<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

Assessments

United States

Venezuela

Cambodia

Thailand

A U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II on Dec. 15 taxis at Jose Aponte de la Torre Airport in Ceiba, Puerto Rico.

Military & Security

Politics

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

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

The Weekly Rundown: French Budget Deadlock, U.S.-Russia Talks in Miami

Sub-Saharan Africa

Americas

Middle East and North Africa

Asia-Pacific

Europe

South Asia

A container ship arrives Oct. 10 at the Port of Oakland, California. In 2026, political calculations among major global players will significantly shape international affairs.

Economics

Energy

Environment, Science & Technology

Israel-Hamas Conflict

In 2026, political calculations among major global players will significantly shape international affairs.

2026 Annual Forecast: A Global Overview

China

Global Trade

Despite growing interest from Russia, China and Western powers, Central Asia will struggle to emerge as a true continental trade hub due to competing agendas, weak financing and coordination, and security and governance issues.

The Geopolitics of Trade: Central Asia's Struggle for Logistics Sovereignty

A stock photo shows banknotes of the Russian ruble. 

The European Union using immobilized Russian assets to fund financial support for Ukraine will probably not have major reputational or financial consequences for the eurozone.


Using Frozen Russian Assets To Fund Ukraine Unlikely To Majorly Impact the Euro

South Africa

Chile

France

The Ukrainian flag is projected on the facade of Berlaymont, the European Commission headquarters, in Brussels on Nov. 18 to commemorate the Nov. 18, 2024, Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The Weekly Rundown: A European Council Decision on Ukraine Financing, South Africa Braces for Commission Findings

Tanzania

Hong Kong SAR, China

Protesters help an injured demonstrator near burning barricades amid clashes in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Oct. 29, 2025. 

The Weekly Rundown: Unrest in Tanzania, an EU Summit in Ukraine

U.S.-China Relations

Russia's President Vladimir Putin, accompanied by Kremlin economic envoy Kirill Dmitriev and Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, meets with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner at the Kremlin in Moscow on Dec. 2, 2025.

Fundamental disagreements between Ukraine and Russia over territorial concessions and security guarantees suggest that peace negotiations are unlikely to lead to a comprehensive breakthrough.

Despite U.S. Diplomatic Push, Ukraine Peace Still a Long Way Off

India

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hold a meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin on Sept. 1, 2025.

While Putin's Dec. 4-5 visit may yield some progress in defense, energy and trade cooperation, India will likely maintain selective engagement with Russia as it navigates U.S. pressure and continues diversifying its arms suppliers.

What To Expect as Putin Visits India

Honduras

Russian President Vladimir Putin greets Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their bilateral meeting during the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit.

The Weekly Rundown: Putin-Modi Meeting, Honduras General Election

Columns

A Ukrainian serviceman from the 24th mechanized brigade prepares a Magura night drone to flight toward the front line in the area of Chasiv Yar, Donetsk region late on April 29, 2025.

Ukraine's success in using cheap drones against Russia reveals how smaller states can leverage accessible technologies to impose disproportionate and sustained costs on a materially superior adversary.

Drones Are Redefining Asymmetric Warfare

Japan

Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held talks with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Emperor Naruhito during his first official visit to Japan, Kazinform reported on Dec. 19.

Kazakhstan, Japan: Tokayev Visit Elevates Ties at Inaugural Central Asia Plus Japan Summit

During a 4.5-hour end-of-year press conference, Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated that Moscow would only end the war in Ukraine if Kyiv abandoned its bid to join NATO and withdrew from all territories claimed by Russia, Reuters reported on Dec. 19.

Russia, Ukraine: Putin Digs In on Maximalist Peace Terms Ahead of Miami Talks

EU leaders agreed to provide Ukraine with a 90 billion euro ($105 billion) loan over 2026-27, backed by the EU budget, after failing to secure consensus on using frozen Russian central bank assets, Reuters reported on Dec. 18.

EU, Ukraine: EU Loan for Ukraine Defers Use of Frozen Russian Assets

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said no consensus had been reached on a peace plan with Russia and Western partners following a recent round of talks with U.S. and European officials, Ukraine's national public broadcaster Suspilne reported on Dec. 18.

Ukraine, U.S.: Zelensky Signals Stalemate Ahead of Miami Talks

Turkey

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to allow Turkey to return the S-400 missile defense system it received in 2019 and recoup billions of dollars spent on the initial purchase, potentially in deductions from Turkey's oil and natural gas import bills, Bloomberg reported on Dec. 17.

Turkey, Russia, U.S.: Erdogan Seeks To Return Russia's S-400 To Ease U.S. Sanctions

The U.S. Trump administration plans to target Russia's energy sector with a new package of sanctions if the Kremlin rejects a peace deal plan that the United States and Ukraine are finalizing, Bloomberg reported on Dec. 17, citing multiple unnamed sources familiar with the plan.

Russia, U.S.: Washington Reportedly Preparing New Sanctions on Russian Energy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ruled out recognizing the Donbas region as Russian territory "either de jure or de facto," Interfax-Ukraine reported on Dec. 16.

Ukraine, Russia: Zelensky Rules Out Territorial Concessions in Donbas

Germany

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner concluded two days of negotiations on a security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a potential Russia-Ukraine peace framework, the Financial Times reported on Dec. 15.

Ukraine, U.S.: Berlin Talks Advance Security Framework But Leave Territory Unresolved

Eurasia

SITUATION REPORTS

Kazakhstan, Japan: Tokayev Visit Elevates Ties at Inaugural Central Asia Plus Japan Summit

Russia, Ukraine: Putin Digs In on Maximalist Peace Terms Ahead of Miami Talks

EU, Ukraine: EU Loan for Ukraine Defers Use of Frozen Russian Assets

Ukraine, U.S.: Zelensky Signals Stalemate Ahead of Miami Talks

Turkey, Russia, U.S.: Erdogan Seeks To Return Russia's S-400 To Ease U.S. Sanctions

Russia, U.S.: Washington Reportedly Preparing New Sanctions on Russian Energy

Ukraine, Russia: Zelensky Rules Out Territorial Concessions in Donbas

Ukraine, U.S.: Berlin Talks Advance Security Framework But Leave Territory Unresolved

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