Russia and the West have signaled their intent to commit to a long-term confrontation over Ukraine. While Russia has clearly felt the effect of sanctions, the EU remains vulnerable to Russian attempts to use energy to divide member states.
John P. Ruehl
John P. Ruehl is an Australian-American journalist living in Washington, D.C. He is a contributing editor to Strategic Policy and a contributor to several other foreign affairs publications. He is currently finishing a book on Russia to be published in 2022.
he Kremlin Seeks to Exploit Growing Wariness Over Refugees in Europe
Instability and rising living costs have caused significant growth in refugee and other migrant numbers globally. The opportunity to exploit the crisis will not be missed by other countries, most notably Russia.
Will the Ukraine Conflict Turn Private?
The expanding use of private military and security companies in recent years suggests that they may take a leading role.
The Ukraine War’s Role in Exacerbating Global Food Insecurity
The effects of the war in Ukraine have brought much of the world’s attention to energy prices. But food insecurity is also rising and will likely get worse.
The Role of Energy in Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine
After Russian forces seized Ukraine’s Kherson region at the beginning of its invasion, a Ukrainian official named Kirill Stremousov was installed as the new government’s deputy head.
U.S. Pressure on India Forces New Delhi to Reassess Its Options
India’s balanced approach to the Russia-Ukraine conflict has provoked the ire of Washington.
The Ukraine War Is Accelerating the New Space Race
While the war is enhancing great-power rivalries, smaller countries’ space agencies–and companies–are stepping forward.
India Proves Isolating Russia Isn’t Easy
U.S. pressure on India over its relationship with Russia has revealed the limitations of an “us versus them” foreign policy. But it has also reinforced negative perceptions of the West’s historical relations with India while highlighting the binding ties between Moscow and New Delhi.
Why Biden Can’t Woo the Middle East
Since the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan last August and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February, the White House has been desperate to showcase U.S. strength on the world stage. But the Biden administration has struggled to rally traditional Middle Eastern allies against Russia, raising questions over U.S. influence in the region.
What Would a Potential CSTO Intervention in Ukraine Look Like?
While Russia’s original and shifting objectives in Ukraine remain unclear, the Kremlin is increasingly wary of a publicized, drawn-out conflict. A potential intervention by its military alliance, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), could give Russia a diplomatic victory and an acceptable path to de-escalating its campaign if it can leverage its influence over member states effectively.
The War in Ukraine Is Sending Russia-China Relations in New Directions
While the Ukraine crisis may put some strain on the Chinese-Russian relationship, it has also spurred deeper collaboration between them. Based on a shared desire to undermine the United States’ global order, their constructive partnership will not only endure the blowback from the Ukrainian invasion but is likely to expand.
How Russia’s Frozen Conflicts Could Warm Up Along Its Sizable Borders
Russia’s ongoing offensive in Ukraine reveals the Kremlin’s increasing willingness to use military force to manipulate conflicts and destabilize Europe’s security order. The lingering presence of the Russian military across the former states of the Soviet Union will only entice the Kremlin further.
Why Is China Fanning the Flames of Ethnic Politics in the Balkans?
Recent national holiday celebrations in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Republika Srpska were attended by Russian and Chinese officials, raising Western fears that independence is gaining traction as tensions with Moscow and Beijing intensify.
Why It’s Time to Take the Russian-Led Military Alliance Seriously
The intervention by the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in Kazakhstan marks a change for multinational security both regionally and around the world.
Why Xinjiang Has Been a Touchy Subject in China for Centuries
China’s increasing security measures in Xinjiang reflect its historical territorial vulnerability and concerns over internal stability. Balancing these with its international ambitions and foreign relations will be no easy feat.
Historical Differences Will Not Erode an Advantageous 21st-Century Chinese-Russian Partnership
Cautious cooperation, lingering distrust, and outright conflict have characterized the Sino-Russian relationship for hundreds of years. But alongside natural reasons to collaborate, a shared animosity toward the United States ensures positive relations will endure.