Written by Marcin Grajewski,

Russia’s assertive foreign policy, its annexation of Crimea and conflict with Ukraine have challenged the post-Cold War security order in Europe, highlighting the need for NATO and the European Union to bolster defence strategies, according to many analysts and politicians.

The EU, along with the United States, has imposed sanctions against Moscow, which look unlikely to be lifted any time soon, especially as Russia’s recent support for bombardment of civilians in the war-torn Syria has outraged many countries, and progress on implementing the Minsk Agreements on Eastern Ukraine has stalled.

This note offers links to commentaries, studies and reports by major international think tanks, which discuss Russia’s policies and how to respond to them. More papers on security in Europe can be found in a July 2016  edition of ‘What Think Tanks are thinking’. More links to papers on Russia’s policies are available in an October 2015 edition of the series.

EU-Russia flags
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Conceivable surprises in Russian foreign policy
Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, October 2016

Russia’s challenge to the European security order
German Marshall Fund of the United States, September 2016

Russian parliamentary elections 2016: A lifeline is needed for the non-systemic opposition
European Policy Centre, September 2016

Russia and the downing of MH17
Carnegie Europe, September 2016

Free trade from Lisbon to Vladivostok
Bertelsmann Stiftung, August 2016

Finland and Sweden walk a fine line between NATO and Russia
Royal United Services Institute, August 2016

Could Russia play Turkey off against the West?
Carnegie Europe, August 2016

Undersea warfare in Northern Europe
Center for Strategic and International Studies, July 2016

Looking east: European air and missile defense after Warsaw
Center for Strategic and International Studies, July 2016

Not frozen! The unresolved conflicts over Transnistria, Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Nagorno-Karabakh in light of the crisis over Ukraine
Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, July 2016

Lessons from Ukraine: Why a Europe-led geo-economic strategy is succeeding
Transatlantic Academy, July 2016

El proceso de “reimperialización” de Rusia, 2000-2016
Real Instituto Elcano, July 2016

Planning ahead: The strategy of the Russian government going into the 2016 parliamentary elections
Eastern Europe Studies Centre, July 2016

Putin’s Russia: Really back?
Istituto per gli Studi di Politica Internazionale, July 2016

Where Putin’s Russia ends: “Novorossija” and the development of national consciousness in Ukraine
Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, July 2016

The far right in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine
Institut français des relations internationales, July 2016

The bear in sheep’s clothing: Russia’s government-funded organisations in the EU
Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies, July 2016

Russia and Europe: somewhat different, somewhat the same?
Russian International Affairs Council, July 2016

The effects of sanctions and counter-sanctions on EU-Russian trade flows
Centre for European Policy Studies, July 2016

Russia seeks engagement, but offers nothing
German Marshall Fund of the United States, July 2016

EU-Russia: Beyond rivalries?
Notre Europe, Jacques Delors Institute, July 2016

Privileged partners? Italy should use its leverage for constructive policies towards Russia
Finnish Institute of International Affairs, June 2016

Ukraine, Russia and the EU: Breaking the deadlock in the Minsk process
Centre for European Policy Studies, June 2016

Ukraine, Russia and the EU: Breaking the deadlock in the Minsk process
Centre for European Policy Studies, June 2016

Kaliningrad in the “mirror world”: From Soviet “bastion” to Russian “fortress”
Barcelona Centre for International Affairs, June 2016

Russian elites are worried: The unpredictability of Putinism
Transatlantic Academy, June 2016

Detour or direction? The europeanisation of France’s policies towards Russia
Finnish Institute of International Affairs, May 2016

Russia: A test for Transatlantic unity
Transatlantic Academy, German Marshall Fund of the United States, May 2016

A shared European home: The European Union, Russia and the Eastern Partnership
Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, May 2016

Russia 2030: A story of great power dreams and small victorious wars
European Council on Foreign Relations, May 2016

Russia in Europe: Rapprochement or isolation?
Körber Stiftung, April 2016

Russian state mobilization: Moving the country on to a war footing
Chatham House, May 2016

A new Helsinki needed? What security model for Europe? Papers from the December 2015 Germany-Poland-Russia trialogue
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Auswärtige Politik, April 2016

Strengthening the strategic balance in the Baltic Sea area
International Centre for Defence Studies, April 2016

The EU and Russia: Managing the new security environment in the wider Europe
Swedish Institute for European Policy Studies, April 2016

Why Russia’s economic leverage is declining
Transatlantic Academy, April 2016

The in-betweeners: The Eastern Partnership countries and the Russia-West conflict
Transatlantic Academy, April 2016

Agents of the Russian World: Proxy groups in the contested neighbourhood
Chatham House, April 2016

Germany’s Russia policy: From sanctions to Nord Stream 2?
Transatlantic Academy, March 2016

Dividing the EU with energy? Unpacking Russia’s energy geoeconomics
Finnish Institute of International Affairs, March 2016

Confuse, divide and rule: How Russia drives Europe apart
Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Institute for European Studies, March 2016

Avoiding a new ‘Cold War’: The future of EU-Russia relations in the context of the Ukraine crisis
LSE Ideas, March 2016

Russia’s ‘new’ tools for confronting the West: Continuity and innovation in Moscow’s exercise of power
Chatham House, March 2016

“There are always two sides to the truth”: French susceptibility to Russian propaganda
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Auswärtige Politik, February 2016

In search of alternatives: Greece between European frustration and Russian temptation
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Auswärtige Politik, February 2016

The Kremlin’s influence in Hungary: Are Russian vested interests wearing Hungarian national colors?
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Auswärtige Politik, February 2016

The annexation of Crimea: Lessons for European security
Fondation Robert Schuman, February 2016

Ensuring deterrence against Russia: The view from NATO’s front-line States
Heinrich Böll Stiftung, February 2016

Is Russia a status quo power?
Swedish Institute of International Affairs, February 2016

Europe and Russia: Five statements
Carnegie Europe, February 2016

Russia: Between fear and defiance
Friends of Europe, February 2016

Russia and the West: Ten disputes and an inevitable escalation?
Fondation Robert Schuman, January 2016

Future prospects for the Russian Federation under President Vladimir Putin
International Centre for Defence and Security, January 2016

Dealing with the Russia challenge
Transatlantic Academy, Chatham House, January 2016

Challenges to European security: A Transatlantic perspective
Istituto Affari Internazionali, January 2016

The EU, Russia and the quest for a new European security bargain
Clingendael, November 2015

The new East-West discord: Russian objectives, western interests
Clingendael, December 2015

Cross-domain coercion: The current Russian art of strategy
Institut français des relations internationales, November 2015

Late Putin: The end of growth, the end of stability
Centre for Eastern Studies, October 2015

Russia’s quiet military revolution and what it means for Europe
European Council on Foreign Relations, October 2015

Russia in the Balkans: How should the EU respond?
European Policy Centre, October 2015