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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

In the News

Jan 13, 2022

Wieslander in Carnegie Europe’s “Judy Asks: Can diplomacy rescue European security?”

“There is something utterly disturbing about a situation where the perpetrator demands security guarantees and those under threat are willing to discuss them: an Alice-In-Wonderland-Upside-Down kind of feeling,” wrote Anna Wieslander, Director for Northern Europe.

Europe & Eurasia NATO

UkraineAlert

Jan 12, 2022

Cutting off Russia from SWIFT will really sting

By Harley Balzer

While Russia has attempted to reduce its dependence on the SWIFT payment system, it remains vulnerable to a sanctions cut-off in the event of a new Kremlin offensive in Putin's eight-year undeclared war against Ukraine.

China Conflict

BelarusAlert

Jan 12, 2022

Soviet reunion in the air as USSR centenary approaches

By Brian Whitmore

2022 will see the one hundredth anniversary of the USSR. The centenary comes at a time when Russian President Vladimir Putin is increasingly reasserting Moscow's influence across the former Soviet empire.

Belarus Central Asia

In the News

Jan 12, 2022

Peek joins the Townhall Review to discuss negotiations with Russia regarding Ukraine

By Atlantic Council

Conflict Europe & Eurasia

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

Experts