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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

Oct 20, 2015

“No Fighting” in Ukraine Is Not “Peace”

By Aaron Korewa

The main problem with the West’s approach to Russian President Vladimir Putin is that it doesn’t seem to know who it’s dealing with. In an excellent article in Foreign Policy, Raymond Tanter states the bleatingly obvious—the Russian leader is nothing but a bully and should be treated as such. While the United States and Europe […]

Russia Ukraine

In the News

Oct 20, 2015

Barno and Bensahel: Putin Takes Center Stage in the Middle East

By Barno and Bensahel

Brent Scowcroft Center Nonresident Senior Fellows for Military Affairs and National Security Policy Dave Barno and Nora Bensahel write for War on the Rocks on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s increasing engagement with the Middle East:

Middle East Russia

In the News

Oct 20, 2015

Karatnycky: How Putin’s Ukrainian Dream Turned Into a Nightmare

By Adrian Karatnycky

Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Adrian Karatnycky cowrites for Foreign Policy on Russia’s weakening stance in Ukraine: 

Russia Ukraine
Crew of a US Bradley vehicle participating in Noble Partner exercise, May 12, 2015

NATOSource

Oct 19, 2015

Despite Cuts, U.S. Army Prepares for Threats in Europe

By Emmarie Huetteman, New York Times

Less than three years after the United States Army sent home the last of its tanks that were permanently based in Europe, American commanders have been forced to rely on weapons shipped back temporarily or hardware borrowed from allies

NATO Russia

In the News

Oct 19, 2015

Ullman: Syria 2015: Spain 1938 or Sarajevo June 1914?

By Harlan Ullman

Atlantic Council Senior Adviser Harlan Ullman writes for United Press International on the political and geostrategic impact of Russia’s military intervention in Syria:

Russia Syria

News

Oct 17, 2015

Aslund: Why Can’t Ukraine Refuse Russian Gas?

By Anders Aslund

Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Resident Senior Fellow Anders Aslund writes for Zhizn on Ukraine’s reliance on Russian gas:

Russia Ukraine

In the News

Oct 17, 2015

Cohen on Turkey and Russia

By Ariel Cohen

International Business Times quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center and Global Energy Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Ariel Cohen on the impact of Russian intervention in Syria on its energy deals with Turkey: 

Russia Syria

In the News

Oct 17, 2015

Herbst on Montenegro Joining NATO

By John E. Herbst

International Business Times quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Director John E. Herbst on the possibility of Montenegro joining NATO as a response to Russian aggression in the region: 

NATO Russia
Su-24 fighter bomber, Sept. 26, 2009

NATOSource

Oct 16, 2015

Russia’s Low-Tech Bombing Campaign in Syria Prone to Inflict More Collateral Damage

By Paul McLeary, Foreign Policy

[T]he majority of Russian strikes [in Syria] have used older “dumb” bombs that can’t actually be guided to their intended targets — and are not guaranteed to come anywhere close to hitting them.

Russia Syria
Hiding in Plain Sight: Putin's War in Ukraine

Report

Oct 15, 2015

Hiding in plain sight: Putin’s war in Ukraine

By Maksymilian Czuperski, John Herbst, Eliot Higgins, Alina Polyakova, Damon Wilson

Drawing upon open source information, Hiding in Plain Sight: Putin's War in Ukraine provides irrefutable evidence of direct Russian military involvement in eastern Ukraine.

Conflict Disinformation

Experts