News

Samorukov: Belarus Has Outgrown Lukashenko, but Outdated Regimes Can Be Resilient; Kendall-Taylor Et Al.: Driving Wedge Between RF, PRC Unlikely to Work

August 10, 2020
Belarus needs a more responsive political system than its current leader can provide, Samorukov writes; Kendall-Taylor et al. advise the U.S. to monitor, plan for, limit and pull at the seams in Russian-Chinese relations; and more in our latest analy...
Analysis

Russia and US National Interests: Maintaining a Balance of Power in Europe and Asia

Nikolas K. Gvosdev August 05, 2020 RM Exclusives
In this primer, the first in an exclusive series designed to facilitate a reassessment of America’s relationship with Moscow, Nikolas K. Gvosdev argues that U.S. policy toward Moscow should not create incentives for closer Russia-China ties.
Blog

From ISIS to Russia's Nuclear Policy: RM's Most Popular Reads

RM Staff August 04, 2020
Did the U.S. or Russia “defeat” ISIS? What is in Russia’s nuclear toolbox and what do recent documents reveal about its nuclear policy? Answers to these questions and more in our most read commentaries of 2020 through July 31.
News
Samorukov: Belarus Has Outgrown Lukashenko, but Outdated Regimes Can Be Resilient; Kendall-Taylor Et Al.: Driving Wedge Between RF, PRC Unlikely to Work
August 10, 2020
Analysis
Russia and US National Interests: Maintaining a Balance of Power in Europe and Asia
August 05, 2020
Blog
From ISIS to Russia's Nuclear Policy: RM's Most Popular Reads
August 04, 2020
RM Staff Picks
Analysis

It’s Time to Rethink Our Russia Policy

Rose Gottemoeller, Thomas Graham, Fiona Hill, Jon Huntsman Jr., Robert Legvold and Thomas R. Pickering
An open letter signed by 103 foreign-policy experts on how to reconsider America's approach to Putin—and whoever comes next.
Read More
Analysis

Where US Sees Democracy Promotion, Russia Sees Regime Change

Benjamin Denison
If U.S. officials were to critically assess the track record of American regime change, they might see that Russian statements against U.S. democracy promotion reflect genuine anxiety about regime security.
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

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

Tatiana Mitrova
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.
Read More
Analysis

Russian Moves in Afghanistan Are About Regional Stability, Not Revenge on US

Artemy M. Kalinovsky
U.S. politicians may feel betrayed by Russia’s engagement with the Taliban, but to understand what Russia is up to, they need to stop imagining that Moscow’s every move is somehow intended to undermine the U.S.
Read More
Analysis

Do Black Lives Matter in Russia?

Peter Rutland and Andrei Kazantsev
Studying the reactions to Black Lives Matter in Russia can teach us a lot about Russian society—just as Russians and others have learned a great deal about American society as the movement has unfolded.
Read More
Analysis

Olga Oliker on Russia: Insights and Recommendations

RM Staff
Russia presents a critical foreign policy challenge to the U.S., "one which will be poorly served by either demonization or conciliation," writes leading Russia expert Olga Oliker. "What is needed is considered, knowledgeable and nuanced policy."
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Analysis

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

Paul Saunders
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.
Read More
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...
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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
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.
loaded gun

What’s Russia Weaponizing?

Russia has been accused of weaponizing everything from refugees and national trauma to cockroaches and the weather. Here's our list so far.

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US-Russia Relations: Quest for Stability

Whiskey & Vodka

A new interactive multimedia tool distills the fundamental issues (adversarial and cooperative) that define U.S.-Russia relations. Click to explore "U.S.-Russia Relations: Quest for Stability"!
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