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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

recent events

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

Jan 13, 2025

Sapuppo in Just Security: Russia’s “Human Safari” Terror Tactic in Key Southeastern Ukraine Region of Kherson

By Atlantic Council

Conflict Drones

New Atlanticist

Jan 10, 2025

Five questions (and expert answers) about Biden’s final round of sanctions on Russia

By Atlantic Council experts

In likely the last such action by the Biden administration against the Kremlin, the US Treasury Department just announced tough new sanctions targeting the Russian oil and gas industry.

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business

UkraineAlert

Jan 9, 2025

Abandoning Ukraine would plunge the entire world into an era of instability

By Victor Liakh

If Western leaders choose to sacrifice Ukraine in a misguided bid to placate Putin, the shift from a rules-based international order to the law of the geopolitical jungle will be complete, writes Victor Liakh.

Conflict Freedom and Prosperity

UkraineAlert

Jan 9, 2025

Ukraine hopes robot army can counter Russia’s battlefield advantages

By David Kirichenko

As Ukrainian commanders prepare for a fourth year of Europe’s largest war since World War II, they are hoping their country’s growing arsenal of robotic systems can help counter Russia’s often overwhelming advantages in both manpower and firepower, writes David Kirichenko.

Conflict Defense Industry

New Atlanticist

Jan 8, 2025

Is 2025 the year that Russia’s economy finally freezes up under sanctions?

By Mark Temnycky

It’s taken years, but the Russian economy now appears to be experiencing the full effects of international sanctions. The first signs appeared at the end of 2024.

Economy & Business Oil and Gas

In the News

Jan 8, 2025

Soofer’s new report ‘First, we will defend the homeland’ featured in an exclusive Newsweek article

By Atlantic Council

On January 4, Forward Defense senior fellow Rob Soofer‘s report, “‘First, we will defend the homeland’: The case for homeland missile defense” was featured in a Newsweek exclusive titled “Donald Trump’s Iron Dome? Proposal to Counter Nuclear Attack Takes Shape.” The article explores Rob’s argument regarding the missile threats posed by Russia, China, and North […]

China Missile Defense

Russia Tomorrow

Jan 8, 2025

Sanctioned kleptocracy: How Putin’s kremligarchs have survived the war—and even prospered

By Ilya Zaslavskiy

The latest report in the Atlantic Council’s Russia Tomorrow series explores how Russia’s kleptocratic networks infiltrated the West and measures the US and Europe can take to combat the malign influence of Russian kleptocracy around the globe.

Corruption Economic Sanctions

UkraineAlert

Jan 7, 2025

Putin begins 2025 confident of victory as war of attrition takes toll on Ukraine

By Mykola Bielieskov

Donald Trump has vowed to end Russia's invasion of Ukraine but Vladimir Putin begins 2025 more confident of victory than ever and with little interest in a negotiated peace deal, writes Mykola Bielieskov.

Conflict Defense Policy

UkraineAlert

Jan 7, 2025

Putin’s peace plan is actually a call for Ukraine’s capitulation

By Serhii Kuzan

Donald Trump has vowed to end Russia's war in Ukraine, but Vladimir Putin's proposed peace terms leave little room for doubt that the Kremlin dictator remains intent on erasing Ukrainian statehood entirely, writes Serhii Kuzan.

Conflict Disinformation

New Atlanticist

Jan 6, 2025

The Russia-Ukraine energy divorce offers a chance for Europe to take control of its energy security 

By Olga Khakova

Ukraine’s closure of a pipeline that supplied Russian gas to Europe offers the European Union an opportunity to enhance its economic and energy security.

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

Experts

Events