Russia has pulled out of an important cold war-era treaty which limited categories of conventional military equipment that Nato and the then-Warsaw Pact could deploy. The 1990 Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in…Read More >
Ukraine
Global economy 2023: why there will still be plenty of pressure on food prices in the year ahead
Shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, the closely watched food price index of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reached its highest recorded level, stoking consumer prices across the world. In the UK,…Read More >
Ukraine war: why the world can’t afford to let Russia get away with its land grab – lessons from history
Much of the international community has condemned Russia’s annexation of four provinces of Ukraine as illegal. Joe Biden accused Vladmir Putin of a “fraudulent attempt” to claim Ukrainian territory and said the move…Read More >
Ukraine: boosting European defence spending now won’t make up for decades of underinvestment
The west has to dramatically “reboot” its approach to dealing with aggressors in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to UK foreign secretary Liz Truss. “Geopolitics is back”, she…Read More >
Ukraine: Nato exercises a happy coincidence ‘just in case’ of escalation
Military exercises are held regularly by armed forces throughout the world. An exercise can be seen as an act of diplomacy, a direct threat, a demonstration of military capability for…Read More >
Why Russia has put the rouble on a gold standard – but it’s unlikely to last
The Bank of Russia, the country’s central bank, has surprisingly announced a fixed price for buying gold with roubles. With a price of RUB5,000 (£45.12) for a gram of gold, to my…Read More >
Ukraine: what might happen if the war spreads to a Nato country
As Russian military activity moves nearer the Ukrainian border with Nato, the potential for direct confrontation between Russia and the alliance increases. On March 13, Russian aircraft reportedly fired rockets at the…Read More >
Ukraine: Putin’s vision of ‘Russian Ukraine’ misunderstands how borders came about
In Ukraine’s ongoing negotiations with Russia over its invasion, Vladimir Putin seems to be aiming at the very least to retain Crimea for Russia and ensure recognition for the Donetsk and Luhansk…Read More >
Ukraine: how the global fertiliser shortage is going to affect food
We are currently witnessing the beginning of a global food crisis, driven by the knock-on effects of a pandemic and more recently the rise in fuel prices and the conflict…Read More >
