Today chemical weapons pose a more challenging and dangerous threat than even nuclear ones. Recent events in the UK’s Salisbury and Syrian city of Duma make one reassess the problem of chemical weapons
Amidst the deepening confrontation between Russia and the U.S., Rethinking Russia sat down with the professor of the European University in St. Petersburg, Ivan Kurilla, to discuss his new book “Frenemies” and the way of how Russia and the U.S. have been influencing each other throughout history.
With the Moscow confrontation with the West, Russia’s Defense Ministry uses it as a tool of bolstering the image of the army within the country. Specifically, it showcases its military potential and the newest weapon to counter American missile system in Eastern Europe. Yet, while the popularity of the Russian armed forces is increasing among the population, it is not the case in the West: some hardliners see the Kremlin as a force that provokes a new arms race.
There are so many global threats impacting the future of the Earth but Western democracies fear only one person – Vladimir Putin. That’s because on almost all geopolitical fronts of the emerging multipolar world, Russian President is deftly striking a blow against the collective challenge mounted by the West. It is thus no surprise that the West’s endless dread of Russia’s military power has made Putin the world’s most powerful man.
It is a generally accepted opinion nowadays that whatever international conflict or tension exists, there is always a track behind it. A Russian track. It is almost unanimously believed that Russia strikes first to exercise its imperialistic expansionism. However, has Russia been historically an international despot, or it is just perceived so? Let us have a quick fact check of the largest international conflicts for the last two centuries and see what they tell us.
With the expulsion of the Russian diplomats by the UK, the U.S. and some European countries, President Vladimir Putin’s ranking among Russians remains robust and high. Paradoxically, the Western pressure on the Russian leader contributed to his landslide victory during the presidential race and increased the voter turnout. In this hostile environment, Russians don’t see alternatives to the current President.
Today is national day of mourning in Russia following the fire tragedy which took place March, 25 in Kemerovo and has claimed many lives.
UK has far-reaching strategic objectives to expel Russian diplomats for espionage. It has been aggressive to Russia for fear of a huge fall in its geopolitical status.
A lot in the Russian-Italian relations depends on Italy’s next coalition government. The question is whether the Kremlin really benefits, given the EU’s solidarity regarding the Russia sanctions and the accusations of the Kremlin of meddling in the Italian elections
The new conflict, or better said misunderstanding, is growing between Russia and the collective West. A logical zeitgeist forms – that the avenues for cooperation between the two parties grow smaller every day. Mutual distrust, media sensationalism and Western political figures brazenly shouting about Russian isolation/aggression etc. further adds to the rift, and further points Russia away to the East. In Russia itself, the way that is presented, is that closer cooperation with eastern countries is something qualitatively new.