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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

Sep 25, 2015

Is Syria Putin’s Off-Ramp from the Ukraine Crisis?

By John E. Herbst

Ever since Moscow’s “little green men” appeared in Crimea, the West has been anxious to provide Russian President Vladimir Putin an “off-ramp” from his aggression in Ukraine. US, French, German, and European Union diplomats have made numerous efforts to find a face-saving way for Putin to back off. For the longest time, however, it seemed […]

Russia Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Sep 25, 2015

Europe’s Next Wave of Migrants May Come From Ukraine

By Diane Francis

In chess, a player is in “zugzwang” when no move will rescue his situation. Russian President Vladimir Putin has put Ukraine in “zugzwang” and, as things now stand, the country is unable to move forward militarily, economically or diplomatically. Without relief, Europe may end up with another deluge of asylum seekers, this time from Ukraine. […]

Russia Ukraine

In the News

Sep 25, 2015

Cohen on Russia’s Military Assistance to Syria

By Ariel Cohen

Global Energy Center and Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Ariel Cohen joins Russian Business Channel to discuss Russia’s increasing military presence in Syria: Watch the full interview here.

Russia Syria
Gen. Ben Hodges, Commander of US Army Europe, Aug. 6, 2015

NATOSource

Sep 25, 2015

General: US Forces in Europe Missing Three Key Capabilities

By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr., Breaking Defense

US command and control networks take too long to link to allies and respond to Russia’s rapid-fire aggression.

Europe & Eurasia NATO

MENASource

Sep 25, 2015

The Implications of Russia’s Syria Intervention for Turkey

By Aaron Stein

Russia’s recent deployment of aircraft and military equipment in Syria runs counter to Turkey’s efforts to unseat Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The introduction of Russian aircraft and surface-to-air missiles prompted many to argue that Moscow is seeking to prevent the establishment of a US- and Turkish-backed air-exclusion zone over parts of northern Syria.

Russia Syria

In the News

Sep 25, 2015

Aslund on Putin at the United Nations

By Anders Aslund

Radio Free Europe quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Resident Senior Fellow Anders Aslund on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s speech to the UN General Assembly:

International Organizations Politics & Diplomacy

UkraineAlert

Sep 24, 2015

Russia Looking for an Exit?

By James J. Coyle

As Russia increases its support for beleaguered Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, rebels in eastern Ukraine have observed a ceasefire since September 1. The second Minsk ceasefire agreement, signed in February, had been repeatedly violated. But things have changed. Some separatist leaders have left the area, returning to posh jobs in Moscow. Former Donetsk Prime Minister […]

Russia Ukraine

New Atlanticist

Sep 24, 2015

A Failed European Response to Migrant Crisis Will Hurt Transatlantic Ties, says Norwegian Defense Minister

By Ashish Kumar Sen

A failure to deal appropriately with the migrant crisis will cause rifts within Europe that will have serious implications for transatlantic unity, Norway’s Defense Minister, Ine Eriksen Søreide, said at the Atlantic Council on September 24. “How we handle the ongoing refugee crisis will be a test for Europe,” Søreide said while describing the magnitude […]

Europe & Eurasia NATO
9P78-1 TEL for Iskander-M missile system, April 22, 2015

NATOSource

Sep 23, 2015

Kremlin: Russia Will Take Countermeasures if US Places New Nuclear Weapons in Germany

By AP, International Business Times, and Reuters

From AP:  The Kremlin says Russia will take countermeasures if the U.S. places new nuclear weapons at a base in Germany.

Germany NATO

In the News

Sep 23, 2015

Polyakova on the Blockade Into Crimea

By Alina Polyakova

USA Today quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Associate Director Alina Polyakova on how the blockade against truck traffic into Crimea enacted by ethnic Tatars and members of a Ukrainian extremist group will affect relations between Ukraine and Russia:

Russia Ukraine

Experts