<p>Eurasia is the world&rsquo;s most expansive region. It connects the East to the West, forming a land bridge that borders Europe, the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and South Asia. Forming the borders of this massive tract of land are the Northern European Plain, the Carpathian Mountains, the Southern Caucasus Mountains, the Tien Shan Mountains and Siberia. At the heart of Eurasia is Russia, a country that throughout history has tried, to varying degrees of success, to extend its influence to Eurasia&rsquo;s farthest reaches &mdash; a strategy meant to insulate it from outside powers. But this strategy necessarily creates conflict throughout Russia&rsquo;s borderlands, putting Eurasia a near constant state of instability.</p>

Eurasia connects the East to the West, forming a land bridge that borders Europe, the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and South Asia. 

Eurasia

Armenia

Tajikistan

Turkmenistan

Ukraine

Uzbekistan

Azerbaijan

Georgia

Belarus

Kazakhstan

Kyrgyzstan

Russia

Moldova

The Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict

Cyber

The Ukraine Conflict

The Politics of Pipelines

The New Silk Road

Commodities: A Cautionary Tale

A Crude Recovery

The Second Space Race

Echoes of the Cold War

Russia's Internal Struggle

The Fight for Russia’s Borderlands

Moscow Looks to the East

Instability in Central Asia

Snapshots

People walk past an electronic panel, promoting the contract service in the Russian armed forces, with a sign that reads "Our profession is to defend the Fatherland" in a shopping mall on May 11, 2024, in Moscow, Russia. 

Economics

Politics

Russia is signaling it may welcome back Western companies, but strict conditions, ongoing sanctions and reputational risks are likely to deter a widespread return.

Russia Opens Door to Western Firms, But With Major Strings Attached

United States

France

United Kingdom

U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff (2 L) and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (C) attend a meeting with European and Ukrainian officials on April 17 at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris.

Military & Security

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Ukraine will be forced to choose between compromising on its supposed red lines to de-escalate its war with Russia, or risk losing U.S. support and its battlefield position. 

Growing U.S. Pressure for a Peace Deal Puts Ukraine in a Difficult Position

Assessments

Iran

Workers at a quarry Feb. 26, 2025 in the Zhytomyr region of Ukraine.

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: Von der Leyen Meets Starmer, a U.S.-Ukraine Minerals Deal

U.S.-Iran Relations

Armenia's foreign minister (2nd R) speaks during a meeting with his Azerbaijani and Kazakh counterparts in Almaty on May 10, 2024. 

A peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan is edging closer, but political delays in Yerevan postpone its implementation and leave the risk of renewed border tensions unresolved.

Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Deal Progresses, Though Hurdles Remain

South Africa

Israel

China

Germany

A list of countries facing reciprocal tariffs on display April 2 at the White House.

Global Trade

The Weekly Rundown: The Escalating Global Trade War, South Africa's Coalition Government on the Brink

U.S.-China Relations

Media

Canada

Mexico

Australia

Philippines

Forecast Webcast

Join our analysts for this webcast recording exploring key topics identified in RANE's 2025 Second-Quarter Forecast.

2025 Second-Quarter Forecast Webcast

Columns

On Geopolitics

Europe

Members of the Spanish and Bulgarian armed forces during the NATO exercise Steadfast Dart on Feb. 13, 2025, in Tsrancha, Bulgaria. 

Any U.S. retrenchment away from Europe will more likely be gradual, shaped by strategic realities, shared interests and material constraints, but this transition will still carry profound military, economic and societal implications that will deeply reshape the Continent's security landscape and accelerate the transition to a truly multipolar world.

The Future of Transatlantic Security Cooperation, Part 1: The View From Washington

Sub-Saharan Africa

Americas

Middle East and North Africa

Asia-Pacific

South Asia

Energy

Environment, Science & Technology

Israel-Hamas Conflict

Social Issues

Intensifying trade wars, a potential ceasefire in Ukraine, continued volatility in the Middle East and consequential elections in key countries will shape the quarter.

2025 Second-Quarter Forecast: An Excerpt

Global Elections

Turkey

South Korea

People wave flags and chant slogans during a protest in front of the municipality headquarters in support of arrested Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19, 2025, in Istanbul, Turkey. 

The Weekly Rundown: U.S. To Announce Tariffs, Protests in Turkey Rage On

Brazil

Lebanon

Japan

Vietnam

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a joint press conference Feb. 16 at the prime minister's office in Jerusalem. Senior Israeli officials from the security and intelligence ministries will visit the United States to discuss Iran's nuclear program and Israeli border demarcation talks with Lebanon.

The Weekly Rundown: The U.S. and Israel Coordinate on Iran, the U.K. Chancellor Seeks Fiscal Discipline

An improvised explosive device hidden in a car killed a senior Russian general, Lt. Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik, in a Moscow suburb, The Guardian reported on April 25. 

Russia, Ukraine, U.S.: Top Russian Commander Killed as Witkoff Meets With Putin

The United Kingdom is considering dropping plans to deploy thousands of troops to Ukraine as part of a pan-European mission to provide Kyiv with post-conflict security guarantees, citing excessive risks and inadequate forces, The Times reported on April 25, citing British diplomatic and military sources.

Europe, Ukraine, Russia: London Weighs Watering Down Ukraine Reassurance Force Plans

Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky cut short a trip to South Africa to return home after one of the largest Russian missile and drone attacks in months targeting Kyiv and other cities, Bloomberg reported April 24. 

Russia, Ukraine: Massive Russian Attack on Ukraine as Both Sides Trade Blame for Holding Up Peace Deal

Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly told U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff during a meeting on April 11 in St. Petersburg that Russia was prepared to freeze its invasion along the current frontlines in Ukraine as part of an effort to reach a U.S.-mediated peace deal, the Finacial Times reported on April 22, citing people familiar with the officials’ discussion.

Russia, Ukraine: Putin Reportedly Offered To Freeze Conflict Along Frontlines

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Russian President Vladimir Putin was prepared to evaluate an offer from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to stop attacks against civilian infrastructure, The Guardian reported on April 22.

Russia, Ukraine: Leaders' Rhetoric Suggests Opening for Limited Ceasefire

France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said that European countries have communicated to the United States their key non-negotiable positions regarding any prospective peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia, ahead of renewed talks scheduled for April 23 in London, Reuters reported April 22. 

Europe, Ukraine, U.S.: Europe Sets Red Lines on Ukraine Peace Deal

Afghanistan

Russia's Supreme Court suspended the country's formal designation of the Afghan Taliban as a "terrorist organization," months after Russian lawmakers in December 2024 passed legislation enabling courts to lift such designations, AP reported on April 17.

Afghanistan, Russia: Russia Suspends Afghan Taliban's Terrorist Designation

The United States and Ukraine signed a memorandum of intent to move forward with a larger economic partnership deal, according to an April 17 social media post by Ukraine's economy minister, in a move that is widely reported to give the United States preferential access to revenues generated from the development of Ukraine's infrastructure and natural resources, including critical minerals.

U.S., Ukraine: Officials Agree on Memorandum, Paving Way for Minerals Deal

Eurasia

SITUATION REPORTS

Russia, Ukraine, U.S.: Top Russian Commander Killed as Witkoff Meets With Putin

Europe, Ukraine, Russia: London Weighs Watering Down Ukraine Reassurance Force Plans

Russia, Ukraine: Massive Russian Attack on Ukraine as Both Sides Trade Blame for Holding Up Peace Deal

Russia, Ukraine: Putin Reportedly Offered To Freeze Conflict Along Frontlines

Russia, Ukraine: Leaders' Rhetoric Suggests Opening for Limited Ceasefire

Europe, Ukraine, U.S.: Europe Sets Red Lines on Ukraine Peace Deal

Afghanistan, Russia: Russia Suspends Afghan Taliban's Terrorist Designation

U.S., Ukraine: Officials Agree on Memorandum, Paving Way for Minerals Deal

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