RUSSIAN STUDIES

Alexandros P. Kassidiaris
(Security Analyst, Postgraduate from the Department of War Studies, King's College London, UK)

Copyright: Research Institute for European and American Studies (www.rieas.gr) Publication date: 17 July 2016

Note: The article reflects the opinion of the author and not necessarily the views of the Research Institute for European and American Studies (RIEAS).

Introduction

In September 2015, Moscow announced the upcoming campaign in Syria taking a wide part of the public by surprise. Despite the progressive support since 2011 and the catalytic contribution of Russian advisors on June 2013 regarding the voluntary destruction of Syrian stockpile of chemical weapons –a decision that undoubtedly saved Assad’s regime literally in the last minute - no one could predict a straight Russian military intervention in Syria, especially in a moment that the record low oil prices and the EU sanctions have left the country’s economy bleeding....Read more

Dr. Glen Segell,
(FRGS, Fellow, Ezri Center for Iran & Persian Gulf Studies, University of Haifa, Israel)

Copyright @ 2016 Research Institute for European and American Studies (www.rieas.gr) Publication date: 4 January 2016

The Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union entailed building up nuclear arsenals with delivery systems and then negotiating treaties of disarmament and non-proliferation. Simply put both sides realised that the weapons once deployed couldn't be used even to deter or win proxy wars and therefore their existence was more dangerous than any benefits that could be gained from their being. Mutually assured destruction (MAD) was the most likely result of any conflict escalation so at best the nuclear arsenals and their delivery systems gave their owners a feeling of security that they couldn't be directly attack. This was providing that the other side was rational to comprehend the consequences of nuclear annihilation...Read more

RIAC asked RIEAS Editorial Team to comment on purposes and the results of Tsipras' visit to Moscow.

On April 8-9, 2015 Greek Prime-Minister visited Russia. Mr. Tsipras' decision to conduct talks with President Putin caused anxiety and concern in the EU and among Greek opposition. International relations, it is often said, resemble a game of chess. A good chess player should strive to be ahead of his opponent by a move or two at all times. By visiting Moscow shortly after he decisively won a general election on January 25, 2015, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has obviously borrowed a leaf out of a good chess player's book... Read more

Kvashnin Yuri (Ph.D in History)
(Head, European Union Studies Department, IMEMO RAN, RIAC Expert)

Copyright: Research Institute for European and American Studies (www.rieas.gr) Publication date: 1 January 2015)

Today the Russian-Greek economic relations are affected by a triple crisis: the ongoing crisis in Greece, the crisis in Russian–EU relations and Russia's economic hardships.
As for the first one, at the beginning of this year Greece's economic prospects looked bright. 2013 was the first year when Greece achieved primary surplus of 1.5 billion euro. In the passing year it showed new signs of recovery. In mid-December Greece's central bank slightly raised its forecast for economic growth this year to 0.7 percent and predicted growth of 2.5 percent in 2015.... Read more

Walter Schwimmer
(Former Secretary General of the Council of the Europe)

Interview by George Protopapas
(RIEAS Media Analyst)

Copyright: Research Institute for European and American Studies (www.rieas.gr) – Publication date: 9 December 2014.

Mr. Walter Schwimmer is a former Austrian politician and diplomat and former Secretary General of the Council of Europe between 1999- 2004. He is considered an expert on Russian- European affairs as during his tenure he handled the war in Chechnya. H.E Walter Schwimmer analyzes how the crisis in Ukraine affects the European security system, Russia - Europe relations and Russia- USA relations....Read more