News

The Russia-Ukraine War Report Card, July 9, 2025

July 09, 2025
July 8 update: Russian territorial gains in Ukraine over the last week slowed to 18 square miles—Russia’s lowest weekly rate since the week of April 22–29, 2025.
Blog

Russians React to Strikes on Iran: Condemn US, Welcome Its Diversion From Ukraine, No Concrete Help to Iran

Simon Saradzhyan June 23, 2025
Most Russian commentators have so far refrained from calling for assistance to Tehran despite Iran's assistance in supplying Russia with drones for its war against Ukraine and the bilateral strategic partnership treaty between Russia and Iran.
Blog

Would Russia Attack NATO and, If So, When?

Simon Saradzhyan June 05, 2025
There is no shortage of forecasts for when Russia would be able to attack a NATO country (capability) and for when Russia might attack a NATO country (intent).
News
The Russia-Ukraine War Report Card, July 9, 2025
July 09, 2025
Blog
Russians React to Strikes on Iran: Condemn US, Welcome Its Diversion From Ukraine, No Concrete Help to Iran
June 23, 2025
Blog
Would Russia Attack NATO and, If So, When?
June 05, 2025
RM Staff Picks
Blog

Soviet Figures Still Dominate Russians’ Most Outstanding Global Figures List

Simon Saradzhyan
When recently asked by the Levada Center to name “the most outstanding individuals of all time and peoples,” the top three named by Russian respondents were Josef Stalin (42%), Vladimir Putin (31%) and Vladimir Lenin (28%).
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Blog

Can Russia Somehow Benefit From Israel-Iran Conflict?

Simon Saradzhyan
Whether Russia stands to lose or benefit from the conflict depends in part on whether Israel manages to attain a durable end to Iran’s capacity for producing nuclear weapons.
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Blog

Russians React to Israeli Strikes on Iran: Fear of Nuclear War, Partition of Iran

Simon Saradzhyan, Angelina Flood
Most pro-Kremlin commentators criticized Israel, while some expressed concern about the disintegration of the Iran.
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Blog

Following Putin’s Lead, Russians Warm Up to Trump’s America, Want Mended Fence

Simon Saradzhyan
The latest Levada Center polls reaffirm the proposition that Russians will eventually publicly support whatever major foreign policy decision Putin makes.
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Analysis

US Unlikely to Unravel Robust Russia-China Ties

Sergey Radchenko
Washington needs to decide whether it would benefit more from seeing the Russians forced into the Chinese embrace, or from tempting Russia away from China through political and economic incentives.
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Analysis

John Ratcliffe on Russia and Ukraine

RM Staff
The CIA director has expressed concern over North Korea’s growing alignment with Russia and warned that the Russia-Ukraine war continues to devastate the region while heightening the risk of pulling the U.S. into a conflict with a nuclear-armed adver...
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Analysis

Steve Witkoff on Russia and Ukraine

Dasha Zhukauskaite, RM Staff
Witkoff, a New York real estate magnate and long-time friend of Donald Trump, was initially appointed to serve as Trump’s special envoy for the Middle East, but is now playing a key role in ending the war in Ukraine.
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Analysis

Comparing Pathways to Peace in Ukraine

Masha Hedberg
How can the war in Ukraine end? Is a negotiated settlement possible? If so, what would it take to achieve it? This review of 25 peace proposals examines the range of options on the table and assesses their viability as effective blueprints for ending...
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