyvaichenko, head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), is in trouble again. On June 15, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said he was “unsatisfied” with Nalyvaichenko’s work. Three days later, Ukraine’s parliament dismissed him. At a time when the Minsk II ceasefire agreement is a ceasefire in name only and the threat of Russian espionage, sabotage, […]

Open Russia’s Khodorkovsky Envisions a Russia Without Putin

Someday, predicts Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Russia—freed from the authoritarian grip of President Vladimir Putin—could be an ally of the United States, an economically strong democracy, and even a responsible member of both NATO and the European Union. And even though that day may be a long way off, Washington shouldn’t waste any time getting ready for […]