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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.

Content

New Atlanticist

Mar 19, 2014

Amid Russia’s Assault, Ukraine’s Interim Leaders Scramble to Reform Their Government

By James Rupert

Arseniy Yatsenyuk, a thirty-nine-year-old economist, lawyer, and now Ukrainian prime minister, is laboring to democratize his country while Russia, far better armed, works to subvert it. His job, Yatsenyuk has said, is “political suicide.” Russia has forcibly seized Crimea, while Ukraine desperately needs quick loans just to pay its debts. Yatsenyuk has only sixty-seven days […]

Russia Ukraine
Russian guided missile cruiser Moskva

NATOSource

Mar 19, 2014

Russian Navy ‘Rebalances’ to the Mediterranean

By Thomas R. Fedyszyn, U.S. Naval Institute

As the U.S. military “rebalances” to the Asia-Pacific theater, the Russian Navy is pivoting back into the same European waters it became very familiar with during the Cold War.

NATO Russia
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, March 19, 2014

NATOSource

Mar 19, 2014

Secretary General: NATO Allies Stand with Ukraine

By Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO

[R]ecent events in Ukraine have shown that we cannot take that security and stability for granted. And that we need to stand up for our values.

NATO Russia
Vice President Joe Biden and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, March 18, 2014

NATOSource

Mar 19, 2014

US Suggests Baltics War Games in Response to Russian ‘Land Grab’

By Roberta Rampton, Reuters

The United States is considering sending troops for war games in the Baltic states bordering Russia, Vice President Joe Biden said on Tuesday in an effort to reassure NATO allies alarmed at the Kremlin’s intervention in Ukraine.

NATO Northern Europe

Article

Mar 19, 2014

Geopolitics 101: History Matters

By Harlan Ullman

As President Vladimir Putin moves to consolidate Russian autonomy over Crimea with a referendum, the West continues to struggle to find acceptable policies to reverse or punish this encroachment. Short of a military response that would be profoundly reckless and exceedingly dangerous, in these policy deliberations by the West led by Washington, history seems to […]

Russia Ukraine

In the News

Mar 19, 2014

Slavin: Crimea Crisis Could Reduce Sanctions Pressure on Iran

By Barbara Slavin

Barbara Slavin, South Asia Center senior fellow, writes for Al Jazeera America on how the crisis in Crimea has taken pressure off the Obama administration’s negotiations with Iran:

Iran Russia
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Oct. 22, 2013

NATOSource

Mar 19, 2014

Where’s NATO’s Strong Response to Russia’s Invasion of Crimea?

By Kurt Volker, Foreign Policy

As Russia completes its invasion and eventual annexation of Crimea — and possibly threatens more Ukrainian territory — one can be forgiven for asking, “Where’s NATO?”

NATO NATO Partnerships

New Atlanticist

Mar 18, 2014

Putin Declares Crimea Annexed; So How Best Now to Fight for Ukraine?

By James Rupert

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s declared annexation of Crimea today changes the power struggle in Eastern Europe. The United States and its allies, which have been warning against that step, immediately must focus on the wider dangers of Putin’s likely next move. Putin aims to reclaim greater Russian influence – and if possible, control – over […]

Russia Ukraine

In the News

Mar 18, 2014

Carstei: Russia Sanctions “Not Enough”

By Mihaela Carstei

Energy & Environment Program Acting Director Mihaela Carstei joins CCTV to discuss the long- and short-term impacts of sanctions on Russia:

Russia Ukraine
Laurent Fabius, May 29, 2007

NATOSource

Mar 18, 2014

France Offers to Halt Russian Ship Sale if UK Hits Oligarchs

By Hugh Carnegy and Peter Spiegel, Financial Times

France says it could suspend its controversial deal to sell helicopter assault ships to Russia if more sanctions are adopted against Moscow over Ukraine – but only if Britain also takes action against Russian oligarchs in London.

France Russia

Experts

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