Russia Archives - Page 2 of 62 - Robert Lansing Institute

Trump’s Ineffectiveness in Dealing with Putin: Psychological and Ideological Roots

Donald Trump’s presidency was marked by an unusual personal and political posture toward Vladimir Putin. While other U.S. leaders traditionally combined engagement with firm deterrence, Trump often leaned toward rhetorical praise,…

August 11, 2025Russia, USA

Energy Geoeconomics

Sanctioning Leverage: U.S. Influence Through India’s Russian Oil Trade

Price and discount — Since 2022 Russia has sold crude at a meaningful discount to benchmark grades; Indian refiners bought large volumes to secure low-cost feedstock and protect refining margins. As…

August 8, 2025India, Russia, USA

Geopolitics Peacekeeping

Analysis: Outcomes of the Witkoff Visit to Moscow

Overview of the Visit and Its Diplomatic Context U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff conducted a three-hour meeting with President Vladimir Putin on August 6, 2025, just before a Trump-imposed deadline for…

August 7, 2025Russia, Ukraine, USA

Geopolitics Governance Warfare

Belarus’ New Defense Law Proposal: Strategic Alignment with Russia or Prelude to Escalation?

In August 2025, the lower house of the Belarusian parliament received a draft law from the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Belarus titled "On Amendments to Laws on Ensuring…

August 6, 2025Belarus, Russia, Ukraine

Geopolitics National Security

Russia’s Withdrawal from the INF Treaty: Escalation, Threats, and the U.S. Response

On August 4, 2025, the Russian Federation announced the termination of its unilateral moratorium on deploying ground-launched intermediate-range (1,000–5,500 km) and shorter-range (500–1,000 km) missiles. This marks a significant escalation in…

August 5, 2025INF Treaty, NATO, Russia, USA

Intelligence ops Propaganda and Disinformation Psyops

How Russian Propaganda Works in Africa: Structure, Operators, and Countermeasures

Russia’s growing presence in Africa has not only been achieved through traditional diplomacy and military cooperation, but also through a wide-ranging propaganda campaign. This information warfare, designed to cultivate pro-Russian…

August 4, 2025Africa, Russia, Wagner Group

Geopolitics Intelligence ops

Nicaragua’s Recognition of Donbas as Russian Territory: Motivations, Alignments, and Consequences

I. IntroductionIn a notable gesture of support for Russia’s international posture, Nicaragua has formally recognized the occupied Donbas territories as Russian. This development reinforces Nicaragua’s pattern of opposing Western-backed resolutions in…

July 31, 2025Nicaragua, Russia, Ukraine

Democracy Governance

The Strategic Gamble of Power: President Touadéra’s Third-Term Bid in the Central African Republic

I. Introduction President Faustin-Archange Touadéra’s official confirmation of his candidacy for a third term, following a controversial constitutional overhaul in 2023, marks a decisive turn in the Central African Republic’s…

July 31, 2025CAR, Russia

Corruption Geoeconomics

The U.S. Sanctions on the Russian-Iranian Shadow Fleet: Strategic Implications and Challenges

In mid-2025, the United States expanded its sanctions regime to target the so-called “shadow fleet” — an extensive network of vessels operated covertly to circumvent oil and gas embargoes imposed…

July 31, 2025Iran, Russia

Geopolitics Intelligence ops

UAV Incident in Minsk: A Russian Provocation to Draw Belarus into the War?

On July 29th , an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was downed by Belarusian EW in the Belarusian capital, Minsk. While official sources have remained vague or contradictory, the circumstances surrounding…

July 30, 2025Belarus, Russia

Russia