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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

Jul 15, 2015

Earth to Russia. Come Back to Reality.

By Ariel Cohen

The conflict in Ukraine highlights dangerous trends in Russian foreign policy. Russian-backed separatists and the Russian military have killed thousands of civilians and Ukrainian soldiers in eastern Ukraine. It’s the starkest example of Moscow’s neo-imperialist foreign policy so far. However, even more worrisome trends have emerged. Last week, Yevgeny Fedorov, a ruling party Duma majority […]

Russia Ukraine

In the News

Jul 15, 2015

Cohen: How Russia Could Become a Food Superpower

By Ariel Cohen

Global Energy Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Ariel Cohen writes for the Wall Street Journal on the potential transformation of Russian agriculture into an international industry:

Russia
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Russian President Vladimir Putin, April 8, 2015

NATOSource

Jul 14, 2015

5 Reasons NATO Fears a Grexit

By Robbie Gramer and Rachel Rizzo

The risks of Greece exiting the eurozone are not confined to economics. The crisis poses five very real challenges to NATO that many defense officials are overlooking — at NATO’s peril.

Greece NATO

UkraineAlert

Jul 14, 2015

Here’s How to Make Sense of the Violence in Western Ukraine: Follow the Money

By John E. Herbst

Ukraine made headlines again when a nationalist group and police in the western city of Mukachevo exchanged gunfire that killed three on June 11. A group of 21 armed members of Right Sector seized a sports complex owned by Member of Parliament Mikhail Lanyo and reportedly beat and shot one of his employees in the […]

Russia Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Jul 14, 2015

Greek Crisis ‘Diverts Attention’ from Kyiv

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Ukraine’s Economy Minister: Unlike Greece, Ukraine is embracing reforms The Greek financial crisis has diverted global attention away from Ukraine, but it also “sheds a positive light” on the Kyiv government’s achievements, Ukrainian Economy Minister Aivaras Abromavicius said in a July 14 interview. “Greece is rejecting reforms, and we are embracing reforms,” said Abromavicius, who […]

Russia Ukraine
Russian Su-24, Sept. 26, 2009

NATOSource

Jul 13, 2015

Russia Lost 5 Aircraft Last Month, Linked to Too Many Exercises and Lack of Qualified Pilots

By Matthew Bodner and Aaron Mehta, Defense News

Russia’s Air Force is falling from the sky.

NATO Russia
Lithuanian troops participating in NATO Saber Strike Exercise, June 18, 2015

NATOSource

Jul 13, 2015

Russia Jamming Technology Poses Challenge for NATO, US Officials Say

By Julian E. Barnes, Wall Street Journal

Sophisticated Russian electronic-warfare systems and jamming technology are posing an acute challenge for allied forces training in Eastern Europe, U.S. Army officials said Tuesday.

NATO Northern Europe

UkraineAlert

Jul 13, 2015

Ukraine Must Put Reform Agenda in Overdrive While There’s Still Time

By Anders Åslund

Kyiv is vibrant with intellectual and political discussions. As after any revolution the debate is about what is wrong and what should be done. Policy people acknowledge that reforms are proceeding but too slowly, while a typical business verdict is that corruption is as bad as before, but it has become more disorganized, since the […]

Russia Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Jul 13, 2015

Here’s Why European Disunity is a Greater Threat to Ukraine Than Russia

By Aaron Korewa

As the Greek tragedy unfolds, many Europeans seem to have forgotten that for the first time since the end of World War II, a country is trying to redraw European borders by force. Russia’s annexation of Crimea and its support for rebels in eastern Ukraine is, by far, Europe’s most serious security crisis since the […]

Germany Russia

UkraineAlert

Jul 13, 2015

Ukraine’s Dangerous Drive to Decentralize

By Maksym Khylko

Here’s Why the West Should Stop Pushing Decentralization Now  In the coming days the Ukrainian parliament is expected to debate a draft law that would amend Ukraine’s Constitution on decentralization to expand local governments’ powers. The West has enthusiastically encouraged Ukraine to embrace decentralization, provide special status for the Donbas, and hold local elections in […]

Russia Ukraine

Experts

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