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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

Issue Brief

Dec 14, 2021

Missile defense: The end of the interim solution

By Patrick O’Reilly

Forward Defense Nonresident Senior Fellow and former US Missile Defense Agency director Patrick O'Reilly argues that the time is now to invest in directed energy missile defense.

China Defense Policy

In the News

Dec 12, 2021

Azodi joins BBC Persian to discuss the implication of Russia’s amassing of troops on the Ukrainian border

By Atlantic Council

Conflict Crisis Management

UkraineAlert

Dec 11, 2021

Memo to the international media: Putin has already invaded Ukraine

By Peter Dickinson

One depressing aspect of Russia's latest military build-up on the Ukrainian border has been the flurry of headlines posing the same question: will Putin invade Ukraine? In reality, Russia has already invaded Ukraine and the war is now in its eighth year.

Conflict Disinformation

Report

Dec 10, 2021

Event report: Transatlantic renewal in an era of strategic competition

By Ash Jain, Joel Kesselbrenner

As the world enters a new era of strategic competition, the United States, Canada, and Europe must work together to advance shared values and interests and foster a rules-based international order.

China European Union

In the News

Dec 10, 2021

Friedlander quoted in CNN Politics on the potential sanctioning of Russian energy producers and its consequences

By Julia Friedlander

Read the full article here

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business
Sign reading "Vote Here Vote Aqui"

Assumptions Testing Series

Dec 9, 2021

Assumption #4: The United States should prioritize the promotion of democracy around the world over other key US objectives

By Mathew Burrows, Evan Cooper

Policymakers should take a triage approach with regard to democracy promotion, starting first and foremost with the state of democracy at home.

Civil Society Democratic Transitions

In the News

Dec 8, 2021

Ashford in The New Republic: Russia “losing Ukraine to the West would be painful”

By Atlantic Council

On December 8, Ashford was quoted in the New Republic on the Russia-Ukraine crisis. “According to Emma Ashford, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, the Ukrainian government has also accelerated the trend of pulling the country away from Russia both linguistically and culturally. “Ukraine is the seat of the Russian civilization,” says Ashford, and […]

Eastern Europe English

UkraineAlert

Dec 8, 2021

Biden and Putin hold virtual Ukraine summit amid Russian invasion fears

By Peter Dickinson

US President Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin spoke via video link on December 7 to address growing concerns over a major Russian military build-up along the country’s border with Ukraine.

Conflict NATO

BelarusAlert

Dec 8, 2021

Belarus, Ukraine, and Vladimir Putin’s expanding imperial agenda

By Brian Whitmore

It would be a mistake to view the 16-month-old political crisis in Belarus and Russia's brinkmanship on the Ukrainian border as separate affairs. They are both part and parcel of Putin's post-Soviet imperial agenda.

Belarus Conflict

In the News

Dec 8, 2021

Bryza in EURACTIV: Countering Russia’s false narrative: Putin’s menacing squeeze of Ukraine

Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy

Experts