Russia
The Kremlin maintains the threat of escalation to perpetuate the myth of Western aggression and justify its repression of the Russian people.
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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May 21, 2026
The Tank Is Dead? Oh No, it Isn’t
Tanks are being dismissed by some as the relics of an earlier age. But they’re still needed, and Europe lacks the numbers.
May 20, 2026
Russia Settles for Stagnation
The Kremlin's own forecasters now admit what they long denied: the war economy has run out of steam.
May 20, 2026
A Defense Production Plan for Europe
More than a trillion dollars has been committed to allied defense spending by 2035. That must be used to boost industrial capacity, with transatlantic cooperation at its heart.
May 19, 2026
‘One More Day’: Ukraine Is Edging the War of Attrition
As Ukraine grinds out the hard yards, consistent Western support will determine the war’s outcome.
May 19, 2026
The Putin-Xi ‘Shared Consciousness’ Requires a Robust Western Response
The debate about the China-Russia relationship is over. It’s clear the two are locked into an intimate and dangerous quest to change the world in ways inimical to the West.
May 15, 2026
Putin’s Contradictions Have a Poetic Precedent
The writings of a 19th Century Russian poet can help explain the shifting sands of Vladimir Putin’s relationship with the West.
May 12, 2026
Moscow Marches to Kyiv’s Tune
The Kremlin’s imagined path to victory in Ukraine is taking some very strange detours, all of which reflect badly on Vladimir Putin.
May 12, 2026
Sanctions Press Briefing
CEPA experts discuss sanctions against Russia and what needs to be done to ensure their effectiveness, noting enforcement and adaptation.
May 11, 2026
Russian Foreboding as Putin Marks Victory Day
Russians were told to expect a defining speech from Putin, but got only the same old messages and a sense that the Kremlin has lost direction.