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COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

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

Event Recap

Apr 8, 2015

Former Putin Adviser on Kremlin’s Big War

Western sanctions on Russia are not working and a proposal to provide defensive weapons to Ukrainian security forces will not deter the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine, according to Andrei Illarionov, a former adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin. “For those few people who are there [on the sanctions list], yes, it is rather painful,” but […]

Russia Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Apr 7, 2015

Will Sanctions on Russia, Weapons for Ukrainians Keep Putin at Bay?

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Former Putin advisor says they will not, advocates stronger response Western sanctions on Russia are not working and a proposal to provide defensive weapons to Ukrainian security forces will not deter the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine, according to Andrei Illarionov, a former advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin. “For those few people who are there […]

Russia Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Apr 7, 2015

Putin’s Chilling Message to the West

By Ariel Cohen

Vladimir Putin’s 10-day disappearance shortly after the murder of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov and his triumphal reappearance after the broadcast of a 150-minute documentary on state television, suggest a more erratic—and aggressive—policy course in Russia. Here’s why. After Putin’s disappearance on March 5, the Russian media and the blogosphere dealt with little else.  However, the […]

Russia Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin laying flowers at a monument, April 6, 2015

NATOSource

Apr 7, 2015

America Will Lose Patience with European Appeasement

By Robert D. Kaplan, Financial Times

[N]o word captures the general mood of Europe better than appeasement.

Europe & Eurasia Russia

In the News

Apr 4, 2015

Benitez on Russian Military Exercises

By Jorge Benitez

Voice of America quotes NATOSource Director and Brent Scowcroft Center Senior Fellow Jorge Benitez on Russian military exercises near the borders of NATO countries:

NATO Russia

In the News

Apr 3, 2015

Benitez on US-Russia Tensions

By Jorge Benitez

NATOSource Director and Brent Scowcroft Center Senior Fellow Jorge Benitez joins CCTV America to discuss implementation of the Minsk agreement and continuing tensions between the United States and Russia:

Russia Ukraine

In the News

Apr 3, 2015

Herbst on Putin’s Ambitions Beyond Ukraine

By John Herbst

The Ukrainian Week interviews Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Director John Herbst on why Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ambitions are larger than Ukraine:

Russia Ukraine
Military parade in Moscow, May 9, 2014

NATOSource

Apr 2, 2015

Report: Russia Threatens Nuclear Showdown Over the Baltic Republics

By The Independent and The Times (London)

From Ian Johnston, The Independent: According to notes made by an American at a meeting between Russian generals and US officials – and seen by The Times newspaper – Moscow threatened a “spectrum of responses from nuclear to non-military” if Nato moved more forces into Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

NATO Northern Europe
German CH-53, Feb. 25, 2015

NATOSource

Mar 31, 2015

German Military No Longer Standing at Ease as Security Fears Grow

By Stefan Wagstyl, Financial Times

[T]he Russian threat to European stability has galvanised backing for a more active military. A recent YouGov poll showed 49 per cent support for increased defence spending, versus 36 per cent against.

Germany NATO

UkraineAlert

Mar 31, 2015

In Ukraine, the Real Fight is for Europe

By Stephen Blank

Putin’s War is Not Over Donbas, but a New Russian Empire According to Vladimir Putin, Crimea and Ukraine are where the spiritual sources of Russia’s nationhood lie. And he “always saw the Russians and Ukrainians as a single people. I still think this way now.” People observing the crisis triggered by Putin’s aggression against Ukraine […]

Russia Ukraine

Experts