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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

Jul 20, 2021

Binnendijk in Notes from Poland: Purchase of US Abrams tanks strengthens Poland and NATO against Russia

By Hans Binnendijk

Hans Binnendijk explains the importance of Poland's purchase of M1A2 Abrams tanks from the United States in shoring up Warsaw's military capabilities on NATO's eastern flank.

Central Europe Defense Policy

UkraineAlert

Jul 20, 2021

Infrastructure cooperation could hold the key to Armenia’s future security

By Ani Yeghiazaryan

As the South Caucasus looks to move on following last year's Nagorno-Karabakh War, shared infrastructure projects could help foster greater regional stability and improve the chances for a sustainable peace.

Geopolitics & Energy Security Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding

In the News

Jul 19, 2021

Herbst in The National Interest: Can U.S.-Russia Cooperation Bolster Afghanistan and Central Asia?

By Atlantic Council

Central Asia Cybersecurity

In the News

Jul 15, 2021

Handler joins Asharq News to discuss ransomware and US cyber strategy

By Atlantic Council

Simon Handler joins Asharq News to discusss ransomware and US cyber strategy.

Arabic Cybersecurity

UkraineAlert

Jul 15, 2021

Putin’s new Ukraine essay reveals imperial ambitions

By Peter Dickinson

Russian President Vladimir Putin has outlined the historical basis for his claims against Ukraine in a controversial new essay that has been likened in some quarters to a declaration of war.

Conflict Disinformation

In the News

Jul 15, 2021

O’Toole quoted in VOA Russian on Russia’s response to Cuba protests

By Brian O’Toole

Read the whole article here.

Cuba Economy & Business

Conflict, Risk, and Tech

Jul 15, 2021

A US-UK hacking probe offers a fresh approach against Russia

By Justin Sherman

The international collaboration underscores the importance of being carefully narrow about scoping cyberspace “red lines” in talks with the Russian government.

Cybersecurity Intelligence

BelarusAlert

Jul 14, 2021

Putin and Lukashenka are locked in a dysfunctional axis of autocrats

By Brian Whitmore

Vladimir Putin and Alyaksandr Lukashenka are bound together in an axis of autocrats but the two dictators are also locked in a game of cat and mouse over Kremlin efforts to expand Russian influence in Belarus.

Belarus Economic Sanctions

UkraineAlert

Jul 13, 2021

The world cannot ignore Putin’s Ukraine obsession

By Peter Dickinson

Russian President Vladimir Putin has published a new essay on the "historical unity" of Russians and Ukrainians that illustrates the imperial thinking behind his ongoing seven-year war against Ukraine.

Conflict Disinformation

Issue Brief

Jul 12, 2021

Reassessing RuNet: Russian internet isolation and implications for Russian cyber behavior

By Justin Sherman

This issue brief examines recent “RuNet” developments and explores how they could elevate national security risks for the United States and Europe by changing the internet landscape in Russia and potentially shifting Russian cyber behavior.

Cybersecurity Europe & Eurasia

Experts