Russia
Many observers had written off Crimea and assumed Kyiv would have to surrender the peninsula in any peace deal with Moscow. But the tide is turning.
Russia’s war in Ukraine has reshaped European security and exposed the ambitions of an authoritarian state willing to use force, energy, and subversion to advance its aims. Understanding the Kremlin means looking beyond the battlefield to the Russian economy under sanctions, the endurance of Vladimir Putin’s system, and Moscow’s deepening ties with China, Iran, and North Korea. This hub follows the pressures reshaping Russia: the effect of Western sanctions, the health of its wartime economy, elite politics, and the tools of hybrid warfare it deploys across Europe. Fellows and analysts assess how sanctions are biting, why the economy has settled for stagnation, and how Moscow projects power through proxies, disinformation, and nuclear signaling. Explore analysis and commentary on Russia’s economy, foreign policy, and the long contest between the Kremlin and the West.
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June 16, 2026
You’ve No Idea How Much Russia Hates Britain
Keir Starmer’s refusal to adequately fund defense is opening ever-greater opportunities for Kremlin exploitation. Its campaign is already underway.
June 15, 2026
Putin’s Kulturkampf
The Russian despotism has done everything possible to shut down information sharing, but culture retains a power beyond its reach.
June 15, 2026
Surrender Crimea and Reward Genocide
The Kremlin’s claim that Crimea is Russian rests on a 240-year project to erase the peninsula’s indigenous Crimean Tatar population. The world can’t turn away.
June 11, 2026
West Needs ‘Escalation Ladder’ for Putin’s Shadow War
NATO’s fragmented responses to Russia’s “accidental” border incursions are enabling Moscow’s shadow war.
June 11, 2026
Putin and Xi — Friends But Not Equals
Coordination of the relationship between China and Russia has grown, but it lacks balance and clear boundaries.
June 10, 2026
Russia-China Military Ties: Behind the Window Dressing
It’s important to distinguish between a genuine military alliance and the picture-perfect imagery of authoritarian propaganda.
June 9, 2026
Armenia Votes to Shun Russia
Pashinyan’s victory leaves the Kremlin with the difficult choice of confrontation or something more pragmatic.
June 8, 2026
When Russia Loses
The war’s end will mark the start of a race to secure the peace and make the continent the author of its future.
June 4, 2026
Russia’s Economy: Bent Out of Shape
The economy’s two main tracks are moving in different directions.