Russia’s annexation of Crimea and support for rebel forces in Eastern Ukraine have precipitated a dramatic fracture in relations between between Russia and the West. In response, a broad Western economic sanctions regime has bitten into the Russian economy, and the United States has sought to shore up support among Eastern European and Baltic states. The annexation and response represent a major test-case for international governance, principles of sovereignty and the reliability of the American security umbrella, particularly NATO.
Latest in Russia and Eastern Europe
Russia initially seemed largely unscathed by the pandemic. But the virus has since arrived in full force. How has the country responded?
Russia appears to have resumed anti-satellite weapons testing. What’s so dangerous about the Russian tests? What can the U.S. do to respond?
Designation of the Russian Imperial Movement as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist is an important step, but it should be designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization, too.
The coronavirus has accelerated a decade-long democratic crisis in Hungary, during which Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has weaponized rhetoric and manufactured outside threats to gradually consolidate his power.
Increased tension between the United States and Russia, coupled with policy uncertainty in Washington, has thrown the nuclear arms agreement’s extension into doubt.
Russia wants to build another natural gas pipeline that bypasses Ukraine for Europe. How does the proposed project threaten Ukrainian and U.S. interests? What has the U.S. done to respond?
A five-year extension will preserve the treaty's benefits and provide more time for negotiations regarding Russia's new weapons systems.
The Canadian Supreme Court rules that a son of Russian spies is a Canadian citizen, and the killing of Qassem Soleimani—and the deaths of Canadian citizens aboard a jet downed by Iran—throws the country’s policy toward Iran and Iraq into question.
Russia is preparing to launch its first Russia-Africa Summit in Sochi on Oct. 24. President Vladimir Putin and the summit co-host, Egyptian leader and African Union Chairman Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, invited all of the African heads of state along with the leaders of major subregional associations and organizations. Russia almost certainly will advertise the summit as an emblem of its triumphant return to center stage in Africa.
Editor’s Note: The article originally appeared on Order from Chaos.
Twice in the past 14 years, a dispute between Ukraine and Russia has led Russia to cut off natural gas flows to Ukraine and Europe. The stage is being set for another cut-off in January. The European Union wants to ensure that gas continues to flow, so EU officials will attempt at a mid-September meeting to broker an agreement. But they face a difficult slog.