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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

In the News

Aug 29, 2015

Business Insider Cites Atlantic Council on Russia

By Atlantic Council

Business Insider cites a NATOSource study on the significant increase in Russian military exercises: 

Russia
One of the tools Russia relies on is cyber espionage

NATOSource

Aug 28, 2015

The Many Variants of Russian Cyber Espionage

By Patrik Maldre, ICDS

Last week, the IT security firm Trend Micro shined a light on yet another case of alleged Russian cyber espionage as part of a report on Operation Pawn Storm.

Cybersecurity NATO

UkraineAlert

Aug 28, 2015

Exiled Russian Lawmaker Ilya Ponomarev: Current US Sanctions Won’t Work

By Ashish Kumar Sen

The United States must expand the scope of its sanctions well beyond Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle if this effort—a response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea and its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine—is to have any real impact, says a Russian lawmaker. “The [US] government machine is doing what it can do, but […]

Russia Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Aug 27, 2015

To Prevent Global Catastrophe, Putin Must Go

By Leonid Gozman

The minority of Russians who have not been zombified by official propaganda and who still have any clue about what is really going on in the world—rather than just on television—already know Russia is hurtling toward full-blown catastrophe, though the details might be up for debate. Will the collapse come next month, or more like […]

Russia Ukraine
Soldiers in the 173rd Airborne Brigade, May 11, 2015

NATOSource

Aug 27, 2015

The Case for NATO’s Military Presence in Central and Eastern Europe

By Artur Kacprzyk, PISM

Calls for a permanent NATO presence will not die down any time soon, given the persistence of Poland and the Baltic States both before and after the Wales summit.

Central Europe NATO

UkraineAlert

Aug 27, 2015

Things Are Looking Up for Ukraine: Debt Deal Reached

By Anders Åslund

Today Ukraine received great news. Private owners of $19 billion of Ukraine’s Eurobonds have agreed to a substantial debt restructuring that will give Ukraine much-needed relief. The high bond yields have been sharply reduced, the bonds’ maturities have been prolonged, and the face value of the bonds has been reduced by 20 percent. According to […]

Eastern Europe Russia
Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, Aug. 15, 2014

NATOSource

Aug 26, 2015

Finland ‘In No Position’ to Defend Baltic States: President

By AFP and YLE

From AFP:  Finland is in no position to help defend its Baltic neighbours and fellow EU members Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania should it become necessary, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said on Tuesday.

NATO Northern Europe
U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft, Jan. 5, 2013

NATOSource

Aug 25, 2015

For the First Time, US Deploying F-22 Stealth Fighter Jets to Europe

By Department of Defense, Defense News, and Washington Post

From Deborah Lee James and Mark Welsh, Department of Defense.  Secretary James:  Russia’s military activity in the Ukraine continues to be of great concern to us and to our European allies.

Europe & Eurasia NATO

UkraineAlert

Aug 25, 2015

How the West Can Stop Russia’s Escalating War in Ukraine

By Maksym Khylko

This month, Russia stepped up military pressure on Ukraine, concentrating about fifty thousand troops along its border with Ukraine, using its proxy militias to shell Ukrainian government positions in the Donbas, and threatening Kyiv with “a big war.” The current escalation indicates Russian discontent with Ukraine’s refusal to make unilateral concessions such as allowing the […]

Russia Ukraine
Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, June 25, 2015

NATOSource

Aug 24, 2015

Secretary of Defense Carter on Russia and NATO

By Ash Carter, Foreign Affairs

[W]e continue to have the magnetic power to attract everyone around the world. As I travel around the world, I see that they all want more—more association with us, more contribution from us.

NATO Russia

Experts