Support The Moscow Times!
Contribute today

Opinion

opinion Andrei Kortunov

Is There a Way Out of the Russia-NATO Talks Impasse?

If Moscow believes that the main security threat it faces is NATO military infrastructure moving closer to Russia’s western borders, it would make sense...
Mark Galeotti

London’s Ukraine Coup Claims Strain Both Belief and Consensus

In an age of disinformation, it is no longer enough for governments simply to hint at having intelligence in support of their claims.
Michele A. Berdy

A Russian Fig is Not a Fig

A short, expression-filled column about a little word that packs a big punch.
Dmitry Trenin

What a Week of Talks Between Russia and the West Revealed

If Russia cannot achieve its strategic goals by diplomatic means, it will resort to other methods.
Kirill Martynov

How Alexei Navalny’s Jailing Changed Russia

When Navalny was jailed one year ago, we didn’t immediately understand that in fact, it was all of Russia that wound up behind bars.
Neil Hauer

Will Turkey and Armenia Reach a Compromise?

The impossibility of discerning true intentions, and the genuine willingness to reach compromise, leaves outsiders guessing.
Michele A. Berdy

How Don't I Care? Let Me Count The Ways

It turns out you can say you don't care in dozens of ways in Russian - some even in polite company.
Nigel Gould-Davies

Western Diplomacy on Russia Must Serve Deterrence

The U.S. and Europe need to maintain the agreed negotiating format while planning for the worst case to show Russia it will face a severe response to aggression...
Mark Galeotti

Russia and West Continue to Talk, But Not Necessarily in the Same Language

For Moscow, talks with the U.S. on NATO and Ukraine are like divorce proceedings at the end of a long, increasingly bitter marriage.
Alexander Gabuev

Turmoil in Kazakhstan Heralds the End of the Nazarbayev Era

The protests in Kazakhstan have shown that the current model of governance has angered millions of people who missed out when the resources pie was shared...
Dmitry Trenin

Russia Takes a Gamble in Kazakhstan

If Russia succeeds in propping up the regime in Kazakhstan and making it more pro-Russian, the Central Asian nation could, become a more reliable ally...
Anna Arutunyan

Why Russia Fears a Ukrainian Offensive

It’s possible that the Kremlin believes Ukraine is planning a military seizure of Crimea and Donbass and is weighing options as it amasses troops.
Paul Bartlett

Kazakhstan Wakes Up

There has long been a disconnect between what Kazakhstan's government wants to offer the public and what the people need.
Michele A. Berdy

Words of the Year 2021

The Words of the Year and Decade are not cheerful in 2021. Такой год - такие слова...
Mark Kramer

The Derailment of Memorial’s Goals – for Now

Putin’s efforts to curtail scrutiny of the Stalin era may succeed in the short term, but Memorial's work can't be erased from the historical record.
Rachel Denber

In Closing Memorial, Russia Heralds a New, Grimmer Era of Repression

Russia will not just seek to make life as difficult as possible for civil society groups that don’t conform to the state’s agenda, but will shut them...
Liana Fix

Germany’s Russia Test

The new Berlin government is in a difficult spot when it comes to dealing with Russia.
William Courtney

Russia May Underestimate Ukraine and NATO

The Kremlin may err if it thinks Ukraine or NATO would easily submit to aggression.
Vladimir Frolov

Can Russia and NATO Come to an Agreement?

Is there a realistic format for a political undertaking not to expand NATO to Russia’s borders?
View more articles