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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

In the News

Jul 24, 2015

Karatnycky: Ukrainian Peace Plan Kaput

By Adrian Karatnycky

The Wall Street Journal features Transatlantic Relations Program Nonresident Senior Fellow Adrian Karatnycky on why Russia hasn’t honored the Minsk accord, and what Ukraine and its allies should do next:

Russia Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Jul 24, 2015

Kremlin Stages Fake Separatist Stunt in Lviv

By Halya Coynash

Western leaders pressing Ukraine to give into Russian demands and offer the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics autonomy would be well-advised to take note of the other parts of Ukraine which, according to Russian media, are also demanding self-rule. On July 17, approximately twenty people in Lviv staged a blitzkrieg demonstration with banners demanding […]

Russia Ukraine
UK Foreign Minister Philip Hammond, June 30, 2015

NATOSource

Jul 23, 2015

Foreign Minister Raises Problem of ‘Cumbersome’ Decision Making Process in UK and NATO

By Kiran Stacey, Financial Times

Philip Hammond has warned that western powers are at a disadvantage in dealing with Russia because of their “cumbersome” democratic processes.

NATO Russia

In the News

Jul 23, 2015

Hasik on the Need for Bigger Guns to Fight Russia

By Jim Hasik

Defense News quotes Brent Scowcroft Center Nonresident Senior Fellow for Defense James Hasik on one of the most important US Army units in Europe being outgunned by its Russian counterparts:

Russia

UkraineAlert

Jul 22, 2015

Reform Agenda in Kyiv on Slow Burn, But in Odesa, Saakashvili Already Delivers

By Kateryna Smagliy

“I come away from this visit to Odesa with a sense of optimism,” wrote US Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt after his recent trip there. After I posted Pyatt’s article to my Facebook page in an attempt to diminish the growing fatigue of fellow Ukrainians over the mixed results of the new government’s reforms, angry reactions followed. […]

Russia The Caucasus
20150720MH172event

UkraineAlert

Jul 21, 2015

One Year After MH17 Shootdown, Brazen Act Over Ukraine Still Poisons Atmosphere

By Larry Luxner

Simon Ostrovsky will never forget the moment he learned that Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 had fallen from the sky, with 298 passengers and crew aboard. “I was on a train from Kyiv to Kharkiv reading my Twitter feed, and something came down about a plane crash. Somebody said it was a Malaysian plane,” the Soviet-born […]

Russia Ukraine
US Army Chief of Staff, Gen. Ray Odierno, July 1, 2015

NATOSource

Jul 20, 2015

US Army Wants to Position More Tanks, Artillery, and Armored Vehicles in Europe

By Wall Street Journal and Army Times

From Julian E. Barnes, Wall Street Journal:  The head of the Army said on Friday that he was taking steps to offset the continuing reduction of U.S. forces in Europe,

Germany NATO

New Atlanticist

Jul 20, 2015

Georgia Needs a Shorter Path for Membership in NATO, not a MAP

By Mamuka Tsereteli

The Warsaw summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has a chance to become another milestone in the history of the organization, if the alliance chooses to take the next step forward towards further enlargement. There are several aspirant countries expecting bold decisions. Georgia is one of them. The Georgian government is taking a […]

NATO Russia

UkraineAlert

Jul 20, 2015

Europe, Brace Yourself. Russia Sees Iran Deal as Means to Kill Missile Defense

By Stephen Blank

On July 14, hours after the United States, Russia and four other world powers concluded a nuclear accord with Iran, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov declared that the deal negated any reason for a US missile defense network in Europe. We should now prepare ourselves for the inevitable political and propaganda onslaught Russia will mount […]

Russia Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Jul 20, 2015

Russian Disinformation Alienates the West from Russian Periphery

By James J. Coyle

The Russian Army has released a photo of a Ukrainian tank decorated with a swastika, yet the original Reuters photograph shows no such emblem. Russia also released a photo of a Ukrainian soldier covered in Nazi tattoos, but that picture was actually taken in 2005, inside a Russian prison. Europe is revolted by any reminders […]

Russia The Caucasus

Experts

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