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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

SyriaSource

Dec 23, 2015

The Syrian Bridge to 2017

By Frederic C. Hof

It has been a busy few days for the UN Security Council, what with Christmas and the New Year approaching. Resolution 2254 endorsed the diplomatic process launched in Vienna in late October, one aimed at ending a horrific war in Syria. Resolution 2258 reiterated the dissatisfaction of the Council with the manner in the Syrian […]

Iran Russia

New Atlanticist

Dec 22, 2015

Armenia’s (Rigged) Constitutional Referendum

By David Grigorian

A heavily rigged constitutional referendum that transforms Armenia into a parliamentary form of governance only serves to extend the rule of President Serzh Sargsyan who, nearing the end of his second and final term in office, is more than likely to be appointed Prime Minister. It is not clear where the vote’s outcome leaves the […]

Russia The Caucasus
PutinAssadFeature

New Atlanticist

Dec 22, 2015

Russia’s Intervention in Syria Biggest Story in 2015

By Ashish Kumar Sen

But Putin’s growing problems will dominate 2016, says Atlantic Council’s John E. Herbst As 2015 draws to a close, our experts take a look back at the year that was and look ahead to 2016. This interview is part of a series. John E. Herbst is the Director of the Atlantic Council’s Dinu Patriciu Eurasia […]

Russia Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Dec 21, 2015

An Alliance Deterred

By Patrick Stephenson

NATO leaders intended the Alliance’s Trident Juncture military exercises, in part, to send a message to Russia that they would not hesitate to defend allied territory. That intention was commendable. But one wonders how exercises in the western Mediterranean will deter Russian ambitions that lie 3,000 km away in Ukraine and on the borders of […]

NATO Russia

UkraineAlert

Dec 21, 2015

Nord Stream 2 Makes No Sense and Must Be Stopped

By Anders Åslund

Europe is saturated with energy and demand falls steadily, as Europe saves energy. From 2004 to 2014, the primary energy consumption in the European Union declined by 12 percent and its consumption of natural gas fell by 21 percent. Yet last June, Russia’s state-controlled natural gas corporation Gazprom announced its intention to build Nord Stream […]

Russia Ukraine

New Atlanticist

Dec 21, 2015

Collapse of States Had Implications Beyond the Middle East in 2015

By Ashish Kumar Sen

In 2016, it will be important to see if the United States and Russia can work together to end conflicts, says Atlantic Council’s Francis J. Ricciardone As 2015 draws to a close, our experts take a look back at the year that was and look ahead to 2016. This interview is part of a series. […]

Middle East Russia

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

Experts