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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

New Atlanticist

Feb 18, 2022

Beyond the sequins: What figure skating tells us about Russia’s foreign policy

By Kelly A. Grieco

In both figure skating and foreign policy, Russia is keen to regain its former power and prestige.

International Norms Nationalism

In the News

Feb 17, 2022

O’Toole and Fried quoted in Reuters on the potential impact of US sanctions that target Russian state banks

Read the full article here.

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Feb 17, 2022

Twenty questions (and expert answers) about what’s happening with Ukraine and Russia

By Atlantic Council experts

As the crisis in Eastern Europe continues to unfold, we tapped our expert network to answer the burning questions about the implications for Russia, Ukraine, and the wider world.

Conflict Crisis Management

In the News

Feb 17, 2022

Ashford on NPR: How NATO’s eastward expansion set the stage for the standoff in Ukraine

By Atlantic Council

On February 17, Emma Ashford was featured on NPR’s Here and Now, discussing the history behind the crisis in Ukraine. “The current standoff on the Ukrainian border began when Russian President Vladimir Putin provoked fears of an invasion, but the roots of the crisis go back decades. “Russia and the West have been at odds about the […]

Eastern Europe English

In the News

Feb 17, 2022

Pavel in Defense One on US force posture

By Atlantic Council

Barry Pavel recommends that the Biden Administration ensure their upcoming National Defense Strategy recognizes Russia as a legitimate military threat.

China Defense Policy

UkraineAlert

Feb 17, 2022

What would constitute victory for Putin in his war with Ukraine?

By David Batashvili

In order to achieve his long-term foreign policy goal of subjugating a hostile Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin must militarily seize and occupy a large portion of what is the largest country wholly in Europe.

Conflict National Security

Britain Debrief

Feb 17, 2022

#BritainDebrief – What role is Western intelligence playing in the Ukraine crisis? A Debrief from Sir John Sawers

By Ben Judah

Sir John Sawers, the former Chief of MI6, joins #BritainDebrief to discuss the role of intelligence agencies in responding to the crisis in Ukraine.

Conflict Crisis Management

In the News

Feb 17, 2022

Marks in Yahoo! News on the Russia-Ukraine Crisis

By Atlantic Council

Scowcroft center nonresident senior fellow Ronald Marks considers why Putin would want to invade Ukraine.

Conflict Crisis Management

In the News

Feb 17, 2022

Klain interviewed in RFE/RL’s Romanian Service on NATO’s role in the Russia-Ukraine crisis

By Atlantic Council

Ukraine was officially a neutral country in 2014 when Putin decided to invade it. So no kind of neutrality, declared now, would change the situation at hand. Doug Klain More about our expert

Politics & Diplomacy Romanian

In the News

Feb 17, 2022

Wieslander interviewed by Radio Sweden on the history of NATO-Russian Relations

By Anna Wieslander

Since the 1990’s, many have contemplated Russian NATO membership and an EU-led European security order. Russia’s admission into NATO’s Partnership for Peace in 1994 established many areas of Russian-NATO cooperation around the world. However, Putin’s rise to power and increased opposition to the US-led world order caused early optimism to deteriorate into full-blown confrontation.

Europe & Eurasia NATO

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Events