The Kremlin’s sharks are circling, likely because at the moment there are large pools of blood spilling into the water. Vladimir Putin’s strategy to break the West and expand Russia’s power has perfectly exploited current events and the lack of resolve of his chief opponents. As Ukraine faces a major political crisis, Russian troops are […]
It has been two years since Maidan Square in Kiev burned during the police crackdown on pro-EU protesters, and yet the memory of events there still burns bright in the hearts and minds of many in Ukraine and beyond. Now “Winter On Fire,” a documentary about Ukraine’s Euromaidan protest movement, has been nominated for an […]
The last two years have been rather tough for the Russian government’s main English-language propaganda outlet, RT. Following Russia’s illegal and nearly-universally-condemned annexation of the Crimean peninsula, RT anchor Liz Wahl, then anchor and correspondent Sara Firth, quit in protest of what they called “propaganda” which they were forced to spread in order to cover […]
Is Russia giving rockets to Hezbollah? Did Israel tell Russia it was conducting airstrikes against Hezbollah’s leadership? When did the conflicts in the Middle East start, and what did Obama mean when he said Russia was “propping up” Ukraine? This week, Boston college professor Matt Sienkiewicz and The Interpreter’s managing editor James Miller speak with […]
This week Boston College Professor Matt Sienkiewicz is joined by The Interpreter’s managing editor James Miller and journalist David Patrikarakos to discuss the Iran nuclear deal, Russian neo-Eurasianism, North Korea, and the Russia’s role in the Middle East. Additional Reading: – Nuclear Iran: The Birth of an Atomic State – How can we avoid nuclear […]
The West has worked with Russia on the Iran nuclear deal, the disposal of chemical weapons in Syria, and the Minsk peace process in Ukraine. But Russia has broken all of its promises. Can we trust them to help bring peace to the Middle East? The previous post in our Putin in Syria column can […]
Can Russia afford its military adventures in Ukraine and Syria? Can the Russian economy continue to grind along if oil is less than $50 a barrel? Has Putin’s authoritarianism reached its lowest point, or can things get worse for Russia? Is there a scenario where civilians stop being targets for Russian and Syria airstrikes? Our […]
For a month now the Russian government has been engaged in a full-scale — and accelerating — crackdown against political dissent and the freedom of the press. TV stations have been raided, protesters sentenced to years of hard labor, and activists homes have been searched for crimes that were committed when they were little kids. […]
The 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics were supposed to highlight how Russia has become a 21st-century leader in the international community. In reality, they spotlighted how Putin’s rule had encouraged corruption and human rights violations to become the new-old norm. The Games also drew criticism for Russia’s new “anti-gay propaganda” law, widely seen as license for […]
It’s been nearly two weeks since a Turkish jet shot down a Russian medium bomber in Syria, and the rhetoric from the two countries continues to escalate. Will the fight between Turkey and Russia destabilize the Middle East? What is Turkey’s “red line” in Syria? What is the potential fallout from this conflict? Will Turkey […]
