This is a legacy website featuring a collection of work by the Carnegie Endowment’s global network of scholars on topics including Russia, Ukraine, Eurasia, and the post-Soviet states. This site is a product of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace based in Washington, D.C. For more recent work by Carnegie scholars in this field, please visit Carnegie Politika.
Relations between the EU and Russia are changing. By dissociating Russia from the West, Putin may aim to position Moscow to hold inescapable influence going forward.
Though Russia’s relations with the West have deteriorated over 2012, it is important for Moscow and the Western countries to “rediscover” each other and to develop a strategic relationship.
As the Russians recognize that the current Syrian regime is likely to be overwhelmed by its opponents, there is a chance that Moscow and the West could finally reconcile their positions on Syria.
The Magnitsky Act, passed by the U.S. Congress, and the Russian response to it can be seen as further evidence of the complicated and worsening relationship between Washington and Moscow.
The United States and Russia face a fundamental choice: to continue their transactional approach to relations or to put relations in a broader, longer-term strategic framework.
A new strategic approach is needed to end the dispute over the South Kuril Islands that plagues Russia-Japan relations. Solving the issue is in the interest of both countries.
The United States is coming closer to a resolution of the Syrian issue, either through diplomatic channels by forging an accord with Russia or, if that fails, by means of military aid to the opposition.
The Obama administration has a unique opportunity to redefine the U.S.-Russian strategic relationship by cooperating with Moscow on missile defense.
Russian society is waking up and pushing back against Putin’s brand of authoritarianism, with the potential to bring about a transformation of the system into one based on the rule of law.
Barack Obama’s second term has the chance to become the vindication of his Nobel Peace Prize, but he will need to craft a very careful course on Iran, be wise on China, and become strategic on Russia.