Russia

On December 24, Russia’s Sukhoi-57 (Su-57) fighter jet crashed in the country’s Far East dur-ing a test flight. The fighter, believed to be the first one serially produced from a program in de-velopment since 2002, is considered by Moscow...

Speaking on July 11, 2019, at an international conference in Batumi, Georgia, European Council President Donald Tusk declared, “The collapse of the Soviet Union was a blessing . . . to the whole of Central and Eastern Europe.” Bulgaria,...

It’s comforting to believe that frequently rocky US-German relations over the last three years have been due largely to President Trump’s personal approach — and will therefore be solved the moment he exits the White House.  That belief is...

What happens in the Black Sea does not stay in the Black Sea. The region’s status as a crossroad linking Europe, Asia, and the Middle East is its most important advantage—and its greatest risk. It is the region with...

In a twist of the old adage that all politics is local—even international politics—last week the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) may have been a victim of the escalating tensions between Iran and the United States. On New Year’s...

Download Russian Private Military Companies: Continuity and Evolution of the Model  Executive Summary Russian private military companies or contractors (PMCs) have received much attention in recent years, but the Russian state has a long history in utilizing such groups....

Download Belarus-Russia: From a Strategic Deal to an Integration Ultimatum Executive Summary In the mid-1990s, Minsk signed several treaties and agreements with Moscow that prioritized a pro-Russian geopolitical orientation. These treaties culminated in the Treaty on the Creation of...

Whether “Queen of Europe” or “Leader of the Free World,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel has acquired many accolades in nearly fifteen years at the helm of Germany and of Europe. But today German power is fading, in no small part...

On November 23 in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke at the 19th annual Congress of the United Russia Party, which the organizers declared as the kickoff to Russia’s parliamentary campaign season. Many analysts were listening to the speech...

Download Russia’s Long Pivot East Executive Summary  The rise of Asian oil demand over the last 20 years has prompted the Russian Federation to seek opportunities to export to the People’s Republic of China and other growing markets. Since...