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COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

The Power Vertical

The Power Vertical is a blog and podcast for Russia wonks and Kremlin watchers by Brian Whitmore. It covers emerging and developing trends in Russian politics, shining a spotlight on the high-stakes power struggles, machinations, and clashing interests that shape Kremlin policy today.

Host and Eurasia Center Senior Fellow Brian Whitmore invites guest experts to deliver their insights and analysis in this weekly podcast. The Atlantic Council and the Charles T. McDowell Center for Global Studies at the University of Texas at Arlington co-sponsor this production.

The Russia Tomorrow series

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The Eurasia Center’s mission is to enhance transatlantic cooperation in promoting stability, democratic values and prosperity in Eurasia, from Eastern Europe and Turkey in the West to the Caucasus, Russia and Central Asia in the East.

Content

In the News

Feb 14, 2025

Tannebaum interviewed by Bloomberg on Trump’s offer of talks to Putin

Watch the full interview here

Economy & Business Russia

In the News

Feb 14, 2025

Global Sanctions Dashboard cited by the Australian National University on Wagner Group’s profits

Read the full article here

Economic Sanctions Russia

Economic Statecraft Initiative

Feb 14, 2025

Global Sanctions Dashboard cited by RUSI on Wagner’s business model in Syria and Africa

Read the full article here

Economic Sanctions General Africa

Inflection Points

Feb 14, 2025

Dispatch from Munich: Trump has put European history in motion again

By Frederick Kempe

As the annual Munich Security Conference opens, there is a palpable sense that the city might again be a place where history is made.

Europe & Eurasia Germany

UkraineAlert

Feb 13, 2025

Ukrainian drones reportedly knock out 10 percent of Russian refining capacity

By Peter Dickinson

Ukraine’s 2025 campaign of drone strikes on Russian energy infrastructure has succeeded in knocking out around one-tenth of Russia’s refining capacity, according to analysis by Reuters, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Defense Technologies

Issue Brief

Feb 13, 2025

To secure Taiwan, the United States must first secure Ukraine

By Brian Kerg

US defense priorities appear to be at a crossroads. Can the United States materially sustain Ukraine in its fight with Russia while preparing for a possible fight with China in defense of Taiwan?

China Conflict

UkraineAlert

Feb 13, 2025

A Putin-friendly peace deal would be disastrous for global security

By Ihor Smeshko

As US President Donald Trump announces the start of negotiations with Russia to end the war in Ukraine, Ihor Smeshko warns that a Putin-friendly compromise peace would have catastrophic consequences for the future of international security.

Conflict International Norms

In the News

Feb 13, 2025

Soofer interviewed for USA Today article on Trump’s ‘Iron Dome’

By Atlantic Council

On February 11, Forward Defense senior fellow Robert Soofer was interviewed for a USA Today article entitled, “Will Trump’s ‘Iron Dome’ missile defense make Americans safer? It’s complicated.” The article quotes Soofer’s response to Trump’s executive order, citing his claim that it is “even more bold, I would suggest, than Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative.”

China Defense Policy

Op-Ed

Feb 13, 2025

Tannebaum in The Kyiv Independent on the potential for economic statecraft measures in the Russia-Ukraine war

By Daniel Tannebaum

Read the full article here

Economic Sanctions Russia

Issue Brief

Feb 13, 2025

Deterring Chinese aggression takes real-time intelligence

By Scott D. Berrier

LTG (R) Scott D. Berrier argues that transforming the Intelligence Communit's early-warning system and attaining real-time awareness is crucial to deterring Chinese aggression.

China East Asia

Experts

Events