Russia

Russia is Playing a Weak Hand Very Strongly

A regular contributor to CNN.com, Ambassador-in-Residence Michael Oren writes that in both Syria and Iran, Russia has played its relatively weak strategic hand exceedingly well and is threatening to outmaneuver the United States in the Middle East. Meanwhile, the United States has paused its effots to forge an Israeli-Palestinian peace in order to generate pressure on […]

Central European Nations Glad to be in NATO

By AFP

Fifteen years have passed since the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland joined the NATO military alliance, a decision the ex-Soviet satellites now see as fortuitous given today’s Ukraine standoff between Russia and the West.

Don’t Give Up on Crimea

By Damon Wilson

Ukrainian Troops Sustain Symbols of Sovereignty That Could Weaken Russia’s Grip Twenty-four hours after being named to command Ukrainian forces in Crimea, Rear Admiral Denis Berezovsky switched allegiance to the Russia-installed Crimean puppet government. Accompanied by Russian special operations troops and unidentified gunmen, he strode into the Ukrainian military’s Perevalne base demanding that its soldiers […]

Polish Foreign Minister: ‘We Cannot Let Putin Get Away With’ Annexation of Crimea

By Cristina Odone, Telegraph

Russia must not be allowed to redraw the map of Europe, Radek Sikorski, Poland’s Foreign Minister, tells the Telegraph ahead of a meeting with William Hague on Monday.

To Bolster Ukraine, Help Modernize its Arms Industry

By James Hasik

A Better Army and Economy Will Help Kyiv Stay Independent of Moscow As the United States and NATO search for the right ways to oppose Russia’s seizure from Ukraine of the Crimean Peninsula, policymakers should note a surprising industrial fact: Ukraine is the world’s fourth-largest arms exporter, having sold more than $1.3 billion in weapons […]

Obama Reaffirms US Commitment to Defend Baltic Allies

From the White House:  The President spoke separately with Prime Minister Cameron, President Hollande, and Prime Minister Renzi today about Ukraine.

Ukraine Crisis Stokes Baltic Nerves Over Russia

By Andrius Saytas and Aija Krutaine, Reuters

The Baltics fear Russia’s military buildup over Ukraine will lead to Moscow sowing more trouble in their region after it curbed important exports last year and buzzed their borders, forcing NATO to scramble jets dozens of times.

Sweden Mulls ‘Doctrine Shift’ in Defense After Russian Incursion in Ukraine

By Niclas Rolander, Wall Street Journal

The continuing crisis in Ukraine has the reputedly peaceful Swedes rethinking the nation’s defense doctrine, and some are using the situation as a way to push for NATO membership