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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.

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

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

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

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

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.

China Japan
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Secretary of State John Kerry

NATOSource

Apr 11, 2014

Russia Will Respond Only to Increased Sanctions Over Ukraine

By Editorial Board, Washington Post

It’s worth asking whether Mr. Putin would have launched his latest provocation if the United States had continued to raise the pressure on the Russian economy in the weeks since the last measures were unveiled on March 20.

European Union International Organizations
NATO was founded in 1949

NATOSource

Apr 11, 2014

Happy Birthday, NATO

By Peter Westmacott

Not so long ago, many commentators were questioning whether NATO still had a role to play in today’s world.

Afghanistan NATO
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen in Prague

NATOSource

Apr 11, 2014

NATO Secretary General: Russian Forces Near Ukraine ‘Ready for Combat’

By Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO

For the first time since countries like the Czech Republic won their freedom, and the Cold War ended, we see one state trying to grab part of another’s territory at gunpoint.

Central Europe NATO

Experts