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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

UkraineAlert

Aug 8, 2019

Time is running out to kill Putin’s pet project

By Diane Francis

Russia’s disregard for European votes, laws, and court rulings against the pipeline should be reason enough to ban the project.

Geopolitics & Energy Security Oil and Gas

New Atlanticist

Aug 7, 2019

US ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman resigns

By David A. Wemer

US Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman announced in an August 6 letter to US President Donald J. Trump that he intends to resign from his post effective October 3, 2019.

Russia

New Atlanticist

Aug 5, 2019

New Russia sanctions: Justified, but feeble and awkward

By Daniel Fried, Brian O'Toole, and David Mortlock

Muddied signals, weak sanctions, and uncertain rollout are no way to respond to Putin’s continuing misdeeds.

Economic Sanctions Russia

New Atlanticist

Aug 2, 2019

Lift sanctions on Russia? Really?

By Daniel Fried

This issue is simple enough: sanctions were imposed in response to aggression; sanctions can be lifted when and if that aggression ends.

Economic Sanctions Russia

In the News

Aug 2, 2019

Simakovsky joins VOA’s Encounter to discuss the Mueller testimony ramifications

By Atlantic Council

Disinformation Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Jul 31, 2019

Simakovsky and Fishman in Foreign Policy: Trump can’t stop Putin from poaching US allies

By Atlantic Council

The United States failed to stop Russia’s S-400 sale to Turkey despite having the tools to do so. Don’t be surprised if the Kremlin continues to use arms sales to extend its influence.

NATO Politics & Diplomacy

UkraineAlert

Jul 25, 2019

How Russians make and hide their dirty money abroad, and what can be done to stop it

By Oleh Havrylyshyn

Most readers will not be surprised by the message of Anders Åslund’s new book Russia’s Crony Capitalism—Russia has evolved into a kleptocracy based on a combination of state capitalism and market principles—but they may be shocked by the sheer scale of wealth concentration in the hands of the privileged few, in the tens and hundreds […]

Corruption Financial Regulation

In the News

Jul 20, 2019

Steve Levine in Axios about the space competition

By Atlantic Council

China English

In the News

Jul 20, 2019

Vajdich quoted in The Washington Post on the Trump administration’s stance on Russia

By Atlantic Council

International Markets Oil and Gas

UkraineAlert

Jul 16, 2019

Rise of the Zelennials: Ukraine’s parliamentary elections signal generational shift

By Peter Dickinson

The message is unmistakable: after almost three decades of chronic corruption and repeated false starts, voters want fundamental change and are willing to gamble with the country’s future in order to get it.

Elections Political Reform

Experts