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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

Apr 22, 2015

Letter: Experts Worry that “Decommunization” Laws Curtail Free Speech

By Atlantic Council

Editor’s note: It’s unfortunate that in a time of critical issues that legislation that disenfranchises certain, if often extreme, points of view looks like it’s going to become law. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko is expected to sign four laws on “decommunization,” recently passed by Ukraine’s parliament, which enact an official version of the nation’s 20th century […]

Russia Ukraine
NATO Headquarters in Brussels, May 12, 2008

NATOSource

Apr 22, 2015

Five Ways to Reboot NATO

By James Stavridis, Politico

1. Prepare for cyber conflict…. More emphasis should be placed on operational preps for cyber conflict–not just the policy work that occurs at the NATO Cyber Center in Tallinn.

Afghanistan Cybersecurity

In the News

Apr 22, 2015

Varangis on Russia’s Aircraft Supercarrier

By Nicholas Varangis

Business Insider quotes Transatlantic Security Initiative Intern Nicholas Varangis on Russia’s plan to build an aircraft supercarrier:

Russia

New Atlanticist

Apr 21, 2015

The Hidden Costs of Russia’s Proposed Aircraft Supercarrier

By Nicholas Varangis

Why is Russia planning on building an aircraft supercarrier in the next decade? The answer may seem self-evident: Russia wants to challenge the United States as a global power.

Russia

In the News

Apr 21, 2015

Herbst and Pham on the Gazprom Antitrust Case

By Herbst and Pham

US News and World Report quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Director John Herbst and Africa Center Director J. Peter Pham on what the Gazprom antitrust case means for Russian President Vladimir Putin:

European Union International Organizations

UkraineAlert

Apr 21, 2015

No Easy Outs for Putin: US Presidential Candidates United on Ukraine

By Ariel Cohen

Ukraine will remain at the heart of the conflict between the US and Russia beyond the 2016 presidential election. In the polls, Americans are united on Ukraine; the majority of respondents support increased sanctions on the Kremlin. All of the major presidential candidates, save Senator Rand Paul, take a tough approach with Moscow and support […]

Russia Ukraine
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, April 23, 2013

NATOSource

Apr 20, 2015

A War of Values With Russia

By Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Project Syndicate

In the face of a massive Russian propaganda assault, the West must continue to stand up for Ukraine, as well as for Georgia and NATO members like Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

NATO Russia

New Atlanticist

Apr 17, 2015

Economics 101: A Lesson for Ukraine

By Larry Luxner

Ukraine Can Learn from Baltic States’ Experience with Reforms, says Lithuania’s Ex-Prime Minister As it struggles to fix its economy, Ukraine would do well to study the reforms successfully implemented by three fellow former Soviet republics in the Baltics, Andrius Kubilius, Lithuania’s former Prime Minister said April 16 at the Atlantic Council. “I was Prime […]

Russia Ukraine
Chairman of Finland's Center Party Juha Sipilä

NATOSource

Apr 17, 2015

NATO Membership Now a Hot Topic in Finland

By Richard Milne, Financial Times

Four years ago, when Finland’s current government came to power, Nato membership was deliberately ruled out.

NATO Northern Europe
Russian President Vladimir Putin, April 9, 2015

NATOSource

Apr 17, 2015

President Vladimir Putin’s Dangerous Moves

By New York Times Editorial Board

Even for Mr. Putin, the recent nuclear threats have set a new benchmark for hostility in the conflict he has ignited with the West.

Missile Defense NATO

Experts