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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

UkraineAlert

Jan 9, 2015

What the Kremlin’s Setback May Mean

By Elizabeth Pond

Economics Have Stalled Putin, But He Often Answers Reversals With Military Threats In the Ukraine crisis, soft economic power last month trumped hard military power for the first time. The threatened meltdown of the Russian economy could push Russian President Vladimir Putin to dial down his undeclared war on Ukraine in return for some easing […]

Eastern Europe Russia
Polish Defense Minister Tomasz Siemoniak, Oct. 14, 2014

NATOSource

Jan 8, 2015

Poland to Seek NATO Response to Russia’s Military Exercises

By Wiktor Szary and Pawel Sobczak, Reuters

Poland expects the NATO alliance to step up its military exercises around the Baltic Sea after a flurry of activity by Russian warships and jet fighters in the area last month, Defence Minister Tomasz Siemoniak told Reuters in an interview.

NATO Poland
Russian President Vladimir Putin, Oct. 1, 2014

NATOSource

Jan 7, 2015

Putin Signs New Military Doctrine Naming NATO as Russia’s Top Threat

By AP and Reuters

From Vladimir Isachenkov, AP:  Russia identified NATO as the nation’s No. 1 military threat and raised the possibility of a broader use of precision conventional weapons to deter foreign aggression under a new military doctrine signed by President Vladimir Putin on Friday [Dec. 26, 2014].

Europe & Eurasia NATO
Russian Akula class submarine, June 3, 2008

NATOSource

Jan 6, 2015

US Concerned About Russian Submarines with Nuclear Armed Cruise Missiles Near Washington

By Guardian and Foreign Policy

From Julian Borger, Guardian:  A widening rift between Moscow and Washington over cruise missiles and increasingly daring patrols by nuclear-capable Russian submarines threatens to end an era of arms control

Nuclear Nonproliferation Russia
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Dec. 2, 2014

NATOSource

Jan 6, 2015

NATO’s Priority in 2015: Setting Up Reaction Force in Europe

By John-Thor Dahlburg, AP

Leaving combat operations in Afghanistan behind, NATO is shifting its focus to Europe in 2015 and the creation of its new ultra-rapid-reaction force, designed as a deterrent to Russia.

NATO Russia

UkraineAlert

Jan 6, 2015

Ukraine’s Crisis in 2015: What to Expect

By New Atlanticist

Donbas War Will Last All Year; May Be Settled With Early Parliament Election, Mefford Writes How predictable is Ukraine’s coming year, given its financial crisis, its untested new government and, above all, its war against Russia and its proxy forces in the southeastern region of Donbas? Not very predictable, notes the Atlantic Council’s Kyiv-based senior […]

Eastern Europe Russia
NATO leaders at the Wales Summit, Sept. 4, 2014

NATOSource

Jan 2, 2015

10 Most Popular NATO Stories of 2014

By Jorge Benitez, Director of NATOSource

Happy New Year and welcome to 2015. Below are the ten most popular stories on our website in 2014.

France NATO

NATOSource

Jan 2, 2015

Lithuania Detains Alleged Russian Spy Ring at Major NATO Airbase

By Damien Sharkov, Newsweek

Several members of an alleged Russian spy ring within the Lithuanian armed forces were detained by the national general prosecution on Wednesday in the Lithuanian city of Šiauliai, near NATO’s major Baltic air base

Intelligence NATO

In the News

Dec 31, 2014

Karatnycky: Warlords and Armed Groups Threaten Ukraine’s Rebuilding

By Adrian Karatnycky

Transatlantic Relations Program Nonresident Senior Fellow Adrian Karatnycky writes for the Washington Post on the new threat emerging in Ukraine posed by warlords and militant groups: 

Russia Ukraine

In the News

Dec 31, 2014

Herbst on Political Activists’ Verdict

By John Herbst

Voice of America quotes Eurasia Center Director John Herbst on the sentencing of Russian political activist Alexei Navalny: 

Russia

Experts