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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

New Atlanticist

May 19, 2022

Kosovo prime minister: Europe can help defend this ‘democratic success story’ amid Russian aggression

By Nick Fouriezos

Prime Minister Albin Kurti made the case for the power of the EU and addressed his country’s path forward with Serbia at an Atlantic Council Front Page event.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

Event Recap

May 19, 2022

Event Recap: “Cooperation in the Arctic: Ways forward in a Changed Security Environment”

On April 28th, 2022, the Atlantic Council’s Northern Europe office, in cooperation with the US Embassy Stockholm, held the conference “Cooperation in the Arctic: Ways forward in a Changed Security Environment.” Convening as Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine entered its third month, the future of Arctic governance was in question. Joint research projects on climate change […]

Climate Change & Climate Action Crisis Management

UkraineAlert

May 18, 2022

Putin’s Black Sea blockade leaves millions facing global famine

By Andriy Zagorodnyuk

Russia’s blockade of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports is strangling the country’s economy and also threatening to spark a global food security crisis by preventing Ukrainian agricultural exports from reaching international markets.

Conflict Economic Sanctions

In the News

May 18, 2022

Assistant Director Niels Graham quoted in World Trade Online on IPEF

By Niels Graham

Read the full article here.

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business

UkraineAlert

May 18, 2022

Disarming Russia’s energy weapon: Ukraine begins electricity exports to Moldova

By Aura Sabadus

Less than two months after synchronizing with the European electricity grid, Ukraine has begun energy exports to neighboring Moldova in a move that is likely to further dent Russia’s grip over the region.

Conflict Energy Markets & Governance

In the News

May 18, 2022

Wieslander quoted in Washington Post on Swedish and Finnish NATO applications

“This is an extraordinary development given where we were in February,” said Anna Wieslander, director for Northern Europe at the Atlantic Council think tank. “Russia wanted to turn back time, to go back to the Cold War, to fragment and weaken the West,” she continued. “Now, in May, we are here.”

Europe & Eurasia NATO

BelarusAlert

May 17, 2022

Putin’s only friend: Belarus is Russia’s last remaining post-Soviet ally

By Brian Whitmore

The recent CSTO summit in Moscow highlighted Russia's lack of support even within the former Soviet region while underlining Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka's status as Vladimir Putin's last remaining ally.

Belarus Central Asia

New Atlanticist

May 17, 2022

Safe distance: Why Ukraine should embrace the US position and deploy land mines responsibly

By John B. Barranco

Kyiv needs to reconsider its membership in the Ottawa Treaty if it wants to keep Russia's military out.

Conflict Crisis Management

Reality Check

May 17, 2022

Reality Check #12 — Russia, the West, and the rest: The hard choices the US must make to reinforce its global leadership

By Ferial Saeed

Washington needs to make hard choices now to blunt the global consequences of the war in Ukraine and the sanctions regime while delivering a decisive strategic setback to Russian President Vladimir Putin necessary to reinforce US global leadership. 

China Conflict

In the News

May 17, 2022

Wieslander speaks at Lennart Meri Conference in Estonia

On May 15th, Anna Wieslander spoke at the Lennart Meri Conference in Tallinn. Her concluding panel “Trusting Who We Are: Baltic Regional Security,” moderated by President of Estonia Alar Karis, took place on the verge of Swedish and Finnish NATO membership applications. Bringing two EU members into NATO’s framework will “solidify the West,” Wieslander said. Attempts at dialogue […]

Europe & Eurasia NATO

Experts