What will Russia look like in 10 years, or 20? How much longer will Vladimir Putin’s two-decade-plus rule last? Who — and what — will come after him? Will Russia continue its expansionist and anti-Western course? Or will it seek rapprochement? Will Russia remain intact, or will it disintegrate like the Soviet Union before it? And how should the United States and its allies prepare for all of these contingencies? Continue reading
Nearly three decades ago, Ukraine, Belarus, and Kazakhstan agreed to give up the nuclear arsenals they had inherited from the Soviet Union, turning them over to Russia. Continue reading
In addition to the front lines in the Donbas, the battle for Ukraine’s future is being fought out in Western capitals. Continue reading
As 2024 dawns, there is palpable trepidation in the air. Continue reading
Mr. Zelensky went to Washington – and went home empty handed. Continue reading
They were more than just gas pipelines. They were among the most important economic links between Russia and Europe. They were symbols of the continent’s dependence on Russian energy. And they were conduits for the Kremlin to spread corruption and malign influence. Continue reading
Ukraine’s long-awaited counteroffensive gathers steam as troops probe Russian defenses and claim some modest gains in the south and east. Continue reading
Most eyes are on the fighting in the Donbas as Ukraine’s counteroffensive appears to get under way. But far from the front lines, a vital discussion is taking place in Western capitals: What will it take to rebuild Ukraine when the war is finally over? Continue reading
Russian air attacks on Ukrainian cities continue almost nightly; Ukraine’s allies and proxies take the fight to Russian soil with a drone attack on Moscow and a bold incursion into Belgorod; anticipation builds for a long-awaited Ukrainian spring offensive in the east; and NATO gears up for a landmark summit in Vilnius next month. Continue reading
It has become one of the critical fault lines in the geopolitical clash between Russia and the West. The Black Sea region — which encompasses NATO allies Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkey; Western partners Ukraine and Georgia; and of course, an increasingly aggressive and revanchist Russia — was a tense and contested area even before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Since the invasion, this competition and the potential for conflict have only escalated. Continue reading
