<p>Eurasia is the world&rsquo;s most expansive region. It connects the East to the West, forming a land bridge that borders Europe, the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and South Asia. Forming the borders of this massive tract of land are the Northern European Plain, the Carpathian Mountains, the Southern Caucasus Mountains, the Tien Shan Mountains and Siberia. At the heart of Eurasia is Russia, a country that throughout history has tried, to varying degrees of success, to extend its influence to Eurasia&rsquo;s farthest reaches &mdash; a strategy meant to insulate it from outside powers. But this strategy necessarily creates conflict throughout Russia&rsquo;s borderlands, putting Eurasia a near constant state of instability.</p>

Eurasia connects the East to the West, forming a land bridge that borders Europe, the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and South Asia. 

Eurasia

Armenia

Tajikistan

Turkmenistan

Ukraine

Uzbekistan

Azerbaijan

Georgia

Belarus

Kazakhstan

Kyrgyzstan

Russia

Moldova

The Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict

Cyber

The Ukraine Conflict

The Politics of Pipelines

The New Silk Road

Commodities: A Cautionary Tale

A Crude Recovery

The Second Space Race

Echoes of the Cold War

Russia's Internal Struggle

The Fight for Russia’s Borderlands

Moscow Looks to the East

Instability in Central Asia

Columns

On Geopolitics

Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 18 at the Congress of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs in Moscow. The increasing costs of the war in Ukraine will increase Moscow's incentive to end it, but only in the medium to long term.

Economics

Politics

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

The increasing costs of the war in Ukraine will increase Moscow's incentive to end it, but only in the medium to long term.

The Role of Economics in Russia's War Strategy

Assessments

Vietnam

Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary To Lam (L) address journalists following their talks in Moscow, Russia, on May 10, 2025, during celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. 

Energy

Military & Security

Vietnam is strengthening its relationships with Eurasian countries, especially Russia, as it looks to further diversify economic and energy ties away from great powers amid an unstable geopolitical landscape.

Russia-Vietnam Ties Are Set To Grow Following Lam's Eurasia Tour

United States

This combination of pictures shows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (left) during a press conference in Berlin on June 11, 2024, and Russian President Vladimir Putin during the Congress of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs in Moscow on March 18, 2025.

While direct talks mark a notable development in the peace process, Moscow will not make meaningful concessions unless it faces bolder action from the West (particularly the U.S.), like asset seizures and increased military aid to Ukraine.

Russia Agrees To Hold Talks With Ukraine Amid U.S. Pressure, but Peace Will Remain Elusive

The allure of implementing a sphere of influence model is more likely to disappoint those who may argue that it would create more stability and security.

The Temptations of a Sphere-of-Influence Model of International Relations

Iraq

Saudi Arabia

The OPEC logo is seen outside the bloc's headquarters in Vienna, Austria, on Oct. 4, 2022.

The production boost will further decrease oil prices, which will provide some financial relief for oil-consuming countries affected by U.S. tariffs, while further straining the budgets of poorer oil producers like Iraq. 

The Mixed Economic Impact of OPEC's Production Increase

Drag-line excavator mines rare earth materials on Ukrainian soil on Feb. 25, 2025, in the Zhytomyr region of Ukraine. 

A new U.S.-Ukraine economic deal offers Washington a long-term stake in Ukraine's critical resources -- and a potential lever in ceasefire diplomacy.

New Strategic Pact Gives U.S. Stake in Ukraine's Economic Future

Canada

Iran

Europe

Italy

India

Pakistan

Indian soldiers stand guard atop their vehicle in Srinagar, India, on April 23, 2025, following a deadly militant attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir.

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: Escalating Pakistan-India Tensions, Canadian Elections and Pope Francis' Funeral

U.S.-Iran Relations

Snapshots

People walk past an electronic panel, promoting the contract service in the Russian armed forces, with a sign that reads "Our profession is to defend the Fatherland" in a shopping mall on May 11, 2024, in Moscow, Russia. 

Russia is signaling it may welcome back Western companies, but strict conditions, ongoing sanctions and reputational risks are likely to deter a widespread return.

Russia Opens Door to Western Firms, But With Major Strings Attached

France

United Kingdom

U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff (2 L) and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (C) attend a meeting with European and Ukrainian officials on April 17 at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris.

Ukraine will be forced to choose between compromising on its supposed red lines to de-escalate its war with Russia, or risk losing U.S. support and its battlefield position. 

Growing U.S. Pressure for a Peace Deal Puts Ukraine in a Difficult Position

Workers at a quarry Feb. 26, 2025 in the Zhytomyr region of Ukraine.

The Weekly Rundown: Von der Leyen Meets Starmer, a U.S.-Ukraine Minerals Deal

Germany

At a press conference in Berlin with visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that his government would help Ukraine build long-range missiles without range restrictions, though he declined to provide specifics, Bloomberg reported on May 28.

Germany, Ukraine: Berlin Pledges New Military Support, Joint Missile Development With Kyiv

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government said it supported including the Nord Stream pipeline ban in the European Union's next sanctions package against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, the Financial Times reported May 23, citing officials familiar with the matter.

Europe, Russia: Germany Backs EU Sanctions on Nord Stream Pipelines 

China

Afghanistan

The Afghan Taliban's acting commerce minister said the group is talking to Russia and China about the possibility of using local currencies to settle hundreds of millions of dollars worth of trade transactions, Reuters reported May 23.

Afghanistan: Taliban Talking to Russia, China on Using Local Currencies to Settle Trade Transactions

Russian President Vladimir Putin told a televised meeting of government officials that the government has "approved the creation of a necessary security buffer zone along our borders" and that soldiers "are actively working to accomplish this task," Russian state-run outlet TASS reported May 22.

Russia, Ukraine: Putin Says Work Underway for 'Security Buffer Zone' Along Border

Syria

An attack on Russia's Hmeimim air base in Latakia, Syria, killed at least four people, including two militants and two people at the base, AP reported May 22.

Russia, Syria: Militants Conduct Deadly Attack on Russia's Hmeimim Air Base

On May 21, Russian government spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that work on a memorandum for a potential peace agreement with Ukraine was making progress, but that the Kremlin will keep the content secret for now, The Moscow Times has reported.

Russia, Ukraine: Moscow 'Making Progress' on Its Peace Offer, but Insists on Maximalist Demands

Belgium

The European Union on May 20 adopted its 17th sanctions package against Russia, targeting nearly 200 vessels linked to Moscow's so-called shadow fleet used to bypass Western oil sanctions, Reuters reported the same day.

EU, Russia: EU Adopts 17th Russia Sanctions Package, Eyes Tougher Energy Measures 

U.S. President Donald Trump spoke on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the Russia-Ukraine war, AP reported on May 19.

U.S., Russia: Putin Promises To Work With Ukraine on Peace During Call With Trump

Eurasia

SITUATION REPORTS

Germany, Ukraine: Berlin Pledges New Military Support, Joint Missile Development With Kyiv

Europe, Russia: Germany Backs EU Sanctions on Nord Stream Pipelines

Afghanistan: Taliban Talking to Russia, China on Using Local Currencies to Settle Trade Transactions

Russia, Ukraine: Putin Says Work Underway for 'Security Buffer Zone' Along Border

Russia, Syria: Militants Conduct Deadly Attack on Russia's Hmeimim Air Base

Russia, Ukraine: Moscow 'Making Progress' on Its Peace Offer, but Insists on Maximalist Demands

EU, Russia: EU Adopts 17th Russia Sanctions Package, Eyes Tougher Energy Measures

U.S., Russia: Putin Promises To Work With Ukraine on Peace During Call With Trump

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