Ivan Timofeev

RIAC Report No. 37/2018

A Forecasting Report

RIAC Report #31 / 2017

RIAC and CSR Report

The ELN-RIAC Special Report

Report No. 24/2016

The introduction of amendments to the United Kingdom's sanctions legislation on Russia on the day of the visit was unlikely to achieve any results other than prompting cold restraint from Moscow

In 2008, four paths were available to Russia but in 2022, one prevails

The main task for Russia is to avoid excessive overexertion and, at the same time, not get bogged down in a costly confrontation, maintaining and using levers of pressure on the West where its own…

The most realistic scenario for the near future is that the collective West “ties up” Moscow’s demands for European security in endless consultations and agreements

The key intrigue of the coming year is the situation around Ukraine

No signs of an easing are foreseen for the key targets of US sanctions

The December round of sanctions continued the course of tough measures. Now the Belarusian leader faces two basic scenarios: low profile or a new round of escalation

In the United States, there is a renewed discussion about the advisability of expanding sanctions on Russian sovereign debt

The costs of a possible war between Russia and Ukraine far outweigh the benefits. The question arises—to whom and under what conditions is this scenario beneficial?

In the near term, the collective West will remain a serious military-political and regulatory challenge for Russia. Overestimation of the degree of its extinction and underestimation of the existing…

Russia and the EU currently seem to be nowhere near even embarking on a path towards “Cold Partnership”. The EU and Russia will not be able to overcome their fundamental disagreements in the coming…

Getting back to the deal will be difficult. It will be even more difficult to keep it

Restrictive measures against the Taliban now affect the country as a whole

No matter how the modern world order “crumbles”, the dimensions of the modern world cannot be reduced to mere security issues

The effect of US sanctions will be much stronger in comparison with the restrictive measures of the EU and other countries

The revision of the sanctions policy by the new administration cannot be called a revolution. The institutional arrangement will remain unchanged

In terms of urbanisation and lifestyle, late Soviet and post-Soviet #Russia were and are a Western society with all its attendant problems

What if the sides cross the “red lines” and the warning shots, for one reason or another, take a toll in human life?

The EU has its own sanctions agenda, resorting to restrictive measures far more often than all other countries and international organizations, except for the U.S.

US-China relations are unlikely to develop into an open conflict in the foreseeable future because the price would be too high for both sides

Russia and the United States are approaching the summit in strategic confrontation mode

New sanctions may turn out to be even more serious than the restrictive measures introduced last year in response to the situation around the presidential elections

The new US sanctions are still fraught with uncertainty. The key question is whether the United States is imposing restrictions on Russian sovereign debt obligations

The European Parliament resolution did not cause any fluctuations of the ruble or Russian blue chips. Why did this happen and should the resolution be taken seriously?

Investors have again started talking about "geopolitical risk"

Moscow believes that for JCPOA talks to be successful, Washington and Tehran must synchronise their concessions: the former unfreezes Iranian assets and lifts sanctions, the latter is gradually…

The main priority remains the development of the EU’s own sanctions policy

What does the EU sanctions policy actually look like? How often does the EU impose sanctions in comparison with other players? Who are they against?

As long as the nation-state remains a key player in the international arena, even targeted sanctions will affect state interests

Russia and the EU have ceased to experiment with mutual illusions

Russia has accumulated a number of “toxic assets”, which could potentially become a reason for new sanctions

Strategically, Washington risks losing the ability to influence the PRC through the American model of globalisation and stands to get a powerful adversary and competitor in the future. If earlier it…

Joseph Biden is rare among the presidents-elect of the past few decades in that he has failed to inspire false hopes and expectations in Moscow

National security interests will increasingly influence the competition between technology platforms in a wide variety of areas

The financial sector is under special risk

Three key risks for Russia

The most important task for the diplomacy of Washington and Beijing will be the fight for major players

Political crises and controversies regarding a number of issues hardly set aside the need to build trust on specific issues, without mentoring, arrogance and sarcasm on either side

The worst scenario for the United States is the consolidated actions of Moscow and Beijing on military-technical cooperation with Iran on the basis of Resolution 2231

Serious political crisis around the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the Iranian nuclear program became the most significant event in recent times

it is not uncommon for the United States to impose sanctions on its own allies and even American companies

By pushing the Chinese elite from the global space, the Americans are diluting their influence over China

One of the notable events in July was the imposition by Britain of restrictions on a number of Russian and foreign officials in the area of human rights. This was London’s first independent programme…

Are We in for Epidemics of Sanctions?

The problem of sanctions cannot be eliminated without fundamental changes to the global financial system

The near future will show their reliability or, conversely, fragility in the face of the new competition of large players

Donald Trumps order, apparently, is connected with the “Afghan dossier” of the ICC

One can’t underestimate the efforts of the congressmen

The speed of the confrontation is accelerating, and it will be extremely difficult to soften its inertia

Laying the blame on the WHO, China or Russia will not solve the problems of US health care and is unlikely to help in the fight against the disease

Individual exemptions will have no effect without significant systemic changes introduced at least for the period of the pandemic

In a worst-case scenario, the Americans’ excessive use of sanctions and other measures for political purposes will make anarchy an attractive means to preserve sovereignty

Threats for Russia: From the Past to the Future

Modern man will have to face ultramodern and pre-modern structures simultaneously

The problem with the Munich Conference report is that it completely ignores the motivation of non-Western countries in acting in one way or another. In essence, it reduces the problem to a political…

The risk of sanctions will persist regardless of success in resolving the trade war

The US Department of State campaigning is doing more harm to the US-led globalization efforts in the field of ICT than all the hackers and cyber spies put together

Time is working for Washington. Iran also has trump cards

The key question is, would these sanctions really work and would Europeans abide by the U.S. restrictions?

Brussels, Beijing, Moscow and other capitals are increasingly unhappy about the US free-wheeling

Russia and the US are becoming toxic to each other

Problems in relations between Russia and the West, as well as their solutions, are hardly worth looking for through the lens of generational transitions

Containing China has become an agenda in its own right for the United States, increasing the risk of sanctions and China’s retaliation

If “agents” are replacing “structures” in modern international relations, maybe it is worth changing the analytical lens through which we look at “agents,” especially an unconventional agent like…

“Sanction paradox”: restrictions against allies are more effective than restrictions against rivals. So far, this paradox is working with respect to Turkey

Evidence from 205 Cases of the U.S. Government Enforcement Actions against Business

Macron can achieve tactical, albeit quite tangible, successes in its policy on Russia and Iran

The resignation of US ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman is a good occasion to take stock of one of the most difficult periods of Russia-US relations

The measures hardly pose any serious threat to Russia

The problem common to the Russian and US (Western) approaches is that they describe the past and may prove of little use for describing the present and the future

The new sanctions war against Iran has been unleashed, and there is no way of stopping it

The next round of sanctions may disrupt the dialogue on arms control, which is of interest to the United States

Without a clear explanation of the reasons for the detention of the vessel by the EU, Tehran’s claims remain natural

For the “hawks”, the current situation is objectively more beneficial. During a crisis, it is much easier to look for threats than opportunities

The first U.S.-Russia joint view on how to deal with the interference problem

Special Report for SPIEF-2019

Huawei will probably try to resolve the issue with the U.S. authorities itself. The price will be very high, but, at the end of the day, Huawei is a business and not a state

The commonality of the political positions of the United States and the EU will ensure the status quo

Instead of deterrence, such measures may only trigger escalation

The conclusion of the Mueller investigation presents certain opportunities for U.S.–Russia Relations

The overall attitude toward Russia is becoming increasingly tough and uncompromising, leaving little space for meaningful dialogue

The sanctions will be extended regardless of who sits in the White House

The PDVSA case raises important questions concerning Russian banks’ strategy regarding U.S. sanctions

The new sanctions bill enhances the sanction risks for them but will do little to change the situation in a fundamental way

The conclusion is clear: to preserve the liberal world order by all means, to rationalize United States policy, and to isolate Russia and China or make them return to their usual roles. But a return…

Director of Programs at the Russian International Affairs Council Ivan Timofeev on the fallout from the January sanctions

Four years under pressure

The sanctions seriously devalue the idea of a compromise on the islands in exchange for investment and a new level of relations

The main political question is how long the key players will accept the situation where economic globalization is used in the political interests of the leading power and the main currency of…

The practice of US regulators punishing specific companies for violating sanctions is of great interest

Investors are now waiting for November when the Americans are to declare more sanctions over the chemical incidents (Syria and Skripal)

Given the current realities, Russia is a good fit for devil’s role  

The EU is a more reliable partner for Moscow in addressing many international issues than the United States

The New Round of U.S. Sanctions