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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.

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

Nov 11, 2015

Failing on the Ukrainian Battlefield, Russia Turns to Terrorism

By Aaron Korewa

To understand how Russia conducts its foreign policy, simply look at what the Kremlin accuses everyone else of doing. Unlike the Soviet Union, which operated under a coherent ideology, the Russian government under President Vladimir Putin seems to believe that everybody is a cynical power player, and that the West is simply hypocritical about it. […]

Russia Ukraine

In the News

Nov 10, 2015

Aslund and Montanino on IMF Payments to Ukraine

By Aslund and Montanino

Bloomberg quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Resident Senior Fellow Anders Aslund and Global Business and Economics Program Director Andrea Montanino on Russia’s attempts to block the International Monetary Fund’s next loan payment to Ukraine:

Russia Ukraine
Army Chief of Staff, Gen. Mark A. Milley, Oct. 13, 2015

NATOSource

Nov 9, 2015

US Military Officials Aim to Bolster Troop Presence in Europe

By Julian E. Barnes and Gordon Lubold, Wall Street Journal

Senior U.S. military leaders have proposed sending more forces into Europe on a rotating basis to build up the American presence and are stepping up training exercises to counter potential Russian interference with troop transfers in the event of a crisis with Moscow….

Europe & Eurasia NATO

UkraineAlert

Nov 9, 2015

Ukraine Needs Responsible Public Finances Now

By Anders Åslund

With increasing surprise, I follow the Ukrainian discussion about public finances. Strangely, some prominent Ukrainians seem to think that taxes and public expenditures have no relationship to one another, arguing that public expenditures should be increased and taxes should be cut. But that is called populism, the disease Ukraine has suffered from since its independence […]

Russia Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Nov 9, 2015

Justice Sector Is Central Battlefield in Struggle Between Old Ukraine and New Ukraine

By Geoffrey R. Pyatt

Editor’s note: US Ambassador Geoffrey R. Pyatt gave remarks at the “Conference on Legal and Governance Reform,” sponsored by the US-Ukraine Business Council and Kyiv School of Economics on October 30, 2015 in Kyiv. Pyatt’s remarks have been shortened below. The full version is available here. What a difference a year makes. When we gathered […]

Russia Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Nov 9, 2015

Putin’s Victories in Syria

By Stephen Blank

To the great British military analyst Basil Liddell-Hart, it was axiomatic that the purpose of war was a better peace. In other words, for military operations to be successful, they must be correlated with political outcomes and strategic gains. Unfortunately, the idea that the United States can successfully employ military power to achieve clear political […]

Russia Ukraine

In the News

Nov 7, 2015

Hellyer on UK-Egypt Relationship

By H.A. Hellyer

BBC quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Senior Fellow H.A. Hellyer on the impact of the crash of a Russian airliner jet on relations between the United Kingdom and Egypt:

North Africa Russia

In the News

Nov 5, 2015

Saab on Potential ISIS Involvement in Sinai Plane Crash

By Bilal Saab

Brent Scowcroft Center Resident Senior Fellow for Middle East Security Bilal Y. Saab joins KCBS Radio to discuss potential ISIS involvement in the downing of Russian Metrojet Flight 9268 in the Sinai Peninsula, and why it’s important to wait for hard evidence and withhold judgement:

North Africa Russia

In the News

Nov 5, 2015

Hellyer on Flight 9268 Crash

By H.A. Hellyer

BBC quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Senior Fellow H.A. Hellyer on the possibility of ISIS involvement in the crash of a Russian passenger jet:

Russia

In the News

Nov 5, 2015

Barno on the Future of the US Army

By Dave Barno

Politico Europe quotes Brent Scowcroft Center Nonresident Senior Fellow for Military Affairs and National Security Policy Dave Barno on the future of the US Army amid Russia’s new foreign policy stance:

Russia

Experts

Events