Archive - Navigating the Vortex

No Middle Ground: Russia Faces a Choice between Unsustainable Escalation and Looking for an Exit

Russia Ukraine Air Campaign Strategy 2026: A practitioner analysis by Stefan Wolff & Tetyana Malyarenko

Jun 5 • Stefan Wolff

Status diminished?

The fall of Assad and Putin’s great-power ambitions for Russia

Dec 13, 2024 • Stefan Wolff

The Russia-China relationship: the perils of a ‘friendship with no limits’

Stefan Wolff analyses the Russia-China relationship in light of Xi Jinping’s recent visit to Moscow, highlighting Russia’s increasing dependence on…

Apr 5, 2023 • Stefan Wolff

What the war against Iran means for Putin and Ukraine

Russia is a likely winner, but only in the short term.

Mar 5 • Stefan Wolff

7:33

What the Putin-Xi Summit Reveals About China’s Long-term Strategy

Multipolarity is China's waiting room. Russia (and the US) just paid the entry fee.

May 22 • Stefan Wolff

Trump is not trying to appease Putin – he is building a dangerous new world order

But will Russia and China play along or out-play him?

Feb 24, 2025 • Stefan Wolff

6:10

Farcical peace talks continue in Abu Dhabi as Russia tries to bomb and freeze Ukraine into submission

Russia, Ukraine and the US have met for a second time in as many weeks to discuss a possible cessation of hostilities.

Feb 5 • Stefan Wolff

7:24

Is Russia losing the energy war?

Ukraine's closure of Gazprom pipeline will diminish Russia’s energy leverage and hurt its war effort.

Jan 4, 2025 • Stefan Wolff

Russia now bets on permanent hybrid warfare

Despite their limitations, the Kremlin's aspirations spell danger.

Oct 16, 2025 • Stefan Wolff

7:02

The battle for the future of Moldova

Moldovans vote for a president and on whether to join EU as Russia intensifies vast disinformation campaign.

Oct 16, 2024 • Stefan Wolff

Swimming against the tide

Zelenskyy’s pleas for more help from the west fall on mostly deaf ears as momentum on the battlefield remains with Russia.

Oct 2, 2024 • Stefan Wolff

Despite superficial consensus at the Nato summit, the US has abandoned Ukraine

But the lack of US commitment to containing Russia is as much a threat as an opportunity for Europe.

Jul 7, 2025 • Stefan Wolff

6:58

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