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.
Competing Views on Russia

Andrew S. Weiss on Russia: Insights and Recommendations

Julian Gonzales-Poirier, RM Staff May 16, 2025 RM Exclusives
A through line in Weiss’ views is that Putin has directed great resources—resources that have and will continue to diminish Russia’s long-term security and prosperity—to “make Russia great again.”
interview

Ian Bremmer on Russia-Ukraine, "Reverse Nixon," Iran Nuclear Deal, and Demographic Decline

Dasha Zhukauskaite, Chris Conway April 25, 2025 RM Exclusives
In this exclusive interview with Russia Matters, Belfer Center Senior Fellow Ian Bremmer answers Russia Matters' questions about the Russian-Ukraine war, the unlikelihood of “Reverse Nixon” diplomacy success, Russia’s role in a potential deal on Iran’s nuclear program, and the impact of a global demographic decline.
article

Battlefield Conditions Impacting Ukraine Peace Negotiations

Alex Vershinin April 18, 2025 RM Exclusives
Historically in many conflicts, peace negotiations lasted years, even as the war raged on. Thus, the balance of power—measured in resources, losses and quality of strategic leadership—are critical to the outcome of negotiations.
Competing Views on Russia

Steve Witkoff on Russia and Ukraine

Dasha Zhukauskaite, RM Staff March 12, 2025 RM Exclusives
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.
book review

Understanding Paradigm Shifts in US Foreign Policy: From Engaging the Russia-We-Want to Containing the Russia-We-Have

Peter Rutland February 13, 2025 RM Exclusives
David McCourt's "The End of Engagement," which analyzes the “knowledge communities” shaping U.S. policy toward China and Russia, comes at an opportune time.
Competing Views on Russia

Keith Kellogg on Russia and Ukraine

Chris Conway January 31, 2025 RM Exclusives
Trump's special envoy to Ukraine and Russia sees ending the war as a vital foreign policy objective since, in his view, it will allow the U.S. to undermine solidarity between the “axis” of authoritarian states.
book review

‘Zero Sum’: History, Anecdotes From 35 Years of Business in Russia

Sergey Aleksashenko January 16, 2025 RM Exclusives
The book’s strengths—historical overview and firsthand storytelling—make it a fascinating read for those interested in international business and Russian history.
article

America’s Polarization and the Challenges of Confronting Russia

Gordon M. Friedrichs January 09, 2025 RM Exclusives
Polarization represents not just an internal challenge but a structural constraint with profound implications for American foreign policy, particularly toward Russia.
interview

Dmytro Kuleba Says Pressuring Russia, Supporting Ukraine, Only Viable Strategy

Ivan Arreguín-Toft December 12, 2024 RM Exclusives
In this exclusive interview with RM, the former Ukrainian foreign minister argues the only viable strategy for Ukraine is to pressure Russia and support Ukraine, but it will not work if done by half measures.
Competing Views on Russia

Mike Waltz on Russia and Ukraine

Dasha Zhukauskaite, Angelina Flood December 09, 2024 RM Exclusives
U.S. Rep. Mike Waltz, who has been tapped by Trump to serve as his national security adviser, has been a vocal critic of the Biden administration’s handling of the Ukraine war, advocating for clearer “red lines” and stronger deterrence against Russian escalation.
Clues from Russian Views

Assad’s Fall: What Are the Costs for Russia?

Simon Saradzhyan December 09, 2024 RM Exclusives
The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria could impose a number of tangible geopolitical, reputational and even domestic security costs on Russia.
Competing Views on Russia

2024 Nobel Prize Winners on Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia: Existential Risks and an Unpredictable World

Chris Conway November 21, 2024 RM Exclusives
This year's winners have not been quiet on Russia, its invasion of Ukraine or the dangers to global security, including nuclear threats, posed by the war in Ukraine.
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