Russia – think tanks monitor

Ursula von der Leyen speaking at a podium with a large "RENEWABLES" sign in the background.

Europe’s Iran Shock Demands a Wartime Economic Response

March 30, 2026

Europe faces its second major energy crisis in four years, with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz triggering what the IEA calls the largest supply disruption in history. With Brent crude surpassing €100 and gas storage at critical lows, analysts warn of impending stagflation and technical recessions in Germany and Italy, leading to urgent calls for a pandemic-scale fiscal response to accelerate electrification as a national security imperative.

Vladimir Putin presiding over a high-level government meeting at a long wooden table with Russian flags in the background.

Russia’s Iran War Windfall Masks Deeper Trouble

March 29, 2026

Russia has emerged as the war’s primary economic beneficiary, with oil export earnings surging to €388 million daily as global sanctions ease to maintain supply. However, this windfall masks long-term strategic erosion, including a stalled Ukraine peace process and a declining global influence as Moscow remains sidelined from Middle East diplomacy.

Senator Richard Blumenthal speaking at a press conference with US-Ukraine flag pin.

A War Without a Vote: Congress, Russia, and the Iran Escalation

March 26, 2026

Congress is alarmed as Trump wages a widening war with Iran without authorization, while Russian intelligence aids Tehran and rising U.S. casualties intensify pressure over the possibility of ground troops in a conflict the public opposes and lawmakers never approved.

Several men in dark suits walking past a building with a "FRANCK MULLER" watch advertisement in the window, with a seagull blurred in flight.

Ukraine Offers Drone Killers to the Gulf While Russia Cashes In on War

March 17, 2026

Russia is profiting from the Iran war as oil prices surge, sanctions ease, and U.S. air‑defense stockpiles drain. Ukraine, facing shortages, is pivoting fast — offering its battle‑tested counter‑drone tech to Gulf states. As Moscow plays mediator and shares intelligence with Tehran, Kyiv fights to stay relevant in a distracted world.

Shattered glass entrance of a government building with broken windows and debris on the floor.

Russian Consulate Damaged in Isfahan as War Tests Moscow’s Balancing Act

March 11, 2026

A U.S.–Israeli strike on Isfahan damaged Russia’s consulate, underscoring Moscow’s precarious dual role as Iran’s diplomatic shield and quiet military enabler. Russia is sharing satellite intelligence that sharpens Iran’s targeting while publicly posing as mediator. With Hormuz shut and oil prices soaring, the war is delivering Moscow a strategic windfall it won’t jeopardize.

Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump walking side-by-side on an airport tarmac next to a red carpet.

Putin and Trump Talk Iran and Ukraine as Oil Crisis Reshapes Alliances

March 10, 2026

Putin used his first call with Trump since the Iran war began to pose as mediator while backing Tehran and advancing in Ukraine. Trump’s move to ease oil‑related sanctions to curb prices hands Moscow new revenue. With Hormuz disrupted, Russian crude becomes indispensable — turning Washington’s Iran war into a strategic gift for the Kremlin.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaking into a microphone with his fist clenched during a large outdoor rally.

Ukraine’s Fifth Year: What Does Putin Actually Want?

February 25, 2026

Four years in, Russia controls 20% of Ukraine but still lacks its stated goals. Analysts disagree whether Putin seeks limited territorial gains or political control over all of Ukraine. U.S.‑led talks hinge on territorial concessions Kyiv rejects. With no viable security guarantees, the war’s fifth year begins without a credible path to peace.

Ukrainian soldiers firing a heavy artillery cannon in a snowy field during the fourth year of the conflict.

Four Years of War: Ukraine Demands Action Over Words

February 24, 2026

Four years into Russia’s invasion, Ukraine faces a grinding stalemate as Western aid shifts. U.S. support has sharply declined while Europe shoulders most military and financial assistance. Sanctions strain but don’t break Russia. Ukraine demands air defense and sustained backing to prevent further losses and secure its future.

Exterior of a Russian currency exchange office with large dollar, pound, and yen symbols on the glass door.

Russia Wants the Dollar Back — and BRICS Should Be Worried

February 23, 2026

Russia is quietly considering a return to the dollar system, reversing years of anti‑dollar rhetoric. Economic strain, slowing growth, and dependence on China are driving the shift. If Moscow abandons de‑dollarization, the BRICS project looks less like an alternative order and more like leverage — exposing the limits of the bloc’s monetary ambitions.

Two soldiers in full white winter camouflage gear, including white face masks and helmets, standing side-by-side and holding black assault rifles equipped with advanced scopes and tactical attachments.

NATO’s Arctic Sentry: Deterrence Without Guardrails

February 22, 2026

NATO’s new Arctic Sentry unifies allied operations in the High North, but it emerges amid tensions triggered not by Russia, but by Trump’s threats to annex Greenland. The buildup expands deterrence without communication channels, raising the risk of accidents in a nuclear‑sensitive region. With Russia unengaged diplomatically, even a minor incident could spiral into unintended conflict.

A split-screen image showing a large Russian nuclear submarine with sailors on deck in the top half, and a harbor scene with a smaller black submarine and tall coastal residential buildings in the bottom half.

The End of New START and the Dawn of Unconstrained Nuclear Rivalry

February 12, 2026

The end of New START has opened the door to unconstrained U.S.–Russia nuclear expansion just as China accelerates its own buildup, creating a volatile three‑way arms race with no verification, no guardrails, and rising risks of miscalculation.

A split-screen close-up portrait featuring Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on the left with a blurred US flag in the background, and Abbas Araghchi on the right with a blurred Iranian flag in the background.

Renewed Iran-US Nuclear Talks in Oman Face Old Obstacles

February 10, 2026

Iran’s push to restart Muscat talks reflects domestic turmoil and strategic delay, but clashing agendas, sidelined Europeans, and unresolved trust gaps suggest the negotiations remain a fragile holding pattern rather than a path to a durable nuclear deal.

Featured

Iran and the Logic of Limited Wars

Topics

Featured

Trump’s “Sheriffs” Can’t Keep the Peace with China

Middle East

Asia

America

Europe

Africa

Cartoon

Video

Podcast

Category: Russia

Europe’s Iran Shock Demands a Wartime Economic Response

Russia’s Iran War Windfall Masks Deeper Trouble

A War Without a Vote: Congress, Russia, and the Iran Escalation

Ukraine Offers Drone Killers to the Gulf While Russia Cashes In on War

Russian Consulate Damaged in Isfahan as War Tests Moscow’s Balancing Act

Putin and Trump Talk Iran and Ukraine as Oil Crisis Reshapes Alliances

Ukraine’s Fifth Year: What Does Putin Actually Want?

Four Years of War: Ukraine Demands Action Over Words

Russia Wants the Dollar Back — and BRICS Should Be Worried

NATO’s Arctic Sentry: Deterrence Without Guardrails

The End of New START and the Dawn of Unconstrained Nuclear Rivalry

Renewed Iran-US Nuclear Talks in Oman Face Old Obstacles

Regions

Subjects

Multimedia

Contact Info

Email