Russia’s warmongers in chief are around 70. In Ukraine, people in charge of defense and key government functions are in their 40s and 30s. The average age of Russia’s key officials is 64. For Ukraine, the average is 44. It’s a war between generations. Short thread

[JUST RELEASED] Ekaterina Kotrikadze and Maxim Trudolyubov discuss Tucker Carlson's trip to Moscow, his interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Carlson's history of embracing Russian state talking points for the #RussiaFile blog: wilsoncenter.org/blog-post/tuck…

В истории с замерзающим Климовском обсуждение свелось к тому, кто владеет котельной, а потом — к тому, как Путин национализировал ее. Будто бы получается, что вот мошенники-собственники виноваты в аварии, и сейчас государство наведет порядок. Мне как человеку, который много лет…

[OUT NOW] For the #RussiaFile, Maxim Trudolyubov unpacks how the legacy of European colonialism in Africa and Asia complicates efforts to unite a global coalition against #Russia's invasion of #Ukraine. Read more: wilsoncenter.org/blog-post/west…

More on Fridman & Aven: The move follows a report by Proekt into Russian billionaires' roles as suppliers for Moscow’s war machine. The report cited government contracts as showing that Alfa-Bank had provided loans to a slew of Russian defense enterprises washingtonpost.com/world/2023/08/…

[MUST READ] For the #RussiaFile, Maxim Trudolyubov analyzes Alexei Navalny’s letter from prison, which blames #Russia's repressive political environment on the policy makers who chose expediency over responsive democratic governance: wilsoncenter.org/blog-post/ends…

Erdoğan’s dizzying moves to return Turkey to the Western fold remind me of Anwar Sadat’s decision, in summer 1972, to end the Soviet military presence in Egypt. No wonder Putin cancelled his visit to Turkey! In 72 hours, Erdoğan has endorsed Ukraine’s accession to NATO; allowed…

This is a very interesting piece on the nuclear escalation management, with many good observations. I would disagree, though, that what Russia was doing was creating the "threat that leaves something to chance.” Certainly not the way Schelling meant it tnsr.org/2023/06/escala… 1/

As the leader of South Africa readies to meet Putin, the country’s Chief Rabbi issues a letter to the president calling for the release of Evan Gershkovich @FreeGershkovich

great scoop from @maxseddon and @NastyaStognei The Kremlin goes towards nationalization of Western assets as a part of policy to punish the west and get extra RUB for the budget ft.com/content/cd6272…

True, there is no such thing as a “national psyche” or a national “DNA.” However it’s hard to argue that generalisation at this particular point in time

Turkey’s new electoral map: yellow Erdoğan, red opposition. The red provinces produce 70-75% of Turkey’s GDP.

Turkey’s election carries a global lesson: even the best opposition campaign cannot oust a dictator through the ballot box if he controls most media. The world’s democrats must find ways to counter dictators’ advantage with respect to people’s sources of news and entertainment.

Preliminary but fairly clear results from the runoff of the Turkish elections show that President Erdogan will have a historic third term. This has implications for democracy and the economy.

In interpreting Erdoğan’s narrow win, keep this in mind. The media, the judiciary, and scores of state agencies worked tirelessly for Erdoğan, and they handicapped the opposition. Kılıçdaroğlu narrowly lost an unfair race.

I worked with Henry Kissinger. In retrospect, I shouldn't have. Deep in the foreign policy establishment as I was, it seemed like a kind of validation. He was the guy we discussed around our dining room table when I was growing up. He was undoubtedly brilliant. He picked me.

[OUT NOW] As some Russian citizens plan for the future, others are placing their bets on the present and reaping the benefits, directly or indirectly, of Russia’s full-scale invasion of #Ukraine. Read the latest #RussiaFile from @russiafiles: 🔗 wilsoncenter.org/blog-post/futu…

Apparently, Erdoğan has instructed Anadolu News Agency to keep him up by 10% until he speaks to the nation. Also: Unconfirmed reports that he’s negotiating transition terms with the opposition. Immunity from prosecution? Meanwhile, mounting signs of a round 1 Kılıçdaroğlu win.

Why have Central Asian leaders risked both their reputations & their safety (there were drones flying over the Kremlin) to attend Moscow’s military festivities in what is being seen by many as a gesture of support for 🇷🇺? My take for @KyivIndependent kyivindependent.com/temur-umarov-w…

Sinicisation of Russia's economy is on steroids. Fresh Chinese customs data for 4 month of 2023 is out. 🇨🇳🇷🇺 trade in Jan-Apr +41.3% ($73.15b) 🇷🇺 exports to 🇨🇳 +24.8% ($39.5b) 🇨🇳exports to 🇷🇺 + 67.2% ($33.7b) ❗️ Source: customs.gov.cn/customs/302249…

Atmospheric polutants data obtained by @WSJ shows that the fall in Russian industrial output because of the war is higher than the official data suggests.