Russia Decoded

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  March 8, 2026: Is the Iran War an Asset or Liability for Putin?

  March 8, 2026: Is the Iran War an Asset or Liability for Putin? As U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran enter their second week, the Kremlin faces a complex calculus of costs and benefits. On one hand, the conflict has triggered a surge in global oil prices and effectively diverted critical Western weapon systems away from the

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  March 1, 2026: Watching Iran from Moscow

  March 1, 2026: Watching Iran from Moscow As the U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran commenced this weekend, Russian state media took a surprisingly muted tone, avoiding condemnation of President Donald Trump despite characterizing the strikes as a “treacherous attack” on an erstwhile ally. Vladimir Putin, seemingly taken by surprise, has conspicuously withheld any formal opposition, signaling

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  February 22, 2026: Is Putin Looking for an Exit?

  February 22, 2026: Is Putin Looking for an Exit? The third round of trilateral peace negotiations in Geneva ended abruptly, with Moscow’s lead negotiator Vladimir Medinsky appearing visibly defeated after sessions described as “very difficult”: a diplomatic euphemism for near-breakdown. Despite these outward signs of failure, state media depicts Vladimir Putin as a leader genuinely

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  February 15, 2026: Tough Love in Munich

  February 15, 2026: Tough Love in Munich U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s appearance at the Munich Security Conference offered a polished, “good cop” follow-up to the blunt speech delivered by Vice President J.D. Vance a year prior, confirming a new era of American “tough love” for Europe. While Rubio’s presence suggested diplomatic relief among

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  February 8, 2026: Assassination in Moscow

  February 8, 2026: Assassination in Moscow Last week’s targeted shooting of General Vladimir Alexeyev in the outskirts of Moscow has stripped the Russian military of one of its most competent strategists. The assassination attempt occurred against the backdrop of growing paranoia reminiscent of the Stalin era, exemplified in a grim new state documentary warning how

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