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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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Ukrainian government checkpoint in Donbass, August 21, 2014

NATOSource

Feb 2, 2015

Top NATO Commander Supports Providing Weapons to Defend Ukraine

By Michael R. Gordon and Eric Schmitt, New York Times

With Russian-backed separatists pressing their attacks in Ukraine, NATO’s military commander, Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, now supports providing defensive weapons and equipment to Kiev’s beleaguered forces, and an array of administration and military officials appear to be edging toward that position, American officials said Sunday.

NATO Russia

Report

Feb 2, 2015

Preserving Ukraine’s Independence, Resisting Russian Aggression: What the United States and NATO Must Do

By Atlantic Council, the Brookings Institution, and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs

The Kremlin is waging a hybrid war in Ukraine’s east. Initially covert, Moscow’s intervention became increasingly open when it sent in regular army units in August. Since the Minsk ceasefire, signed in September, Kremlin-supported separatists seized 500 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory. The ceasefire was an illusion. Despite the agreement, Russia continued to send hundreds […]

Europe & Eurasia NATO

New Atlanticist

Jan 31, 2015

EU Sending ‘Wrong Signals’ to Aspiring Members

By Robbie Gramer

Moratorium on enlargement seen changing ‘rules of the game’ The European Neighborhood Policy, intended to create a “ring of friends,” has instead created a “ring of fire,” according to a senior Ukrainian official. The European Union needs to overcome inertia against further enlargement or it risks experiencing “more of the same” conflicts as the one […]

European Union International Organizations

In the News

Jan 30, 2015

Herbst on Putin and the Crisis in Ukraine

By John Herbst

Foreign language newspaper KURIER quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Director John Herbst on Putin and the crisis in Ukraine:

Russia Ukraine

New Atlanticist

Jan 30, 2015

Ukraine is ‘Bleeding Not Just Blood, But Money’

By Robbie Gramer

Kyiv Official says Financial Support From US and EU Is ‘Crucial’ Ukraine is “bleeding not just blood, but money” as it fights Russian-backed separatists in the country’s southeast, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Vadym Prystayko. US and European Union financial support is “crucial” for his country, Prystayko said January 30. Prystayko spoke as US and […]

Russia Ukraine
US soldiers testing a M98 Javelin Weapon System, Sept. 23, 2014

NATOSource

Jan 30, 2015

US Should Provide Lethal Assistance to Ukraine

By Steven Pifer and Strobe Talbott, Washington Post

Washington needs to do more to get Russia to change course. That means giving the Ukrainian military sufficient means to make further aggression so costly that Putin and the Russian army are deterred from escalating the fight.

NATO Russia

New Atlanticist

Jan 30, 2015

New ‘Formula’ Needed to Deal with Putin

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Stephen J. Hadley advocates tougher line to convince Kremlin its strategy in Ukraine will fail The United States and Europe need to take a more forceful stand against Russian President Vladimir Putin to convince him that his strategy of fomenting unrest in Ukraine is not going to succeed, Stephen J. Hadley, who served as National […]

Russia Ukraine

New Atlanticist

Jan 30, 2015

Ukraine Needs Support Now, Latvian Foreign Minister Says

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Rinkēvičs cites urgent need for backing on territorial integrity, economy Ukraine requires strong support for its territorial integrity and economy well before an Eastern Partnership summit in Riga in May, according to Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs. Describing Ukraine as the “biggest challenge,” Rinkēvičs said, “we need to address some issues now, in January, in […]

European Union International Organizations
French tank, July 14, 2012

NATOSource

Jan 30, 2015

France Sending Tanks To Poland

By Lorne Cook, AP

France is pledging tanks and armored vehicles to bolster NATO forces in Poland, where leaders are increasingly uneasy about Russia.

France NATO

In the News

Jan 29, 2015

Herbst: “What We Are Seeing Is Not a Ukraine Crisis but a Putin Crisis”

By John Herbst

The Inquirer quotes Eurasia Center Director John Herbst on the crisis in Ukraine:

Russia Ukraine

Experts