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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

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

In the News

Jan 7, 2025

Khakova was quoted in HuffPost on Ukraine’s switch from Russian to US gas 

By Olga Khakova

Energy & Environment Europe & Eurasia

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

Report

Jan 4, 2025

‘First, we will defend the homeland’: The case for homeland missile defense

By Robert Soofer with contributions from Kari Anderson, James McCue, Tom Karako, Mark J. Massa, Alyxandra Marine, and Jonathan Rosenstein

A comprehensive analysis of U.S. homeland missile defense, addressing policies, security challenges, and strategies to counter threats from North Korea, China, and Russia.

China Defense Technologies

In the News

Jan 3, 2025

Michta in 19FortyFive, RealClearDefense, and RealClearWorld on Russia’s imperial mindset

On January 1, Andrew Michta, director and senior fellow of the GeoStrategy Initiative, released a piece in 19FortyFive on how Russia’s imperial mindset led to its invasion of Ukraine. He argues that policymakers must recognize Russia as an empire to understand Moscow’s larger ambitions and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s approach to the war in Ukraine […]

Conflict Europe & Eurasia

UkraineAlert

Jan 2, 2025

Lithuania prioritizes defense spending amid growing Russian threat

By Agnia Grigas

Lithuania's new government is planning to increase defense spending as the Baltic nation faces up to the growing threat posed by Putin's Russia amid uncertainty over the US role in European security, writes Agnia Grigas.

Conflict Defense Industry

UkraineAlert

Jan 2, 2025

Missiles, AI, and drone swarms: Ukraine’s 2025 defense tech priorities

By Nataliia Kushnerska

Ukrainian defense tech companies will be focusing on domestic missile production, drone swarms, and AI technologies in 2025 as Ukraine seeks to remain one step ahead of Russia in the race to innovate, writes Nataliia Kushnerska.

Conflict Defense Technologies

Experts