RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS

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Recent Country Insights

Essential CIS Politics: February 1 - February 17, 2026

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · Report · 17 Feb 2026

Russia presents US with a USD 12 trillion economic plan. Putin creates an intelligence agency under Rosgvardia, his “personal army”. Zelensky promises elections in exchange for a ceasefire. Russia will ship oil to Cuba, defying a US blockade. Kazakhstan will hold a...

CIS Essential Politics: January 16 - Feb 1, 2026

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · Report · 02 Feb 2026

- Russia, Ukraine and the US in Abu Dhabi to negotiate peace. - Ukraine and Moldova experience nationwide blackouts amidst Russian strikes. - Moldova leaves the CIS. - Kazakhstan plans major constitutional reforms. - Uzbekistan plans its first-ever census.

CIS Essential Politics: January 1-15

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · Report · 16 Jan 2026

Headlines: - Corruption scandal in Ukraine claims Timoshenko. - Ukraine reshuffles cabinet. - Humanitarian crisis in Ukraine as Russia annihilates the Ukrainian energy sector. - US seizes tanker linked to Russian shadow fleet.

CIS Essential Politics: December 15-31

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · Report · 31 Dec 2025

- Trump speaks with Putin and Zelensky. - Russia claims Ukraine attempted a drone strike on Putin’s residence. - Japan holds first-ever heads-of-state summit with Central Asian leaders. - NABU launches anti-corruption raid on Ukrainian parliament.

CIS ESSENTIAL POLITICS: December 1-15

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · Report · 15 Dec 2025

- EU freezes indefinitely Russian assets in Europe that could be used as collateral for key financial assistance to Kyiv. - Witkoff and Kushner meet Putin for talks in Moscow. - Russia captures Pokrovsk and Siversk, surrounding Mirnograd—Ukraine counterattacks in Kupiansk.

CIS ESSENTIAL POLITICS: November 17-30

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · Report · 01 Dec 2025

- The US presents a 28-point peace plan that horrifies Europe and mildly impresses Russia. - The corruption scandal in Ukraine claims Yermak. - Azerbaijan arrests a main opposition leader. - The Kyrgyzstani election results in a total victory for Japarov. - Ukraine ta...

CIS Essential Politics: November 1-17, 2025

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · Report · 17 Nov 2025

- A massive corruption scandal in Ukraine implicates a former defense minister and various Zelensky allies. - Russia encircles key cities of Pokrovsk and Mirnograd after a year of fighting. - Kazakhstan signs an alliance with Russia and a minerals deal with US. - A fierce R...

CIS Essential Politics: October 16-31

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · Report · 31 Oct 2025

- Russian strikes on Ukraine cause nationwide blackouts as winter looms. - Russia successfully tests Burevestnik, a nuclear-powered cruise missile with potentially unlimited range. - Failure to agree to a summit in Budapest leads the US to impose sanctions on Rosneft and Luko...

CIS Essential Politics: October 1-15

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · Report · 15 Oct 2025

- Ukrainian strikes force halt of operations at four major Russian refineries. - Ukraine has a USD 20.5 bn repair backlog after years of strikes against its energy infrastructure. - Putin apologizes to Aliyev as part of détente, signaling end of the diplomatic crisis. - Rus...