News

Mitrova: Russian GDP May Crash By 5–13% More in 2020; Ash, Haring on Death of Reform in Ukraine; Allison Discusses Czar's Dilemma

July 13, 2020
Mitrova writes Russia faces a 50 percent loss of export revenues in the coming months; Haring argues change is impossible in Ukraine; Allison discusses why Putin, Xi, Netanyahu, Trump want to hold on to power; and more in our weekly analysis digest.
Analysis

How Improved US-Russian Relations Could Weaken Putin’s Case for Remaining in Kremlin Until 2036

Paul Saunders July 08, 2020 RM Exclusives
A more nuanced understanding of Putin’s possible motives for the amendments to Russia's constitution—and how the U.S. could shape them in its policy toward Russia—could facilitate Russia’s leadership transition rather than hinder it.
Analysis

The Oil Price Crash: Will the Kremlin’s Policies Change?

Tatiana Mitrova July 08, 2020 Partner Posts
The coronavirus pandemic and the steep drop of oil and gas prices may pose a serious challenge to Russia’s economic model. Mitrova argues that current shocks to the Russian energy market could pale in comparison to long-term consequences.
News
Mitrova: Russian GDP May Crash By 5–13% More in 2020; Ash, Haring on Death of Reform in Ukraine; Allison Discusses Czar's Dilemma
July 13, 2020
Analysis
How Improved US-Russian Relations Could Weaken Putin’s Case for Remaining in Kremlin Until 2036
July 08, 2020
Analysis
The Oil Price Crash: Will the Kremlin’s Policies Change?
July 08, 2020
RM Staff Picks
Analysis

New Sanctions Challenge the Tenuous Ties Between America and Russia

Thomas Graham and Matthew Rojansky
Rather than knee-jerk calls for more sanctions, restoring channels of communication with Russia may be a prudent step to protect U.S. interests and avoid continuing miscommunication. Russia may be suffering from severe economic and demographic constr...
Read More
Analysis

Unplugging the Baltic States: Why Russia’s Economic Approach May Be Shifting

Emily Ferris
The probability of Russia resorting to a Crimea-style intervention in the Baltics remains low. As a key energy supplier and major trading partner for the region, Russia has more to gain by using economic levers as opposed to military ones to retain i...
Read More
Analysis

Who ‘Defeated’ ISIS? An Analysis of US and Russian Contributions

Domitilla Sagramoso
There can be little doubt that the U.S. and its allies played a much bigger role in subduing the terror group than Russia. But ISIS has plenty of life in it yet and any alleged victory is fragile.
Read More
Analysis

Stent and Hill on COVID-19 Challenging Putin’s Grip on Power

VOA
Russia experts Angela Stent and Fiona Hill discuss the impact of the coronavirus on the Russian leader as well as on the country's domestic and international positions.
Read More
Blog

Russians’ Approval and Trust for Putin Shows Slight Rebound, Although Still Below Previous Years

RM Staff
Russians’ trust and approval for Vladimir Putin has slightly increased from low points in May and April, although it is still significantly lower than in previous years, according to a new Levada Center poll.
Read More
Analysis

Russia’s Constitutional Amendments Keep Several Futures Open for Putin

Marlene Laruelle
The aim of the amendments is to keep Putin’s—and Russia's—portfolio of possibilities as wide as possible while reinforcing Russia’s sovereignty from the international scene and the country’s self-reliance.
Read More
Analysis

Belton: Russia’s Kleptocracy Is a Tool for Undermining the West

Lynn Berry
Through interviews with key figures, Belton sheds new light on Putin and argues that the kleptocracy of the Putin era was about far more than just lining pockets: It was about buying influence and threatening the West.
Read More
Analysis

The State Department’s Compliance Report Plays the Blame Game, Despite Offering Little Evidence

Matt Korda and Hans M. Kristensen
The report’s publication comes at a critical time, as the Trump administration has spent the past few years—and the past three months in particular—dismantling the last vestiges of U.S. commitments to the international arms control regime.
Read More
Blog

Coronavirus and the Kremlin: Will Putin’s Ratings Keep Falling Through Fall?

Daniel Shapiro
The COVID-19 pandemic has already pushed Vladimir Putin’s approval ratings to historically low levels, and it may be that the ratings of the Russian leader, his government and his party are not done falling just yet.
Read More
Analysis

New Document Consolidates Russia’s Nuclear Policy in One Place

Olga Oliker
Russia’s new nuclear deterrence strategy document confirms that its policy is not “escalate to de-escalate,” but the document isn't likely to put the debate to rest.
Read More
Nota Bene

Tracking COVID-19 in Russia and the U.S.

Daily tallies of new coronavirus cases in the U.S. and Russia.
Click here for our interactive infographics.
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US-Russia Relations: Quest for Stability

Whiskey & Vodka

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