Vance, Donald Trump's VP pick, argues for an isolationist U.S. foreign policy, that Ukraine isn't a priority for the U.S. and that Russia isn't a military threat to U.S. allies in Europe.

We asked several of America’s leading Russia experts to comment on what to expect from Russia’s relations with the West, China and post-Soviet Eurasia during Vladimir Putin’s new term, and how long his rule may last.

Despite his mastery of reductionist flattery and "unlimited devotion" to Putin, the speaker of the State Duma likely isn't a member of the Russian president's inner-most circle. Still, he may have a shot at the Kremlin when Putin steps down.