World Jan 15, 2021
For Russia, nuclear arms curbs with Biden are a 'no brainer'
The New START treaty, which limits the nuclear stockpiles of the United States and Russia, expires just 16 days after the president-elect's inauguration.
Commentary / World Jan 4, 2021
The Kremlin’s new man will keep us guessing
by Clara Ferreira Marques
Just as Vladimir Putin was helped by academic-turned-St. Petersburg mayor, Anatoly Sobchak, Mikhail Mishustin was a protege of former finance minister and reformer Boris Fyodorov.
Commentary / World Dec 22, 2020
New tricks and old truths for the world’s second oldest profession: spying
by Brad Glosserman
The SolarWinds attack was a supply chain hack. One of the most successful U.S. espionage programs of the Cold War was a 20th-century version of this attack.
World / Politics Dec 20, 2020
For some in Russia’s elite, Putin’s future is again a hot topic
by Henry Meyer, Irina Reznik and Ilya Arkhipov
The regular revival of speculation about the 68-year-old leader’s future highlights how central Putin remains to the Russian state.
World | ANALYSIS Dec 20, 2020
U.S. hacking attack adds to Putin mystique, even if Russia faces pain
by Ilya Arkhipov, Henry Meyer and Stepan Kravchenko
The storm over the cyberattack on U.S. government agencies only helps Putin's image at home as a strong leader unafraid to confront the former Cold War enemy.
Commentary / World Dec 7, 2020
Is Hong Kong heading toward a Russian-style electoral system?
by Simon Shen
Dictators have realized that the most effective form of governance in the modern era is not an iron fist, but a birdcage with limited freedom.
World Nov 9, 2020
Kremlin wants final U.S. election vote count before congratulating anyone
The Kremlin said Monday it would wait for the official results of the U.S. presidential election before commenting on its outcome, and that it had noted incumbent Donald Trump's announcement of legal challenges related to the vote. President Vladimir Putin has remained silent on the ...
Commentary / World Oct 19, 2020
Russia’s post-Soviet hegemony is fading
by Clara Ferreira Marques
Moscow's backyard is not what it was. A multi-polar world is emerging, but not the one Vladimir Putin has sought to promote.
World Oct 15, 2020
Trump thought he had a nuclear deal with Putin. Not so fast, Russia said.
by David E. Sanger and Andrew E. Kramer
Trump's pre-election plan to show he had gotten something out of his mysteriously friendly relationship with Putin is facing headwinds.
Commentary / World Oct 13, 2020
In Putin’s pain, there is an opportunity
by Brad Glosserman
Putin is taking great pleasure in the convulsions that have seized the U.S. body politic, yet the satisfaction must be fleeting as his attention focuses elsewhere.
World / Politics | FOCUS Oct 8, 2020
Putin, long the sower of instability, is now surrounded by it
by Anton Troianovski
Concurrent crises have blindsided the Kremlin, undermining the Russian leader's image as a master tactician on the world stage.
World | FOCUS Oct 7, 2020
Merkel is shying away from action that would really hurt Putin
by Patrick Donahue and Henry Meyer
Action in response to poisoning of top Kremlin critic likely to have a muted effect.