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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

Issue Brief

Oct 29, 2015

The Militarization of Crimea under Russian Occupation

By Andrii Klymenko

Read the Issue Brief (PDF) In “The Militarization of Crimea under Russian Occupation,” Crimean activist Andrii Klymenko explains how the Kremlin has moved to tighten its grip on Crimea as the world turns its focus toward Syria. Indeed, Russia has proven itself to be settling in for the long haul in Crimea, with mass relocations […]

Russia Ukraine

In the News

Oct 29, 2015

Aslund on the World Bank’s Report on Corruption in Russia

By Anders Aslund

Voice of America quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Resident Senior Fellow Anders Aslund on why the World Bank’s report does not reflect the corruption in Russia: Read the full article here.

Russia

In the News

Oct 29, 2015

Aslund on Russia’s Economy

By Anders Aslund

Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Resident Senior Fellow Anders Aslund joins Radio Svoboda to discuss how Russia’s economy is still in crisis despite some signs that it has fared better than expected amid falling oil prices and Western sanctions: Listen to the full interview here.

Russia

In the News

Oct 29, 2015

Polyakova on Obama’s Policies on Russia and Ukraine

By Alina Polyakova

Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Associate Director Alina Polyakova joins Ukraine’s Hromadske TV to discuss how the Obama administration perceives Ukraine and Russia, and how relations may change following the US presidential election in 2016:

Russia Ukraine
NATO military leaders at Trident Juncture exercise, Oct. 17, 2015

NATOSource

Oct 28, 2015

Europe Must Pay More of its Own Defense

By Editorial Board, Boston Globe

Russia’s military posture makes the NATO alliance between the United States, Canada, and Western Europe more crucial than at any time since the end of the Cold War.

Europe & Eurasia NATO
US soldiers training in Lithuania, March 2, 2015

NATOSource

Oct 28, 2015

NATO Looks at Stationing More Troops Along Eastern Flank

By Julian E. Barnes, Wall Street Journal

NATO countries are discussing increasing the number of troops stationed in members bordering Russia and putting them under formal alliance command, part of a new effort to deter aggression from Moscow,

Germany NATO

In the News

Oct 28, 2015

Aslund on Russia’s Budget Problems

By Anders Aslund

Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Resident Senior Fellow Anders Aslund joins BBC News to discuss the Russian Finance Minister’s warning that its reserves fund will run out next year and how sanctions are affecting Russia’s borrowing capabilities:

Russia
Former Prime Minister of Sweden Carl Bildt, Feb. 13, 2015

NATOSource

Oct 27, 2015

Carl Bildt Warns of Continuous Cyber Conflict

By Carl Bildt, Project Syndicate

In a way, we are already in a low-level continuous conflict in cyberspace.

China Cybersecurity

UkraineAlert

Oct 26, 2015

A New Generation for a New Ukraine

By Carl Gershman

Editor’s Note: This piece is adapted from a speech Carl Gershman gave to the Ukrainian Catholic Education Foundation on October 24, 2015. Preparing for tonight’s talk has been an unexpected process of learning and discovery. I had thought I understood Ukraine, having given a number of talks and written articles urging the US government to […]

Russia Ukraine
Sierra class Russian sub, June 1, 1994

NATOSource

Oct 26, 2015

Russian Ships Near Data Cables Are Too Close for US Comfort

By David E. Sanger and Eric Schmitt, New York Times

Russian submarines and spy ships are aggressively operating near the vital undersea cables that carry almost all global Internet communications, raising concerns among some American military and intelligence officials that the Russians might be planning to attack those lines in times of tension or conflict.

Cybersecurity NATO

Experts