Why Xi, Putin and Kim on One Stage Matters
Xi, Putin, and Kim standing together at China’s Victory Day parade in Tiananmen Square captured an authoritarian convergence rooted in shared grievances and converging strategies.
On the Trump-Putin Summit in Alaska
Russia cannot be entirely excluded from European security, and adopting a confrontational stance increases the chance of pushing Russia and China together.
Putin’s PR Win and Trump’s Strategic Misstep at the Alaska Summit
Despite Putin’s international isolation, the summit legitimized the Russian leader and provided him with an opportunity to solidify his territorial gains.
Putin’s Apologists Must Face a Sobering Reality
Whoever believes that Ukraine is where the Kremlin’s geopolitical and territorial ambitions end has little understanding of Russian foreign policy.
Review Feature – The Drivers of Russian Imperialism and War Against Ukraine
The two books in this feature evaluate the drivers of the Russia-Ukraine war, whilst differing on the significance of history for contemporary analyses of the war.
Review – Memory Makers
McGlynn’s timely book expertly unpacks Putin’s use of history to shape narratives but offers limited post-2022 analysis and only briefly explores global parallels.
Review – Navalny
This film provides an unfiltered view of Alexei Navalny as a Russian opposition leader, shedding important light on controversies and conspiracies in Russian politics.
Central Asia: The Last Stronghold of a Declining Russia?
Moscow’s instruments of extracting political concessions in the region are gradually losing their effectiveness as the war in Ukraine continues.
The Frail Foundations of the China-Russia Friendship
History helps reveal strategic differences that state leaders seek to obscure.
Interview – Andreas Umland
Andreas Umland reflects on the Russia-Ukraine war, the long-term implications of Western sanctions against Russia, and a potential military deterrence against escalation.
