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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.

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Article

Feb 11, 2015

Rearticulating NATO’s Strategy Toward Georgia

By Mariam Tirkia

Hillary Rodham Clinton’s remark that the NATO summit in Chicago in 2012 should be “the last summit that is not an enlargement [one]” raised expectations in Georgia that were already quite high. Georgia is seeking the elusive Membership Action Plan (MAP), which is NATO’s program of advice, assistance, and practical support tailored to the individual […]

NATO Russia
Secretary of the Russian Security Council Nikolai Patrushev, Oct. 17, 2012

NATOSource

Feb 10, 2015

Putin Security Aide Warns US Over Arms For Ukraine

By Kathrin Hille, Financial Times

A key security adviser to Russian president Vladimir Putin has accused the US of seeking to drag Russia directly into war in Ukraine through a possible plan to arm Kiev, underlining the seriousness with which Moscow would greet such a move.

NATO Nuclear Nonproliferation

UkraineAlert

Feb 10, 2015

Obama-Merkel Accord Delays Talk of Arms for Ukraine’s Defense Against Russia

By John E. Herbst

Europe Signals New Negotiation With Kremlin Will Not Include New Pressures on Kyiv The Obama-Merkel summit was critical for maintaining Transatlantic unity in the face of Moscow’s escalating aggression in Ukraine. While skeptical of the Kremlin’s intentions, German Chancellor Angela Merkel would like to try another round of diplomacy to stop the fighting. That is why […]

Europe & Eurasia Germany
Russian President Vladimir Putin, Dec. 4, 2014

NATOSource

Feb 9, 2015

Russia’s Nuclear Strategy Raises Concerns in NATO

By Adrian Croft, Reuters

Concern is growing in NATO over Russia’s nuclear strategy and indications that Russian military planners may be lowering the threshold for using nuclear weapons in any conflict, alliance diplomats say.

NATO Nuclear Nonproliferation

Event Recap

Feb 9, 2015

The Ukraine Crisis: Withstand and Deter Russian Aggression

By Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center

The Atlantic Council hosted a panel discussion on February 2 to introduce a report produced in collaboration with Brookings Institution and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. The report, Preserving Ukraine’s Independence, Resisting Russian Aggression: What the United States and NATO Must Do, notes that the US must provide lethal defensive military assistance to raise […]

Russia Ukraine

In the News

Feb 9, 2015

Herbst on Russia’s Deal with Cyprus

By John Herbst

Newsweek quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Director John Herbst on the talks between Cyprus and Russia that would allow the Russian military to use the island nation’s sea and airports:

Russia Southern & Southeastern Europe

New Atlanticist

Feb 9, 2015

US, Germany Seek a United Front on Ukraine

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Differences over arming Ukrainian security forces could vanish if Minsk talks fail, says Atlantic Council’s Burwell The question of providing defensive weapons to Ukraine’s security forces will dominate the meeting between US President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the White House on February 9. The Obama administration is reportedly considering providing the […]

Germany Russia
Lt. Gen. Frederick Ben Hodges, Nov. 13, 2014

NATOSource

Feb 9, 2015

Commander of US Army in Europe Sees Russia Mobilizing for War

By Sohrab Ahmari, Wall Street Journal

‘I believe the Russians are mobilizing right now for a war that they think is going to happen in five or six years

Europe & Eurasia NATO

Article

Feb 9, 2015

Gradual Escalation Does Not Work

By Harlan Ullman

Following the NATO Defense Ministers meeting in Brussels and the annual Munich Security Conference once known as Wehrkinde last week, the debate over whether or not to equip Ukraine with defense armaments such as anti-air and tank missiles is reaching a critical point. On the one hand, Vladimir Putin’s annexation of the Crimea and outright […]

NATO Russia
UK Defense Minister Michael Fallon, Oct. 30, 2014

NATOSource

Feb 6, 2015

UK Concerned Over ‘Threatening’ Russian Nuclear Strategy

By Adrian Croft, Reuters

Britain’s defence minister voiced concern on Friday that Russia may have “lowered the threshold” for using nuclear weapons and said Britain must update its own deterrent in response to Russian modernisation of its nuclear forces.

Nuclear Nonproliferation Russia

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