Maxwell School News and Commentary
Filtered by: Russia
Murrett Discusses the Putin-Xi Moscow Summit with the Associated Press, Daily Mail
The Moscow summit has the effect of underscoring and reinforcing the status of “Russia as a junior partner with China—economically, militarily and diplomatically,” Robert Murrett, professor of practice of public administration and international affairs, tells the Associated Press.
See related: China, Conflict, Government, International Affairs, Russia, Ukraine
McFate Talks to Newsweek About the Rift Between the Wagner Group and the Russian Military
"There's an ongoing public split between Wagner and the Russian military, and both sides are looking for symbolic wins," says Sean McFate, adjunct professor in Maxwell's Washington programs.
See related: Conflict, International Affairs, Russia, Ukraine
Williams Piece on Putin’s Fear of Democracy Published in the Atlantic Council UkraineAlert Blog
"Putin has always known that NATO poses no credible security threat to Russia itself. Since the end of the Cold War, NATO’s force posture and the U.S. military presence in Europe have greatly declined, reducing any potential military threat to Russia. What really scares the Russian elite is the spread of democracy," argues Michael John Williams, associate professor of public administration and international affairs.
McFate Provides Stratagems on How To Defeat Russian Mercenaries in Newsweek
"Those who think international law can curb mercenarism are unrealistic. Even if we had solid laws (which we do not), who will go into Ukraine and arrest all those mercenaries? Not the UN or NATO. The market for force resists arrest, which is why mercenaries are the second oldest profession. Now they are back, and we must re-learn strategies to fight this unique form of warfare," writes Sean McFate, adjunct professor in Maxwell's Washington programs.
See related: Conflict, International Affairs, Russia
Taylor Discusses Russian Political Stability at CNAS Forum and in Washington Times Article
As we pass the one-year anniversary of Russia’s war in Ukraine, numerous factors such as the Russian military’s poor performance, Putin’s botched mobilization, mounting casualties, economic challenges resulting from sanctions and export controls, and increasingly visible elite fissures are raising questions about the political stability of the Russian regime. Brian Taylor, professor of political science, weighs in.
See related: Conflict, International Affairs, Russia, Ukraine
McDowell Weighs in on Russia’s Increased Use of China’s Yuan in Wall Street Journal Article
While Russia’s use of the yuan doesn’t mean the end of dollar supremacy, it may usher in the beginning of a more fractured system that could ultimately blunt the U.S.’s ability to use financial sanctions as a weapon, says Daniel McDowell, associate professor of political science.
See related: China, Economic Policy, Foreign Policy, Russia
One Year Later: Taylor Talks to WRVO About the Invasion Into Ukraine
For Brian Taylor, professor of political science, the biggest take from the one-year anniversary is Ukraine is still standing. "A year ago a lot of people might not have expected that, given Russia’s size, the size of the population, the size of its army, the size of its economy," Taylor says.
Murrett Weighs in on the Biggest Setbacks for Putin’s Invasion of Ukraine in Newsweek Article
Robert Murrett, professor of practice of public administration and international affairs, says that at the strategic level, the biggest setback for Putin is "the huge casualties that the Russians have taken."
See related: Conflict, International Affairs, Russia, Ukraine
Taylor Speaks with La Presse About the War in Ukraine, Russia’s Persistence
The concentration of troops in the east of the country shows that the Russian president has not given up on his goal of enslaving Ukraine despite multiple setbacks since the launch of the invasion, says Brian Taylor, professor of political science.
Taylor Speaks with La Presse About Russian Oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin
"My impression is that his power and visibility have increased a lot since the start of the war in Ukraine," says Brian Taylor, professor of political science. "He's a much more public figure than a year ago, and I think that reflects his ambition. And, up to a certain point, the impression it has of its current usefulness."
See related: International Affairs, Russia