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opinion Jason Corcoran

Afraid of Mobilization, Many Russians Are Preparing for the Worst. The West Should Help.

Every Russian who escapes mobilization, covert or otherwise, is one more Russian who is not fighting in Ukraine.

opinion Jason Corcoran

Even If Ukraine Doesn't Recapture Crimea, Kyiv Has Damaged Russia's Credibility

The annexation of Crimea was integral to the myth of strength Putin created. But recent months show how fragile that propaganda was.

opinion Jason Corcoran

Europe Should Beat Russia at Its Own Nationalization Game

In Ireland and Finland, businesses linked to Russian elites have slipped through the net of sanctions. Nationalizing them could be the solution.

opinion Jason Corcoran

Sanctioned Russian Tycoons Are Still Profiting From Industries in Europe

It is hypocritical for governments to claim they're tough on Russia's super rich when they leave the peripheries of their empires untouched.

opinion Jason Corcoran

Moscow's De-Dollarization Dreams Meet Pragmatic Reality

A leaked memo suggests Moscow may rejoin the dollar settlement system despite years of trying to go its own way.

opinion Jason Corcoran

Visa Bans Don't Hurt the Russians With True Power

Rich Russians with multiple passports or golden visas can open doors with their money, while ordinary Russians become increasingly alienated.

opinion Jason Corcoran

Can Russians Be Trusted With Dollars? The Finance Ministry Doesn't Think So.

A proposed law to grant Putin powers over Russians' foreign currency transactions would suffocate personal freedom and the economy.

opinion Jason Corcoran

Putin Can't Hide Russia's Gasoline Crisis

Fuel rationing hits ordinary Russians directly. Though state media blames bad weather, history shows that excuses can only go so far.

opinion Jason Corcoran

Trump’s Sanctions Playbook: Impossible Demands, Guaranteed Delays

Trump pressuring the EU to put secondary sanctions on China in return for more U.S. sanctions collapses under the weight of its ridiculousness.

opinion Jason Corcoran

Putin’s Shanghai Bond Bonanza Is a Pipe Dream

The value of global financial institutions lies in transparency and predictability. Putin's for a new monetary infrastructure has none of that.

opinion Jason Corcoran

Welcome to Russia in 2025. Wave Your Comfortable Modern Life Goodbye.

Cut off from the free internet, suffering from power cuts and even turning to bartering and cash payments — Russia's future looks like its past.

opinion Jason Corcoran

Trump’s Break-Up With Putin Is a Slap on the Wrist, Not a Knock-Out Punch

This week, Trump will sanction Russia if there is no progress toward peace. Will he chicken out? And will it make a difference if he doesn't?

opinion Jason Corcoran

Russian Banks Will Fall. The Question Is How Hard.

With some of Russia's largest banks preparing to seek bailout talks, it is clear the country's financial balancing act will not last.

opinion Jason Corcoran

Putin’s Davos Reduced to Taliban, Nepo Babies and Pariah States

The St Petersburg International Economic Forum used to be a hub of global dealmaking. Now it is a glitzy playground wrapped in state propaganda.

opinion Jason Corcoran

Armenia Is Breaking Up With Russia – And Putin Can’t Stop It

Armenia has learned the hard way that Moscow doesn't keep its promises. It is done waiting for a protector that never delivers.

opinion Jason Corcoran

How Putin Turned Against Tech and 'Strangled' Russia's Silicon Dreams

Putin's obsession with control is killing Russia's chances for innovation as tech talent flees abroad and homegrown alternatives fail.

opinion Jason Corcoran

Trump-Putin Call Signals Risky Shift Toward Appeasement Through Trade

Russia is a huge market. But with Europe staying the course of sanctions, American countries looking to trade with Russia face enormous risks.

opinion Jason Corcoran

How Trump’s Backfiring Trade War Could Crash Putin’s Economy

What Putin hoped would be an opportunity for sanctions relief and economic revival is now shaping up to be a deepening crisis.

opinion Jason Corcoran

Hedge Funds, Beware – Russia Is a Bad Investment

Western hedge funds should not expect fair treatment if they return to doing business in Russia after the war.

opinion Jason Corcoran

Reopening the Skies to Russian Flights Would Be a Mistake

The airline industry has reacted warmly to the prospect. But allowing direct flights from Russia to resume could undermine sanctions overnight.

opinion Jason Corcoran

Forget ESG – Western Firms Will Rush Back to Russia When War Ends

The lure of a market of 140 million people will be too much for many companies to resist, ignoring geopolitical and ethical considerations.

opinion Jason Corcoran

Russia’s New Year Holiday Turns Into a Countdown to Economic Crisis

Russians are scrambling to secure ingredients for classic holiday dishes as basic foodstuffs undergo double-digit price increases.

opinion Jason Corcoran

Russia’s Economy Is Spoiling as Putin Struggles to Balance Guns and Butter

With skyrocketing prices for basic goods and record high inflation, Russia is feeling the strain of its over-cooked war economy.

opinion Jason Corcoran

Honeytrap Russian Spy Scandal Shows Ireland Is Europe’s Soft Underbelly

While Ireland speculates about which politician was seduced into working for a Russian spy, Dublin must reckon with their exposure to hybrid warfare.

opinion Jason Corcoran

Russia’s Violent 1990s Re-Erupted With Wildberries Shootout

In a scene straight out of a mobster's playbook, the chaos that once ruled the streets has returned to the Moscow boardroom.

opinion Jason Corcoran

Arrest of Iconic U.S. Investor Calvey Brings Back Browder Memories

The arrest of U.S. investor Michael Calvey in Moscow has sent shockwaves through the Russian business community.