Russian icebreaker in the White Sea. Photo: © Rvc5pogod | Dreamstime.com
The Rise of Bulgakov Diplomacy
Liesl Schillinger, Foreign Policy
A new cultural initiative in Russia will be producing an expansive collection of Russian literature in English, and the Kremlin is one of the backers. While it is a noble task given that modern Russian literature has not been readily available to Western audiences, should readers be wary of how much of a hand the Kremlin has in the project?
What Six Years of ‘Reset’ Have Wrought
Charles Krauthammer, The Washington Post
Krauthammer argues that Obama’s “reset” policy allowed Putin an opportunity to pursue reckless, bellicose policies. To what degree can the current strain in U.S.-Russian relations be attributed to the Obama administration?
The U.S. Icebreaker Gap Is About Arctic Needs, Not About Chasing Russia
Andrew C. Revkin, The New York Times
Despite some analysts’ concerns that the U.S. is lagging behind Russia in building up its icebreaker fleet, Revkin argues that both countries have their own practical needs. Does the U.S. need to compete with Russia in the Arctic?
The Murky Myth of the ’2000 Russian War Dead’ in Ukraine
Mark Galeotti, RUSSIA!
When a false story posted on the obscure Russian website Business Life claimed that 2,000 Russian soldiers had been killed in the Ukraine conflict thus far, many Western media outlets jumped on it as proof that Russia had invaded its neighbor. Who was responsible for the red herring and what was the purpose of it?
A Blow to the Heart of Ukrainian Democracy
Ievgen Vorobiov, Foreign Policy
A violent protest by right-wing radicals following a vote by Ukraine’s parliament to allow more autonomy to the Donbass could be a sign that Ukrainians are more deeply divided than previously thought. The unrest could also serve as a test of whether the right to peaceful assembly can be properly upheld in the war-torn country.
