News

US Needs to Change Russia Policy to Break Out of 30 Year Rut, Walt: West Badly Mismanaged Post-Cold War Relationship With Russia

June 24, 2019
Rumer and Sokolsky argue 30 years of unrealistic policies have hurt the U.S.-Russia relationship, while Stephen Walt notes it was naïve for the West to think Russia wouldn’t react to continued NATO expansion. More in our latest analytical round-up.
Analysis

Esper on Russia: Pentagon Nominee Sees Moscow as ‘Strategic Competitor,’ ‘Potential Adversary’

RM Staff June 21, 2019 RM Exclusives
Army Secretary Mark Esper, reportedly set to become acting defense secretary on June 23, often pairs Russia with China in his remarks, classifying both among America’s biggest security challenges.
Analysis

Expert Round-Up: How Likely Is a China-Russia Military Alliance?

RM Staff June 14, 2019 RM Exclusives
Dozens of scholars, analysts and officials assess the strengths and weaknesses of the Sino-Russian "comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction."
News
US Needs to Change Russia Policy to Break Out of 30 Year Rut, Walt: West Badly Mismanaged Post-Cold War Relationship With Russia
June 24, 2019
Analysis
Esper on Russia: Pentagon Nominee Sees Moscow as ‘Strategic Competitor,’ ‘Potential Adversary’
June 21, 2019
Analysis
Expert Round-Up: How Likely Is a China-Russia Military Alliance?
June 14, 2019
RM Staff Picks
Analysis

Leveraging Venezuela: How Russia Sees Its Interests in US Backyard

Paul Saunders
Americans should not overestimate either Russia’s interests in Venezuela or its capabilities there. Some see the country as a new Ukraine or Syria. It isn’t.
Read More
Analysis

How Much Did Orthodox Church Help Revive Russia’s Military and Nuclear Complex?

Dmitry Gorenburg
A highly readable and informative new book by Dmitry Adamsky sheds light on a woefully understudied topic—the relationship between Russia’s Orthodox Church and its military—while raising many questions worthy of further study.
Read More
Analysis

Russia’s National Projects: Economic Reboot or Mucky Bog?

Ben Aris
Putin’s $390 billion spending program could deepen the crisis of confidence among entrepreneurs and investors—a bigger threat to Russia’s long-term economic prospects than sanctions.
Read More
Analysis

How the US Managed, and Mismanaged, Russia: A Superstar Diplomat Tells His Story

Graham Allison
William Burns’ new book describes his warnings to the Bush administration that pushing for NATO membership for Georgia and Ukraine would spur Moscow to use armed force in the former and to meddle in Crimea and eastern Ukraine.
Read More
Debate

Russia and China—Alliance or Dalliance? And What Will This Mean for the West?

RM Staff
Relations between Moscow and Beijing have been growing increasingly cozy, but what’s stronger—the convergence of their grievances or the divergence in their national interests? Three experts debate.
Read More
Analysis

Jihadists from Ex-Soviet Central Asia: Where Are They? Why Did They Radicalize? What Next?

Edward Lemon, Vera Mironova and William Tobey
Three authors draw on field work and other research to assess the motives, prospects and threats linked to Central Asian jihadists, including the thousands who joined Islamic State and other violent extremists in the Middle East.
Read More
Analysis

2020 US Presidential Candidates on Russia: What Have They Said So Far?

Daniel Shapiro
Most candidates overwhelmingly agree that while Russia is a key adversary of the U.S., the two countries should work to preserve bilateral arms control treaties like New START and the INF Treaty.
Read More
Analysis

5 Years Since Russia’s Intervention in Ukraine: Has Putin’s Gamble Paid Off?

Simon Saradzhyan
The author analyzes the costs and benefits for Russia, finding that the intervention advanced one vital national interest and damaged several others. The costs have been manageable so far, but may eventually become prohibitive.
Read More
Analysis

Getting Somewhere With Russia: A Q&A With Angela Stent

RM Staff
An eminent Russia expert discuses Russia “as is,” competing and cooperating, the end of arms control, sanctions, Ukraine, Venezuela and much more.
Read More
Analysis

Kissinger on Russia: Insights and Recommendations

RM Staff
In a newly updated compilation of remarks, the eminent U.S. statesman offers ways to reconcile America’s necessities with Russia’s concerns.
Read More
Nota Bene

Jobs, Fellowships and More!

Find Russia-related research, employment and educational opportunities, plus a listing of Russia experts.
Check out our new Resources section!

Click to Subscribe

Russia Matters offers assorted weekly news and analysis digests, event announcements and occasional newsletters.
Choose and sign up here!
Bridge in Moscow, Russia.

RM's Most Popular Reads

From Russia’s nuclear forces and its defense budget to Central Asian jihadists and the West’s blind spots—here’s what Russia Matters readers wanted to know about most.
Latest News from The Moscow Times

NATO Calls on Russia to Destroy New Missile, Warns of Response

Russia Sentences Polish National to 14 Years for Espionage

Downed U.S. Drone Was in Iranian Airspace, Putin's Aide Says

Russia Plans to Simplify Citizenship for Foreign Students, Official Says

Russia Cleared to Return to Europe’s Top Rights Body

Russian Says Military Plane Landed in Venezuela to Service Equipment

Russia Says Military Plane Landed in Venezuela to Service Equipment

Russia’s Middle Class Is Shrinking – Bank Report

Russian Air Force Plane Lands in Venezuela – Reports

Head of Russia’s Ingushetia Resigns Following Months of Border Deal Unrest