USA Archives

The 2026 U.S. Midterm Elections: A New Balance of Power in Washington and the Kremlin’s Strategic Calculations

The November 3, 2026, midterm elections to the U.S. Congress substantially altered the political balance in Washington. The Democratic Party won control of both chambers, depriving President Donald Trump of a…

November 5, 2026Russia, Ukraine, USA

Conflict Economy Geoeconomics Warfare

Why Does the United States Not Block the Chinese Bank Helping Russia and Iran Evade Sanctions?

Zhejiang Chouzhou Commercial Bank as Part of the Financial Infrastructure for Sanctions Evasion and an Indicator of the Limits of U.S. Economic Pressure The Wall Street Journal investigation into the…

November 4, 2026China, Iran, Russia, USA

Economy Geopolitics Peacekeeping

Sanctions in Exchange for Russian Diesel: Why Restoring the Kremlin’s Access to the U.S. Financial System Could Create Strategic Risks

Reports of talks between Washington and Moscow over the possible lifting of sanctions on the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) point to a new direction in U.S.–Russian relations: economic cooperation…

October 29, 2026Russia, Sanctions, USA

Governance National Security profile

The CIA Director’s Position on Ukraine: How John Ratcliffe’s Loyalty to Trump Calls the Reliability of U.S. Security Guarantees to NATO into Question

CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s position on Ukraine reveals a fundamental contradiction in U.S. security policy: Washington recognizes Russia as a strategic threat but retains the option of restricting critically important…

October 28, 2026CIA, USA

Geopolitics Intelligence ops

Cuba as a New Front in Geopolitical Confrontation: Why Washington Is Increasing Pressure on Havana and What Interests Russia and China Are Defending

The intensification of U.S. pressure on Cuba should be viewed not only as an attempt to bring about political regime change in Havana, but also as part of the broader…

October 27, 2026China, Cuba, Russia, USA

Geopolitics National Security

Orbán at the Helm of the UN: Why the Trump Administration May Back a Politician Close to Moscow—and How It Could Reshape International Diplomacy

Key Assessments Reports that Donald Trump's administration may promote former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán for the post of UN Secretary-General warrant analysis not only as an international appointment but…

October 27, 2026China, Hungary, Orban, Russia, USA

Governance National Security profile

Steve Witkoff’s Psychological Profile: Why He Calls Vladimir Putin a Humanist

Steve Witkoff, U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, has characterized Vladimir Putin as a “humanist,” raising an important question about the psychological mechanisms influencing U.S. diplomacy toward Russia: does Witkoff…

October 23, 2026USA

Geopolitics National Security

The Putin Payoff: Is Trump Fighting Iran in a Way Designed to Save Russia?

The conventional interpretation of Russia's growing leverage over Washington has centered on Vladimir Putin's exploitation of President Donald Trump's poorly conceived military engagement with Iran to extract concessions on energy…

October 21, 2026Iran, Russia, USA

Geopolitics influence ops National Security

Starlink as an Instrument of Political Pressure: Is the Trump Administration Undermining Ukraine’s Security Assurances and Deterrence of Russia in Europe?

Restrictions on Ukraine’s access to Starlink at the request of Donald Trump’s administration raise a question far broader than relations between Washington and Kyiv: can European U.S. allies rely on…

October 14, 2026Russia, Ukraine, USA

influence ops Propaganda and Disinformation

Russian Digital Infrastructure as a Tool for Election Interference in the United States and the EU

The October 8–11, 2026 strikes on Yandex data centers in Sasovo, the Kaluga region, and the Vladimir region created a unique opportunity to assess the extent to which Russian influence…

October 13, 2026Germany, Russia, USA

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