Jonathan Pearl says that with the New START treaty entering into force, next steps must begin now for the U.S. to achieve further bilateral nuclear reductions with Russia.

Russia's parliament ratified the New START treaty, but Russian domestic issues like terrorism, as well as U.S. and Russian presidential elections in 2012, make it unlikely that any further accords will be negotiated for a while, says CFR's Micah Zenko.

Following U.S. ratification of the New START arms control treaty with Russia, join Rose E. Gottemoeller, Steven Pifer, and Micah Zenko for a discussion of the next steps in U.S. and Russian nuclear cooperation.

In this annual report from Stratfor Global Intelligence, Vice President of Strategic Intelligence Rodger Baker previews the year ahead by focusing on China, Russia and the United States.

Mikhail Khodorkovsky's sentencing to another prison term was a foregone conclusion, underscoring both the continued power of President Putin and Khodorkovsky's arrogance in trying to thwart him, says Russia expert Marshall Goldman.

Writing in The Moscow Times, Mikhail Gorbachev laments 2005-06 changes in Russian electoral processes that reduced transparency and closed off Russian politics from societal feedback.

Too often over the last decades, policymakers in Washington have viewed Moscow's resistance to U.S. policies through the lens of psychology.

Blaine D. Holt argues that rebuilding Kyrgyzstan's crumbling infrastructure with U.S. aid and manpower will lead to the development of programs and institutions from which a democracy can evolve.

The New START treaty is due for a ratification vote today, clearing the way for future arms reductions talks with Russia along with continuing political battles over arms control.

This module features teaching notes by CFR Adjunct Fellow Jeffrey Mankoff, author of the Council Special Report The Russian Economic Crisis, along with other resources to supplement the text. Dr. Mankoff examines the domestic and foreign policy consequences of the economic downturn that hit Russia in late 2008, and how the shift in the political debate inside Russia influenced its perceptions of the outside world.

The NATO summit in Lisbon today occurs in a climate of warmer U.S.-Russia relations, with Russia seeking ways to cooperate with the alliance on missile defense and Afghanistan, says CFR expert Stephen Sestanovich.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov writes of the warming relations between the NATO block and the Russian federation and highlights the importance of strengthening the Russia-NATO Council ahead of the November 20 Summit in Lisbon.

Micah Zenko argues that controlling U.S. and Russian supplies of tactical nuclear weapons would reduce the potential for nuclear terrorism, decrease the perceived threat to U.S. allies, and maintain momentum toward President Obama's goal of a world without nuclear weapons.

What comes after the New START treaty? A follow-on treaty should limit the U.S. and Russia to 1,000 strategic and tactical nuclear weapons, says this CFR report.

Jonathan Pearl argues that in the Russia-Venezuela nuclear deal, the United States must be wary of Venezuela's relationship with Iran.

Moscow would like to trade its cooperation on a range of international issues for technology and investment, both of which it needs for domestic growth and stability.

Opposition party leader, Mikhail Kasyanov, discusses the challenges Russia faces with the current regime, as well as the need for democratic reform.

Stephen Sestanovich says there is an upside to Dmitri Medvedev's firing of Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov.

In today's Russia, officers in the country's security agencies -- especially the FSB -- wield great influence over Russia's political life, foreign policy, and economic interests.