RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS

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Ukraine’s "Spiderweb" embarrasses Russia ahead of peace talks, could trigger a ballistic "Oreshnik" response

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 07 Jun 2025

Report: Ukraine’s "Spiderweb" embarrasses Russia ahead of peace talks, could trigger a ballistic "Oreshnik" response Ukraine strikes Russian bombers, allegedly causing up to USD 7 bn in damage Russian domestic military commentators criticize security and intelligence failsPeace talks in Istanbul ...

Essential CIS Politics: June 2025

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · Report · 02 Jun 2025

- Russia launches the largest strike of the war in likely preparation for a summer offensive. - Russian and Ukrainian delegations negotiate in Istanbul and plan to meet again on June 2. - The largest information leak in Russian history reveals sensitive nuclear secrets. - G...

Essential CIS Politics: May 2025

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · Report · 01 May 2025

- Progress on Ukraine War peace deal stalls despite numerous meetings and proposals by all sides. - Russia launches minor offensive; gains very limited. - North Korean military presence in Russia praised by Putin and Gerasimov. - Geopolitical shift—Central Asian countries f...

Essential CIS Politics: April 2025

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · Report · 01 Apr 2025

- Trump threatens with 25-50 per cent oil tariffs on Moscow if a ceasefire agreement is not reached. - Moscow shows signs of rapprochement to new HTS authorities in Damascus. - Trump wants right of first offer regarding projects to develop Ukraine’s resources. - Russia forc...

A postmortem for Ukraine’s Kursk offensive as Russia rejects ceasefire terms

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · Report · 14 Mar 2025

- Russia launches successful offensive in Kursk sector, ejecting Ukrainian troops from most of the territory. - Russia could continue advancing into Ukraine’s territory across the Kursk border if no ceasefire is agreed, as Ukraine evacuates villages in the Sumy Region. - Ukraine ...

Essential CIS Politics: March 2025

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · Report · 28 Feb 2025

- America and Russia negotiate: Ukraine and the EU not invited. - America and Europe bid for rights to Ukrainian minerals. - America and Russia compete for multi-billion dollar Indian fighter jet contract. - Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan sign historic final border deal.

Analyzing Bulgarian President Radev’s statements on the Russo-Ukrainian war

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 10 Feb 2025

• President Rumen Radev wants the EU to be actively involved in negotiations. • Radev heavily criticizes the prosecution of the war, sanctions and lack of political achievements. • Radev open to restoring Russian gas flows to Europe after a peace deal. CONTEXT On February 5, we attended the Econo...

Essential CIS Politics: February 2025

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · Report · 31 Jan 2025

- Russia signs strategic partnership with Iran, as rumors of an Opec-style gas cartel become more realistic. - Trump scales up threats of sanctions and tariffs if peace negotiations do not progress. - Armenia begins the EU accession process. - Lukashenko wins a 7th term in ...

Trump’s opening remarks indicate carrot-and-stick approach towards Russia-Ukraine negotiations

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · Report · 28 Jan 2025

• Trump threatens Russia and “participating countries” with more sanctions, tariffs and taxes if no peace deal is reached soon. • Russia’s oil revenues will be targeted by Trump—Western sanctions against the shadow fleet are increasing costs, stalling China and India’s purchases of Russian oil...