Russia in the grey zones
What role does Russia play in the breakaway regions of Eastern Europe?
Russia
ECFR’s World in 30 Minutes: Ukraine’s 25th anniversary of independence
ECFR’s director Mark Leonard speaks with experts Andrew Wilson, Fredrik Wesslau and Gustav Gressel, about rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine in the Donbass, the Minsk agreement,…
Escalation in Crimea threatens Erdogan – Putin rapprochement
With tensions rising between Russia and Ukraine, Erdogan may find himself forced to decide which side of the fence he sits on. That may entail falling out of love with Russia all over again.
Putin’s incredible shrinking circle
At a time when Russia is heading into renewed turbulence, he appears determined to ensure he has none around him willing to express uncomfortable truths
Vladimir and Nicholas: Putinism enters a new historic phase
Vladimir is not Nicholas, and the 2010s are not the 1850s. Nonetheless, if Putinism is entering its “Nicolaevian” phase, it raises some worrying implications for the future.
What the Olympic doping scandal says about the decline of Putin’s Russia
Drug taking in sport can be seen as a metaphor for the country’s ills: denial, bluster and blame providing a recipe for isolation and stagnation
Spain’s balancing act with Russia
The weakening of common European positions, with some key Spanish allies making overtures to Moscow, could weaken their mitigating force against a mix of isolationist and Realpolitik temptations, influential in Madrid
European security concerns bring Russian mafia back onto agenda
For Moscow, Russian-based criminal networks provide an unconventional asset in the geopolitical struggle with the West
Managing the unmanageable: Germany and a resurgent Russia
In the face of large refugee inflows Germany’s insurgent parties are sympathising with Russia, even despite the country’s meddling in German domestic affairs.
Russia 2030: potential impact on French policies
France's response to the Ukraine crisis has been more active and more determined than many would have predicted, but with ongoing operations in Africa and the Middle East it should be careful not to overstretch itself