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
Some have worried that the Trump administration’s lifting of U.S. sanctions on three entities associated with a Russian oligarch might be a quid pro quo with Moscow, but the process by which the sanctions were lifted actually tells a story of respect for the rule of law.
Russia invoked sovereign immunity in the Democratic National Committee’s lawsuit against it.
President Trump has announced that he’s exiting a major nonproliferation treaty. But he hasn’t said how—and the answer could have consequences, both for nonproliferation policies and his own authority over treaties.
Trump’s announcement is hardly the first time Russia has been accused of significant breaches of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty—but a U.S. withdrawal would have debatable strategic value.
Russia is using highly effective methods to conduct cyberattacks, but even the GRU is not immune from mistakes.
On Thursday, the Department of Justice unsealed an indictment of seven officers in the GRU, Russia’s military intelligence agency, on charges of computer hacking, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and money laundering. The charges concern a disinformation operation against international anti-doping agencies in the wake of news reports on the Russian government’s systematic doping of the country’s athletes.
Russia’s information operations not only threaten elections, they erode Americans’ faith in a key democratic institution: the justice system. The United States isn’t doing enough to counter the threat.
The Kremlin’s influence operations use a variety of tactics as part of a larger effort to weaponize online media.
On Monday, the Justice Department unsealed a criminal complaint and supporting affidavit against Mariia Butina, a Russian national, for conspiring to act as a foreign agent in violation of 18 U.S.C. §371. The full documents are below.
Criminal Complaint
What’s worrisome about the fight between the Russian government and the Telegram messaging app.