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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 16, 2022

Kroenig and Ashford debate if there is a diplomatic offramp in Ukraine

On February 10, Foreign Policy published a biweekly column featuring Scowcroft Center deputy director Matthew Kroenig and New American Engagement Initiative senior fellow Emma Ashford assessing the latest news in international affairs. In their latest column, they discuss NATO allies’ varied responses to the Russia-Ukraine crisis, and debate if a peaceful resolution is possible.

Conflict Defense Policy

New Atlanticist

Feb 16, 2022

Why Putin won’t invade Ukraine

By Harlan Ullman

By conflating three vital Russian national-security interests into four demands, the Russian leader created internal contradictions and conflicts that would make a military intervention in Ukraine disastrous.

Conflict Crisis Management

BelarusAlert

Feb 16, 2022

NATO allies fear Putin’s Belarus military build-up will be permanent

By Brian Whitmore

At the moment all eyes are on the Ukrainian border. But regardless of how Vladimir Putin's manufactured crisis in Ukraine ends, the threat to NATO's eastern flank from Russia's growing military presence in Belarus will remain.

Belarus Conflict

In the News

Feb 16, 2022

Wieslander interviewed by Radio Sweden on Russian troop movements

By Anna Wieslander

“This is a long-term game about the future of our security order. This is about the type of world we want to live in,” said Wieslander.

Europe & Eurasia NATO

New Atlanticist

Feb 16, 2022

Evacuating noncombatants from Ukraine will be a mess. The West needs to ditch the blame game this time.

By Thomas S. Warrick

In a further invasion of Ukraine, Putin would be to blame for any chaos that follows.

Conflict Crisis Management

In the News

Feb 16, 2022

Kroenig in the Atlantic on China’s nuclear capability

By Atlantic Council

Scowcroft Center deputy director Matthew Kroenig acknowledges China's growing nuclear capability in the Atlantic.

Arms Control China

In the News

Feb 16, 2022

Friedlander and O’Toole quoted in Politico on sanctions against Russia

Read the full article here.

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Feb 16, 2022

Russia Crisis Military Assessment: Ukraine invasion could happen with less than 12 hours’ notice

By Atlantic Council military fellows

Russia has essentially completed preparations for a large-scale offensive operation and could likely execute a further invasion quickly, according to our military experts

Belarus Conflict

In the News

Feb 16, 2022

Wetzel in Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists on the Russia-Ukraine crisis

By Atlantic Council

Senior US Air Force fellow Lt Col Tyson Wetzel describes the potential for a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Conflict Crisis Management

UkraineAlert

Feb 16, 2022

Putin has seriously wounded Ukraine’s economy without firing a single shot

By Anders Åslund

Even without physically invading Ukraine, Vladimir Putin is already causing the country great economic losses. The West cannot stand by and watch this happen, explains Anders Åslund.

Conflict Democratic Transitions

Experts