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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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New Atlanticist

Apr 14, 2014

In the War for Ukraine, Russian Gunmen Seem Organized, But No-One Else

By Irena Chalupa

Amid the fighting that has spread across towns in southeastern Ukraine, local Russian- and Ukrainian-language websites and news organizations depict a battle in which squads of Russian gunmen are moving and fighting in tight, militarized formations to seize more government buildings and police headquarters. They are fearsomely aggressive, heavily armed, and well organized. The government […]

Russia Ukraine
USS Donald Cook, April 20, 2003

NATOSource

Apr 14, 2014

Russian Jet Made Multiple, Close Passes Near US Warship in Black Sea

By Lolita Baldor, AP

A U.S. military official says a Russian fighter jet made multiple, close-range passes near an American warship in the Black Sea for more than 90 minutes Saturday amid escalating tensions in the region.

Russia United States and Canada
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, April 1, 2014

NATOSource

Apr 14, 2014

Head of NATO Says Ukraine Only Part of Putin’s Ambitions

By Sohrab Ahmari, Wall Street Journal

“I see Ukraine and Crimea in a bigger context,” Mr. [NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh] Rasmussen says. “I see this as an element in a pattern, and it’s driven by President Putin’s strong desire to restore Russian greatness

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

In the News

Apr 14, 2014

Volker: Is Ukraine on the Brink of Civil War?

By Kurt Volker

Brent Scowcroft Center Senior Adviser Kurt Volker joins CNN’s New Day to discuss the rapidly escalating conflicts across Eastern Ukraine:

Russia Ukraine

New Atlanticist

Apr 14, 2014

US Ex-Ambassador to Ukraine Urges US Military, Intelligence Help for Kyiv

By James Rupert

A former US ambassador to Ukraine, John Herbst, is urging the Obama administration to begin providing direct military help to the government in Kyiv, saying new violence by Russian-backed gunmen in eastern Ukraine appears to reflect a Russian government escalation of the crisis. “The United States should provide Ukraine with anti-air and anti-tank equipment, along […]

Eastern Europe NATO

Article

Apr 14, 2014

Ambassador John Herbst on Ukraine Crisis

By John E. Herbst

Atlantic Council’s New Eurasia Center Director is Former Envoy to Kyiv John Herbst, the newly appointed director of the Atlantic Council’s Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center, served as the US ambassador to Ukraine from 2003 to 2006. Here, he offers an overview of the crisis in Ukraine.

Eastern Europe Russia

Article

Apr 14, 2014

Waiting for the Great Gas Cutoff

By John Roberts

Russia-Ukraine Crisis Is Now Unlikely to Let Russian Gas Keep Flowing Smoothly to Europe  European countries from Germany and Poland to Italy and Turkey now need to ensure they have emergency plans in place to deal with a possible cut-off of Russian gas supplies. At risk are the roughly one-fifth of their supplies delivered via […]

Central Europe Eastern Europe

New Atlanticist

Apr 14, 2014

Europe Awaits the Great Gas Cutoff

By New Atlanticist

Escalating Ukraine Crisis Is Unlikely to Let Russian Gas Flow Smoothly to Europe  “European countries from Germany and Poland to Italy and Turkey now need to ensure they have emergency plans in place to deal with a possible cut-off of Russian gas supplies,” Atlantic Council Senior Fellow John Roberts writes in an essay. As new violence […]

Central Europe Eastern Europe

In the News

Apr 12, 2014

Slavin on Peace Process, Nuclear Negotiations

By Barbara Slavin

South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin joins Voice of America’s Issues in the News to discuss the stalled Middle East peace talks, negotiations surrounding Iran’s nuclear program, and pro-Russian demonstrations in Ukraine: 

Iran Russia
Robert Gates, November 17, 2010

NATOSource

Apr 11, 2014

Gates: US Response to Russia’s Use of Force Likely to Lead to ‘More Crises and Conflict’

By Robert Gates, Stars and Stripes

I think an actual invasion would be a very critical matter and a source of great concern. But I think — I think it’s a concern for the same reason that the invasion of Crimea or the seizure of Crimea is a concern.

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