Analysis

This listing contains all the analytical materials posted on the Russia Matters website. These include: RM Exclusives, commissioned by Russia Matters exclusively for this website; Recommended Reads, deemed particularly noteworthy by our editorial team; Partner Posts, originally published by our partners elsewhere; and Future Policy Leaders, pieces by promising young scholars and policy thinkers. Content can be filtered by genre and subject-specific criteria and is updated often. Gradually we will be adding older Recommended Reads and Partner Posts dating back as far as 2011.
article

To Truly Pressure Russia’s Oligarchs, the West Should Target Their Wealth Managers

Ho-Chun Herbert Chang June 20, 2023 RM Exclusives
Russia's superrich rely on a small number of wealth managers, many of whom reside in Europe, making them relatively easy targets for Western policymakers hoping to ramp up sanctions amid Moscow's ongoing war with Ukraine.
article

Nuclear Weapons in Belarus: History Repeats Itself

William Alberque March 31, 2023 RM Exclusives
Russia’s increasingly violent nuclear rhetoric and basing of nuclear weapons in Belarus are to be condemned. However, these developments do not alter the balance of power in Europe, nor do they significantly alter the risk of nuclear conflict.
article

Post-War Security for Ukraine: Eventually the Fighting Will End. What Then?

Stefano Stefanini March 02, 2023 RM Exclusives
The West will have to give Ukraine bespoke, fool-proof international security guarantees while pragmatically engaging Russia in talks on arms control and confidence building.
article

Domestic Politics Encourage Continued War of Attrition in Ukraine in 2023

Thomas Graham February 22, 2023 RM Exclusives
The main question now: How far will the escalation go?
article

8 Lessons for Taiwan From Russia’s War in Ukraine

Tzu-yun Su January 18, 2023 RM Exclusives
While the fighting in Ukraine is on land, and thus very different from the maritime battlefield that would surround Taiwan, there are still many things this island nation can learn from Ukraine's defensive operations.
article

What’s Ahead in the War in Ukraine

Alex Vershinin December 22, 2022 RM Exclusives
The opposing sides have adopted two opposing strategies: Russians are fighting a traditional firepower-centric war of attrition; Ukraine is pursuing a terrain-focused war of maneuver. These opposing strategies are as much a product of national resource availability as a deliberate choice.
article

Despite Russian Reliance on Iranian Drones, Tehran’s Leverage Over Moscow Is Limited

Mark N. Katz December 01, 2022 RM Exclusives
Russia's desire to maintain good relations with America's traditional allies in the region will serve to limit what Moscow is willing to do for Tehran.
article

Russia vs Europe: Who Is Winning the Energy War?

Li-Chen Sim November 23, 2022 RM Exclusives
Some declare Moscow the victor. Others claim not only that this is a “myth” but that Russia faces “economic oblivion.” Who’s right depends on the time horizon.
article

War Can Both Help and Hurt Ukraine’s Anti-Corruption Efforts

Alexander Kupatadze November 17, 2022 RM Exclusives
With billions of dollars in Western aid pouring into Ukraine, corruption there has raised new questions.
article

US Midterms Spell Little Change for Policy Toward Russia, Ukraine

Nikolas K. Gvosdev November 10, 2022 RM Exclusives
Despite the appearance of intractable partisan divisions in Washington, opposition to Russia and support for Ukraine is one of the few issues to enjoy deep and robust bipartisan support.
article

Putin’s Increasingly Loose Talk on Use of Nukes

Simon Saradzhyan November 10, 2022 RM Exclusives
The Russian leader’s loose talk on nukes even has Russia’s long-term strategic partners such as India and China worried.
article

What Is America's Interest in the Ukraine War?

Joshua Shifrinson October 30, 2022 Partner Posts
Amid the continuing war and ongoing calls for the United States to “do more,” the question remains: what, if any, are the United States’ strategic interests in Ukraine—and how might the United States best service them?
Refine & Filter

By Section

By Topic

By Country

By Regions

By Groups

By Genre