Analysis

This listing contains all the analytical materials posted on the Russia Matters website. These include: RM Exclusives, commissioned by Russia Matters exclusively for this website; Recommended Reads, deemed particularly noteworthy by our editorial team; Partner Posts, originally published by our partners elsewhere; and Future Policy Leaders, pieces by promising young scholars and policy thinkers. Content can be filtered by genre and subject-specific criteria and is updated often. Gradually we will be adding older Recommended Reads and Partner Posts dating back as far as 2011.
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A Blueprint for Donald Trump to Fix Relations with Russia

Graham Allison and Dimitri K. Simes December 18, 2016 Recommended Reads
Russia today offers the new U.S. administration both a challenge and a significant opportunity, both of which need to be taken seriously, as Russia’s choices have profound impacts on U.S. interests and global issues.
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Russia’s Role in the US Elections: The Case for Caution

George Beebe December 16, 2016
Despite Moscow’s clear preference for the Republican presidential candidate and forensic data traceable back to Russia, the U.S. must act with caution in order to avoid falling into the same traps it found itself in over a decade ago.
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Looking for U.S.-Russian Cooperation? Try Asia

Jeffrey Mankoff December 12, 2016 RM Exclusives
U.S.-Russian ties in Asia have long been underdeveloped, but also far less contentious than in Europe. Maybe now is the time to focus eastward and help Moscow balance between Washington and Beijing.
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Nuclear War is No Longer "Unthinkable" for Russia

Nikolas K. Gvosdev December 07, 2016 Partner Posts
The newly-released "Foreign Policy Concept" of the Russian Federation contains some interesting changes and updates. Given that this document reflects the Kremlin's strategic mindset and how it views international relations, it is important to take what is says seriously.
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The Trump Administration and Nuclear Arms Control Treaties

Steven Pifer December 02, 2016 Recommended Reads
Before backing away from any arms control agreements, the Trump administration should consider the consequences for U.S. national security. For one thing, the recommendations could prompt a new arms race—and give Russia a big head-start.
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Putin Didn't Undermine the Election—We Did

Katrina vanden Heuvel November 29, 2016
Anything Russia may have done to discredit the legitimacy of U.S. democracy and presidential elections pales in comparison to the damage America itself has done.
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Small Steps or Grand Bargains?

Angela Stent November 28, 2016 Recommended Reads
A leading expert gives her thoughts on the future of U.S.-Russia relations under President-elect Donald Trump.
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Trump Marks the End of America as World’s ‘Indispensable Nation’

Robert Kagan November 19, 2016 Recommended Reads
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is uninterested in taking up the burden the U.S. has born for 70 years of assuring global order. 
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Russia Isn’t Actually That Happy About Trump’s Victory

Ruslan Pukhov November 11, 2016
Despite Donald Trump’s pro-Russia reputation, Moscow has little reason to hope for any major breakthroughs with the new president.
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Trump’s Victory Bodes Well for US-Russia Ties, But Expect No Tectonic Shifts

Simon Saradzhyan and William Tobey November 10, 2016 RM Exclusives
Donald Trump may improve the U.S.-Russia relationship, but it will remain fragile because of weak economic ties and fundamental differences over missile defense, NATO expansion and a few other issues.
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European Security Reform Holds Key to Breaking Stalemate in Ukraine

Simon Saradzhyan October 27, 2016 RM Exclusives
The conflict in eastern Ukraine is unlikely to be resolved until the underlying demands of the key stakeholders are met. A new European security charter may be the answer.
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Course Correction

Dimitri K. Simes, Pratik Chougule and Paul J. Saunders October 16, 2016 Recommended Reads
To bolster its global leadership role and advance its national-security interests, the U.S. needs a serious and purposeful strategy. Continued weakness and recklessness, however, could worsen trouble in critical regions of the world.
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