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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.

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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

Dec 21, 2015

The Kremlin’s Dangerous New Threat in Ukraine

By Ihor Kozak

Fighting continues to gradually intensify in eastern Ukraine. The Kremlin-backed militants are now using heavy weapons, including tanks, artillery, and ferocious Grad rocket systems, sporadically. Moscow’s rationale behind this latest escalation is to achieve a frozen conflict by gradually sabotaging the execution of the Minsk II ceasefire agreement. Russian President Vladimir Putin likely realizes that […]

Russia Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Dec 21, 2015

“From Russia with Cash”: Dirty Money Unchecked in London

By Amanda Abrams

The numbers are staggering. Annually, $1 trillion is stolen by corrupt officials from countries around the globe. That money needs to be spent, or laundered, and much of it goes into big anonymous real estate deals in the United Kingdom, which is seeing £1 billion in unrecorded capital inflows per month. The main source of […]

Russia Ukraine
President Vladimir Putin in Russia's fortified National Control Defense Center, Nov. 17, 2015

NATOSource

Dec 19, 2015

The Geostrategic Value of Greece and Sweden in the Current Struggle between Russia and NATO

By Albin Aronsson

Greece and Sweden are both in possession of islands that are of critical geostrategic value and this value serves as a major driver behind Russia’s increased attention to the two countries.

Greece NATO

In the News

Dec 18, 2015

Herbst on Russia and the Paris Attacks

By John Herbst

Georgian News Agency Accent quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Director John E. Herbst on the Paris terror attacks and Russia’s response:

France Russia

New Atlanticist

Dec 18, 2015

Ending Syria’s War Will Require All Hands on Deck

By Ashish Kumar Sen

The United States and Russia will have to cooperate, says former Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy Nabil Fahmy served as Egypt’s Foreign Minister from 2013 to 2014. In this interview with the New Atlanticist’s Ashish Kumar Sen, Fahmy makes the point that the United States, Russia, the Arab states, Iran and Turkey will all need […]

Iran North Africa

In the News

Dec 18, 2015

Manning: What Does Putin Want?

By Robert A. Manning

Brent Scowcroft Center Resident Senior Fellow Robert A. Manning writes for Foreign Policy on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy strategy in the Middle East and Europe and what President Putin may be trying to achieve politically on the international stage in 2016:

Russia

In the News

Dec 18, 2015

Gedmin on Ukraine’s Ideological Struggle

By Jeffrey Gedmin

Democracy Digest quotes Executive Director of the Transatlantic Renewal Initiative Jeffrey Gedmin on the ideological struggle in Ukraine and its implications for the Kremlin:

Russia Ukraine
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu & Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Nov. 30. 2015

NATOSource

Dec 18, 2015

NATO Sending Planes and Ships to Strengthen Turkey’s Air Defenses

By Robin Emmott, Reuters

NATO allies agreed on Friday to send aircraft and ships to Turkey to strengthen Ankara’s air defences on its border with Syria, the alliance’s chief said, a package that is partly designed to avoid any more shoot-downs of Russian planes.

NATO Russia

In the News

Dec 18, 2015

Linderman on Travel Between Russia and Georgia

By Laura Linderman

Georgian News Agency Accent quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Nonresident Research Fellow Laura Linderman on visa free travel between Russia and Georgia:

Russia The Caucasus
Secretary of Defense (at the time) Chuck Hagel, April 4, 2013

NATOSource

Dec 18, 2015

Hagel Critiques Obama’s Policies on Syria and Russia

By Dan De Luce, Foreign Policy

[At the time Secretary of Defence Chuck] Hagel wrote a two-page memo to [National Security Advisor Susan] Rice and [Secretary of State John] Kerry — and copied the president — saying the administration needed to decide on its approach to the conflict in Syria and its stance toward the Assad regime.

NATO Russia

Experts

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