In the Thick of It
A blog on the U.S.-Russia relationship
World in Flux: RM’s Most Read of 2025
With Donald Trump's return to the White House, 2025 saw a year of geopolitical shifts. Russia’s war in Ukraine marked its third year, and despite a series of attempts by the Trump administration to help the warring sides reach a ceasefire, at the time of this writing a peace deal has not yet been agreed on, although it does appear closer.
From exploring the resilience of Russia’s economy to its demographic decline, to examinations of whether and when Moscow may enter into an armed conflict with NATO, RM’s top 10 most read articles and blog posts in 2025 provide insight and analysis on the geopolitical implications of a world in flux.
- Is Russia’s Economy Collapsing? by Simon Saradzhyan
The past few months have seen a number of Russia watchers echo each other’s proclamations that the Russian economy is either already collapsing or close to crumbling. Will these predictions materialize?
- Why Was Russia Spared From Trump’s Tariffs? by Simon Saradzhyan
Trump’s decision to spare Russia has not been lost on Russia’s ruling elite. While some couldn't help gloating, not everyone was celebrating.
- Would Russia Attack NATO and, If So, When? by Simon Saradzhyan
There is no shortage of forecasts for when Russia would be able to attack a NATO country (capability) and for when Russia might attack a NATO country (intent).
- Russians React to Israeli Strikes on Iran: Fear of Nuclear War, Partition of Iran by Simon Saradzhyan and Angelina Flood
Most pro-Kremlin commentators criticized Israel, while some expressed concern about the disintegration of Iran.
- 3 Years Later: What Russia’s Aggression in Ukraine Has Cost It and What It’s Gained by Simon Saradzhyan, Ivan Arreguín-Toft and Angelina Flood
The third anniversary of Putin's decision to order a full-scale invasion of Ukraine provides an appropriate opportunity to take stock of the costs and benefits of that invasion for Russia’s dictator and the country he rules.
- Russia's Demographic Vanishing Act: A Warning From History by Monica Duffy Toft
Russia's decision to shroud its population figures in secrecy represents only the latest chapter in a long history of Soviet and Russian demographic denial—and it portends dangerous consequences for regional stability.
- Battlefield Conditions Impacting Ukraine Peace Negotiations by Alex Vershinin
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.
- The Causes and Consequences of the Ukraine War by John J. Mearsheimer
The United States has pushed forward policies toward Ukraine that Putin and other Russian leaders see as an existential threat, a point they have made repeatedly for many years.
- From Accepting NATO Aspirations to ‘Denazifying:’: 20+ Years of Putin’s Changing Views on Ukraine by RM Staff
Our review of 22 years of official statements makes it clear that, typically, Putin has publicly signaled shifts in his views on Ukraine before translating them into policy.
- Is Putin Too Old to Rule Russia? by RM Staff and Associates
Our research shows that in terms of age, Putin is not an outlier among Russia’s rulers of the past century nor among the present rulers of some of Russia’s peers, allies and adversaries.
Pixabay photo by congerdesign.
