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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The China-Russia Relationship and Threats to Vital US Interests

Patricia M. Kim, Aslı Aydıntaşbaş, Angela Stent, Tara Varma December 16, 2024 Partner Posts
China’s support for Russia fuels its war in Ukraine, while their growing alignment challenges U.S. leadership and the rules-based international order. Despite mistrust and differing interests, the U.S. must counter their partnership by addressing shared goals, limiting Beijing’s support for Moscow, and competing effectively in the Global South.
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.
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The Image of China in Russian Public Opinion

Denis Volkov December 12, 2024 Partner Posts
Public opinion in Russia increasingly sees China as a great power and a friendly nation, with positive perceptions surging to record highs since 2022. However, underlying concerns about dependence on China and a desire for normalized relations with the West hint at potential future shifts in this alliance.
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Ukraine Helped Syrian Rebels Deliver Blow to Russia

David Ignatius December 11, 2024 Partner Posts
Ukrainian intelligence has expanded its covert operations to strike Russian interests abroad, including aiding Syrian rebels in overthrowing Bashar al-Assad and targeting Russian operatives in Africa. These efforts reflect Kyiv’s strategy to widen the battlefield and weaken Russia on multiple fronts.
Clues from Russian Views

Russia’s Arctic Policy Poses a Growing Nuclear Threat,

Maxim Starchak December 11, 2024 Partner Posts
Russia’s unchecked nuclear development in the Arctic, coupled with halted cleanup efforts and waning international cooperation, raises alarming risks. Some speculate Moscow views these dangers as leverage to extract concessions from the West.
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.
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The Battle for Ukraine Is a War of Demography

Ivan Krastev, Stephen Holmes December 06, 2024 Partner Posts
The Russia-Ukraine war reflects a broader global trend, where demographic anxieties drive conflicts and fuel fears of national extinction, marking a new era of violent “mourning wars.”
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.
Competing Views on Russia

Marco Rubio on Russia and Ukraine

Simon Saradzhyan, Angelina Flood November 15, 2024 RM Exclusives
Donald Trump has tapped the Florida senator for the position of Secretary of State. Check out our compilation of Rubio's views on Russia, Ukraine and more.
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Newly published documents from invasion’s first weeks reveal Putin’s plans to render post-war Ukraine powerless

Meduza November 04, 2024 Partner Posts
A leaked draft of Russia’s 2022 “peace agreement” with Ukraine reveals sweeping demands, including Ukraine’s neutrality, disarmament under Moscow’s supervision, and recognition of Russian control over Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk—offering insight into the Kremlin’s early war objectives.
Clues from Russian Views

The Rise of Russia’s Foreign Trade Middlemen

Alexandra Prokopenko, Alexander Kolyandr November 02, 2024 Partner Posts
Up to 80% of Russia’s cross-border payments now rely on costly middlemen as financial sanctions cripple traditional banking channels. While this workaround keeps trade moving, it raises costs for businesses and consumers, highlighting the sanctions’ slow but effective impact on Russia’s economy.
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