The recording of this week's briefing is now available 🎥 ➡️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=je7G... Sergey Radchenko joined Katia Glod to discuss the second round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Abu Dhabi and assess whether diplomacy is producing meaningful progress — or masking continued escalation.

Russian media hail the China-Russia partnership as a pillar of a new world order. But a new NEST Centre study shows a more fragile reality: this is a relationship is driven by necessity rather than shared strategic vision. Read the latest from Sergey Mastitsky: nestcentre.org/xi-jinping-i...

Are Ukraine peace talks going anywhere? Join our 30-minute briefing on Russia, 'Diplomacy without de-escalation: Russia, Ukraine, and the limits of negotiation' 12 February 2026 | 16:00 CEST (10:00 EST) | Online Register to attend: zoom.us/webinar/regi...

With New START expired, Moscow is signalling arms-race readiness-but in reality is seeking to freeze the current nuclear balance and slow US modernisation Read our latest briefing note, 'Playing the arms race game: Russia’s post-New START calculus,' out now 🔗 nestcentre.org/playing-the-...

In case you missed this week's briefing with John Lough and Pavel Baev, watch the recording now on our YouTube 🎥 ➡️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXv2... #NewSTART #USRussiaRelations #NuclearPolicy #RussianForeignPolicy

What Russian media says about Trump tells us more about Moscow than Washington. New NEST Centre analysis by Sergey Mastitsky on Kremlin media narratives in Trump’s second term 🗒️ 🔗 nestcentre.org/trump-in-the...

In this week's 30-minute briefing, Pavel Baev joins John Lough to discuss what the absence of a Russia-US strategic arms treaty could mean for both sides, as well as for Europe’s security. 5 February 2026 | 16:00 CET (10:00 EST) | Online Register at zoom.us/webinar/regi...

The NEST Centre and the Centre for Liberal Modernity (@libmod.de) are hosting a side event on the margins of the Munich Security Conference 2026. The discussion will focus on the nature of the Russia–China relationship and its implications for European security.

What should one expect from Russia's upcoming State Duma elections, scheduled for September 2026? Read our latest briefing note, out now 📄 #RussianDomesticPolitics #RussianElites #RussianPublicOpinion

Unable to attend Thursday's mid-week briefing with John Lough and Nikolai Petrov? Watch the recording now on YouTube 🎥 ➡️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Gtc...

NEST Centre's John Lough sat down with FRANCE 24's Gavin Lee to discuss the latest on Ukraine-Russia-US talks in the UAE. Watch the interview on YouTube 📹⤵️ youtu.be/5KM6znOGisE

If Russia’s 2026 State Duma elections are tightly managed, why do they still matter? Tomorrow, Nikolai Petrov and John Lough unpack what early preparations reveal about Kremlin strategy, elite politics, and signals ahead of 2030. 29 Jan | 16:00 CET | Online Register at zoom.us/webinar/regi...

The latest NEST Centre briefing note examines how the deepening rift between the US and Europe is reshaping NATO, strengthening the Kremlin’s hand — and creating new risks for Russia itself, particularly in the Arctic. Read it here: nestcentre.org/the-united-s...

"The idea that Ukraine is just going to give this up, and effectively surrender to Russia, is not acceptable.” NEST Centre's John Lough joined Times Radio to discuss the status of Russia-Ukraine-US Negotiations. Watch the interview now ➡️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=c71A...

US-Europe tensions over Greenland are weakening transatlantic unity, expanding Russia’s room for manoeuvre, while simultaneously exposing the strategic and economic limits of the Kremlin’s ambitions, particularly in the Arctic. Read our latest briefing note ➡️ nestcentre.org/the-united-s...

"By striking or threatening with impunity those states whom Putin sees as his allies, Trump has exposed Russia’s relative weakness on the global stage." NEST Centre's Katia Glod writes for The i Paper: inews.co.uk/news/world/p...

Unable to attend this week's briefing with John Lough and Oksana Antonenko? Watch the full recording now on YouTube 🎥 www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yw0...

"Looking today at the Russia regime — it's past its peak." During last week's briefing, Konstantin Eggert spoke with John Lough on Russia's unwillingness and inability to act in support of its Iranian allies. Watch the full discussion on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kyme...

Is the US creating a windfall for Putin? Join this week's NEST Centre briefing as Oksana Antonenko discusses with John Lough how the Kremlin interprets the latest developments in Washington. Thursday, 22 January | 16:00 CET Please register to attend: zoom.us/webinar/regi...

"The United States does not see Russia as a genuine rival and competitor." Watch Bobo Lo speak on the latest U.S. National Security Strategy from a recent NEST Centre mid-week briefing 🎥 ⤵️

“The Russians milked the Iranians for what they were worth... They extracted the value they needed at the time and didn’t feel that they had to give an awful lot in return.” John Lough spoke with The Times about Moscow's abandonment of Iran ➡️ www.thetimes.com/world/russia...

"The fall of the Iranian regime would be a political blow for Moscow, further weakening its position in the Middle East, but it would not significantly affect Russia’s ability to continue its war against Ukraine." Read our latest briefing note now: nestcentre.org/protests-in-...

Watch Konstantin Eggert and John Lough discuss how Russia's silence and limited engagement over Iran, Venezuela, and other partners point to a decline in Moscow's international influence, as Putin prioritises the war in Ukraine 🎥 🔗 www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kyme...

Join our mid-week briefing, as Konstantin Eggert joins John Lough to discuss how the Kremlin is assessing the unrest in Iran, what its options are, and how Russian–Iranian relations are likely to develop. 15 January | 16:00 CET | 10:00 am EST Register here: zoom.us/webinar/regi...

From last week’s briefing on Venezuela, Russia, and the global order, John Lough offers his perspective on the current state of negotiations surrounding Russia’s war in Ukraine. Watch the full recording here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=85d1...

From last week’s briefing: Bobo Lo speaks on what the U.S. capture of Nicolás Maduro means for Russian foreign policy. Watch the full briefing: www.youtube.com/watch?v=85d1...

As Arctic security returns to the spotlight with recent U.S. rhetoric towards Greenland, our report 'Mistress of the Seas' unpacks Russia’s maritime ambitions — from Arctic control and icebreakers to the Northern Sea Route. Read it now: nestcentre.org/mistress-of-... #ArcticSecurity #Geopolitics

"The US capture of Maduro exposes Russia’s limited power, while normalising a force-based world order the Kremlin can exploit to legitimise its war against Ukraine." Read our latest briefing note now: nestcentre.org/might-makes-...

In case you missed this week's briefing on 'Venezuela, Russia and the global order,' with John Lough and Bobo Lo, the recording is now available ⤵️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=85d1...

The NEST Centre's Katia Glod, along with Maria Branea, has a new article in the Journal of Democracy. The scholars analyse how Moldova has pushed back against Russian hybrid pressure while moving closer to Europe. Read it now: www.journalofdemocracy.org/articles/how...

Is Maduro's ousting a blow or a boost for Russia? Join our 30-minute briefing, 'Venezuela, Russia, and the global order,' 8 January at 16:00 CET. Australian expert on Russia-China relations Bobo Lo joins John Lough to discuss. Please register to attend: zoom.us/webinar/regi...

What awaits Russia's economy in 2026? Read the NEST Centre's latest short analysis from Sergey Aleksashenko 🗒️ nestcentre.org/the-price-of...

Introducing the NEST Centre's newest Senior Research Fellow: Alexander Morozov. He will serve as the Centre's Head of Russia Domestic Policy Research. We’re excited to have him on board and to benefit from his expertise. Read his full bio: nestcentre.org/author/alexa...

Read our final briefing note of the year. 🗒️ nestcentre.org/year-in-revi... The analysis highlights the continuity of the regime’s core priorities – the war, the economy, and social and demographic policy – and the continued absence of any articulated long-term development goals.

"The recent deal on the release of political prisoners struck by Lukashenka and the Trump administration, which led to the partial easing of potash sanctions against Belarus, took place with Moscow’s tacit approval." Read the NEST Centre's latest briefing note 🗒️ nestcentre.org/belarusian-p...

Missed this week's briefing? Watch it now on YouTube 📽️ 🔗 youtube.com/watch?v=bq6C... Vytis Jurkonis joined John Lough to discuss the release of 123 Belorussian political prisoners in exchange for limited sanctions relief on potash.

"Russia hopes to make European governments more cautious, more divided, and more focused on avoiding short-term risks rather than on Ukraine’s long-term security." Katia Glod, NEST Centre's Deputy Head of Foreign Policy, writes for The i Paper 📰

The U.S. and Europe are divided on Belarus’ sanctions - will Russia sanctions be next? Join our mid-week briefing, 'Prisoners for Potash,' as Lithuanian Belarus' expert Vytis Jurkonis joins John Lough. 18 Dec | 16:00 CET | 10:00 EST Register to attend: zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Despite the absence of breakthrough agreements, Putin's recent visit to India sent a clear signal to Washington and Beijing that Moscow and New Delhi continue to preserve room for independent manoeuvre. Read our latest briefing note on the Russia-India Partnership 🗒️ nestcentre.org/a-partnershi...

In case you missed last week’s briefing, watch the full discussion with John Lough, Boris Bondarev and Sarang Shidore 📽️ 🔗 www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mqby...

"The Russian economy is close to stagnation... [but the Kremlin's] glass is half full." Sergey Aleksashenko spoke with @cnbc.com on Putin's ability to continue financing the war in Ukraine for two or three more years, despite rising economic pressures. www.cnbc.com/2025/12/12/u...

"The Russians want Europeans to believe they are vulnerable and that Russia will ultimately be able to dictate the terms for a new security system in Europe." NEST Centre's John Lough spoke to @euronews.com on European defence capabilities and Moscow's hybird war. www.euronews.com/2025/12/11/e...

Tomorrow Sarang Shidore and Boris Bondarev join John Lough, to assess the results of Putin's recent visit to India and the current state of the Russia-India relationship. Midweek Briefing | 11 Dec | 16:00 CET zoom.us/webinar/regi...

📸 Photos from our recent book talk on 'The Disorderly Society' by Bobo Lo, moderated by NEST's Katia Glod 📸 Watch recording of the discussion now: m.youtube.com/watch?v=0mmQ... #GreatPowers #Authoritarianism #GlobalPolitics #BookLaunch

“Russia has to reckon with the fact that Donald Trump has three more years in the White House. Will he be a lame-duck president in a year?” On Times Radio, John Lough warns Putin doubts MAGA can avoid collapse — shaping Moscow’s stance on any future Ukraine deal. www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKnr...

"The US President’s comments appear indicative of some alignment between Trump and Putin on their desire to try to remove Zelensky from the game." John Lough spoke to The I paper on the latest in the Russia-Ukraine peace process. inews.co.uk/news/world/t...

In case you missed last week’s briefing, watch the full discussion with John Lough and Mark Galeotti now 📽️ 🔗 www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6FF...

NEST’s latest briefing reveals how the war economy has reshaped the incentives of Russian elites, and why neither beneficiaries nor peace advocates are likely to get the outcome they expect. nestcentre.org/beneficiarie...

“There is no reason to believe that the parties will take advantage of the window of opportunity that has arisen, but it is safe to say that they currently have one." Vladimir Pastukhov, NEST Centre Head of Research, in @washingtonpost.com www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...

"We're a very long way away from a deal because there is an enormous gulf here between the two sides." John Lough spoke to ABC News AU about key sticking points for Russia and Ukraine in ongoing peace negotiations www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12...