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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

New Atlanticist

Jan 11, 2022

What will Putin do? An expert guide to this week’s high-wire diplomacy with Russia

By Atlantic Council experts

As the tensions ratchet up, our experts parse through the details, signals, and developments to distill what this moment means for Europe and beyond.

Europe & Eurasia NATO

BelarusAlert

Jan 11, 2022

Belarus dictator prepares to extend reign via farcical referendum

By Hanna Liubakova

A Belarusian referendum on constitutional changes in early 2022 looks set to prolong the country's deep political crisis and strengthen Kremlin-backed dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s grip on power.

Belarus Civil Society

In the News

Jan 11, 2022

Pavel and Cimmino in The National Interest: America and Europe defeated authoritarians before, and can do so again

By Atlantic Council

On January 11, The National Interest published a piece by Barry Pavel and Jeffrey Cimmino arguing that the United States needs to strengthen and adapt its alliances to navigate the challenge presented by two continental great-power rivals in China and Russia. The piece sketches the contours of a refreshed European-American alliance relationship to tackle the challenges […]

China Economy & Business

UkraineAlert

Jan 11, 2022

Ukrainians call on US Senate to sanction Putin’s pipeline weapon

By Ukrainian civil society representatives

US senators are set to vote in the coming days on a bill for new sanctions against Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Ukrainian civil society representatives have issued an appeal calling on senators to back sanctions.

Conflict Economic Sanctions

UkraineAlert

Jan 10, 2022

The US and NATO must attack Vladimir Putin’s intimidation strategy

By Harlan Ullman

The current US approach to the crisis with Russia is predictable and conventional. The principle author of the "shock and awe" doctrine, Harlan Ullman, believes it is time to turn Putin's intimidation tactics against him.

Conflict Defense Policy

In the News

Jan 10, 2022

Peek in Wall Street Journal: U.S. Mistakes Fed Putin’s Ukraine Temptation

By Atlantic Council

Conflict Crisis Management

In the News

Jan 10, 2022

Ashford in Politico: “Emma Ashford and Matthew Kroenig debate whether the unrest will inflame tensions between Russia and the West.”

By Atlantic Council

On January 10, Ashford and Matthew Kroenig’s “It’s Debatable” column was featured in Politico’s Global Insider newsletter. “Kazakhstan’s main military relationship is with the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), which replaced the Warsaw Pact for Russia and some Central Asian states. Tokayev has appealed for the CSTO to intervene in the ongoing unrest, and small […]

Central Asia English

Inflection Points

Jan 9, 2022

Can the US avoid both appeasement and war? This week’s Russia talks will be revealing.

By Frederick Kempe

By this week’s end, the United States and its allies likely will know whether Vladimir Putin is willing to negotiate or whether he’s determined to escalate.

Conflict Europe & Eurasia

AC Selects

Jan 9, 2022

AC Selects: US allies, Ukraine’s endgame, and Venezuela’s path forward

Week of January 9, 2021 This week, Scowcroft Center experts discussed how the United States will meet future defense challenges in cooperation with allies and partners. The Eurasia Center convened its experts to contemplate Russia’s endgame in Ukraine, and what might the Kremlin hope to achieve by escalating its invasion? Finally, the Latin America Center […]

Conflict Democratic Transitions

In the News

Jan 9, 2022

Ashford on NPR: “Even if we wanted to intervene … we just don’t have that much leverage in Kazakhstan.”

By Atlantic Council

On January 9, Emma Ashford was interviewed by NPR Morning Edition on the Russian intervention in Kazakhstan. “Even if we wanted to intervene, even if there was a clear side upon which we thought we could intervene – which I don’t think there is – we just don’t have that much leverage in Kazakhstan. We […]

Central Asia English

Experts