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Politico-military escalation around the Azov sea

By Andrew Wilson and Nina Bachkatov

For months it has been evident that the Azov Sea will be the next flash point between Russia and Ukraine, with in the background the later presidential election. At the moment, circulation in a sea most people barely cared about earlier is regulated under a bilateral treaty of 2003. The texts only mentioned that Ukrainian and Russia civilian and military ships will have freedom of navigation in the Azov Sea and the Kerch Strait. It states too that no military ships from tiers countries can enter the Sea without the autorisation of both countries. Continue reading “Politico-military escalation around the Azov sea”

The symbolic visit of Putin in Paris

By Nina Bachkatov and Andrew Wilson

Vladimir Putin occupied a prominent place in the great international gathering in Paris to mark the century of the 1918 armistice. His presence led to odd moments, especially when the Russian President, so often accused of threatening peace on the Continent, attended the opening ceremony of the Forum for Peace. Continue reading “The symbolic visit of Putin in Paris”

Dangerous failures of Humint

By Nina Bachkatov and Andrew Wilson

Recent revelations by American media show once again how the lack of proper human intelligence concerning Russia and Russians plays a central role in the world’s growing tension and lack of trust. Continue reading “Dangerous failures of Humint”

Religion and politics around Ukraine

By Nina Bachkatov and Andrew Wilson

The latest episode related to the recognition of a Ukrainian independent Orthodox church demonstrates, once more, how toxic is the confusion between politics and religion. On 14 September, the Russian Orthodox Church announced the rupture of most of its links with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. The relations have never been easy between the Moscow Patriarchate, home to the largest Orthodox community in the world; and Constantinople Patriarchate – the primus inter pares of world orthodox churches but without real power. There is no Vatican in the orthodox world. Continue reading “Religion and politics around Ukraine”

Socio-political football in Russia

By Nina Bachkatov and Andrew Wilson

The Word Cup in Russia has been successful, but the benefits of the so-called ‘people-to-people diplomacy’ do not translate into geopolitical dividends. Russian officials, medias and ordinary citizens had all the reasons to describe the World Cup as a great PR operation, demonstrating to prejudiced Westerners that their country has the organisational capacity to handle such a huge project while sending through the world sympathetic images of themselves. Continue reading “Socio-political football in Russia”

A strange summit in Helsinki

By Nina Bachkatov and Andrew Wilson

Vladimir Putin has always wanted to appear to the world as an “equal partner” of the American president. But he never forgets that there are three partners in this tango – the two presidents, and American public opinion. Continue reading “A strange summit in Helsinki”