The world is an increasingly tough place.
Statecraft. Strategy. Security |
International Analysis & Insights from Russia
Author: Dr. Maxim A Suchkov.
Moscow-based policy wonk (easily Googleable)
Join @sohk_1 for exclusive security and insights content and discussions in 12
Пока нет отзывов. Будьте первым, кто поделится своим опытом!
Последние посты
School of Hard Knocks
17 мая 2026 г., 02:47
🎥 Video
How European leaders seek to "Bidenize" Trump?
As the Europeans and Zelensky seek to rematch the Alaska summit results and "Bidenize" Trump into continuing to support Ukraine, I sat down with Rick Sanchez of https://t.me/rtnews to talk over what comes next for the conflict and US-Russia relations. Click https://odysee.com/@RT:fd/SE-18082025-SUCHKOV:e for the full interview.
588
12
0
School of Hard Knocks
17 мая 2026 г., 02:47
How Decades of Folly Led to War in Ukraine
As the crisis in Ukraine enters its arguably most interesting diplomatic play, it's time to make sense of why Donald Trump has every reason to end it. A good friend and colleague Michael Reynolds of Princeton University nails it on the head in his https://www.compactmag.com/article/how-decades-of-folly-led-to-war-in-ukraine/ for Compact.
Far from delivering the “great prize” of Ukraine to the West, the Euromaidan tore the country apart as the passions ignited by the protests and stoked by the likes of Nuland and McCain polarized and radicalized Ukraine’s population. This outcome was entirely predictable. Ukraine had always been a divided society and fragile state. What is more, Washington’s recklessness had even reversed the domino theory of democratization. Far from undermining Putin, the Euromaidan had consolidated support for him where it counted most: at home and in eastern Ukraine.
Washington’s second cardinal strategic error was that it had gotten America embroiled in a struggle of peripheral interest to it but of vital interest to its rival, Moscow. Even Barack Obama acknowledged this reality: Because Ukraine was a core interest for Russia but not for the United States, Washington would inevitably face significant disadvantages there.
508
School of Hard Knocks
17 мая 2026 г., 02:47
📷 Photo
This is how trends in global trade have changed over the years. China filled in the void left by the EU, US largely remains where it was.
385
8
School of Hard Knocks
17 мая 2026 г., 02:47
Putin-Trump Summit in Alaska: What to Watch?
In the run-up to the US-Russia talks in Alaska I sat down with the Stimson Center,a Washington-based think tank, to talk through the issues that will potentially be discussed by the two presidents. Have https://www.stimson.org/2025/maksim-suchkov-what-does-russia-want/
577
15
0
School of Hard Knocks
17 мая 2026 г., 02:47
In case you read Italian (or use Google translator at a professional level) here's my extended https://www.corriere.it/esteri/25_maggio_20/ucraina-russia-trump-usa-putin-consigliere-cremlino-473264d0-3b0e-4a7c-8f2b-2032a9411xlk.shtml to a chief Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera on Russia's attitude towards President Trump drive towards peace efforts and possible deal between Moscow and Washington.
DISCLAIMER: The attribution to me as a "counselor of the Kremlin" is a pure fantasy of the editors.
This administration is indeed moving very fast on things but such is the demand of modern times. I’d, however, argue there hasn’t been a swift substantive turn in US-Russia relations just yet. A mount of problems that have accumulated over the past few years is still there. The US, despite President Trump claims to forge a peace deal, is still a de facto party to the conflict since it helps Ukraine militarily, intelligence-wise and provides financial aid. But the very attitude and the very approach on the US side has changed, at least as far as the administration is concerned. This is very much appreciated in Moscow and seen within policy-making community as an opportunity to strive for something bigger.
Russia is not going to back down on its key security interests in Ukraine or elsewhere. Neither will the United States.
That said, there’s a recognition that the current situation provides a certain window of opportunity that may not last long. For instance, it’s hard to fathom the composition of US politics in 18 months from now after the midterms and later after 2028. This creates a situation where on the one hand there is reasonable willingness on the side of Moscow to get as many good things done with the Trump administration as possible; on the other – makes Russia carefully consider each proposal coming from the U. S., weight in its pros and cons, time limits, political constraints. Russia is not desperate to agree to everything simply out of fear to lose the opportunity to improve relations with the U. S. – after all, it’s a seasoned geopolitical player that can’t afford to trade its security interests for goodies.
But there’s a recognition that we have a genuine chance to start a fresh page with the US precisely because of the new thinking in Washington. History is a tough teacher and it doesn’t provide too many chances to correct the course. But when it does, these chances better be embraced.
School of Hard Knocks
17 мая 2026 г., 02:47
Podcast: What Does Russia Want?
Today's attack on parts of Russia's nuclear triad are astonishing. But what's Moscow's endgame in the conflict eventually?
I sat down with Peter Slezkine of the Stimson Center to talk it all over. Have a https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/maksim-suchkov-what-does-russia-want/id1765328819?i=1000710560176.
Time Stamps:
01:08 Evaluate the Russia-Ukraine talks and the Trump-Putin phone call
03:17 Why does Russia oppose an immediate ceasefire?
08:08 What are Russia’s core objectives?
10:54 What kind of military caps does the Kremlin want to put on Kyiv?
13:56 Three scenarios for US policy
19:43 Russian and Chinese perspectives on Europe
23:05 Russia as a conservative “civilization-state”
26:00 A positive US-Russia bilateral agenda
35:27 How long will the Trump movement last?
42:40 Ukraine v US-Russia normalization
45:51 What kind of Europe does Russia want?
51:46 Predictions for the summer
443
10
School of Hard Knocks
17 мая 2026 г., 02:47
🎥 Video
Briefly on American decision making vis-a-vis Iran
406
10
0
School of Hard Knocks
17 мая 2026 г., 02:47
War or thaw? The Future of US-Russia Relations
Here's my extended https://www.rt.com/shows/worlds-apart-oksana-boyko/615991-us-russia-nazism-defeat-lessons/on the past, present and future of US-Russia relations.
👉What to make of Donald Trump’s peace-making efforts so far?
👉What is ultimately driving US policies under the new administration?
👉Will there be any critical point when the Ukrainians, as much as they may hate Russia, would be able to rationally assess their options and self-interests?
👉Given all the Russian grievances about how the West has historically deceived Russia, why the Kremlin is investing time and effort into this opportunity?
👉Why would Russia be interested seeing more the U. S. presence in the Arctic?
👉 Would US under Trump benefit from formally recognizing Russia’s territorial gains in Ukraine to ease its own intentions at redrawing the map?
👉 Do Russia, US have a common interest in defending Christians in the MIddle East?
I seek to provide answers (aka informed opinion) to all of those questions. Have a listen.
324
9
School of Hard Knocks
17 мая 2026 г., 02:47
The new Pope is from the US. So what?
The new Pope is an interesting choice but the one that is not totally unexpected given the amount of effort put behind his election. including, likely, by the Trump administration. The number of Catholics in https://www.yahoo.com/news/religious-makeup-trump-proposed-administration-035842188.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAMbKQQoJ_iDfa6K0PXAari_pUWRMSgleD-hayCR9c_4RkhBcrORGcdm3EA9bMFUPMjKnA-Gpf3qRmHJIcosfFUD0CBVgi9dzZOz4VxBlPW1ExkQQ4f3z5lRsl_vReeClf5CLYG6GleWVWTy36GD7viA2LLzaN691EyWqOHJO1PEGas well as the importance than some prominent "Trump Catholics" like JD Vance https://people.com/jd-vance-brushed-off-pope-francis-easter-visit-11718799e to the relationship with the Catholic world has made it clear this issue cannot be left ungoverned.
Here's why it may be importance:
👉 The struggle for the agenda is globally on the increase. It is politically advantageous for the Trump administration to have powerful instruments and institutions like the large Christian churches, if not under its control, then at least as allies.
👉 America's moral leadership is on the decline and needs a reboot. Biden too understood this, but he saw his formula for a reboot through the lens of "democracies" vs "autocracies". Trump has a different approach: he is trying to achieve a reboot through the so-called revolution of common sense, which he often talks about. This approach suggests that the theme of the US as a defender of conservative values plays an important role both within America and in foreign policy.
👉Some American politicians argue that they were "reborn" as individuals by turning to God. Hence the leitmotif of their political actions: we rebooted ourselves and in this way we will help America go through its own renewal including through visible resets with major church institutions.
👉This process is already acquiring its own symbolism, is being "sacralized". When today the public face of the White house press service prays before each appearance before the press, quotes the Bible on her social networks, the public gets the feeling of being present at a session of "political exorcism" - it was only yesterday that the Democratic administration consisted of representatives of the LGBT community, and today such a turn of events is happening before our eyes..
👉 Efforts to establish ties with Catholic denominations and to strengthen themselves within Protestant ones are an important resource in the arsenal of "making America great again," as this administration sees it.
It takes a little time to comprehend what happened, to understand the real involvement of the US in this decision (it could be the other way around - the Vatican's own interest in the "renewed US" which may give both an opportunity to reset the agenda and make more money) and to consider the figure of the Pope himself. He has an interesting order - the Augustinians.
School of Hard Knocks
17 мая 2026 г., 02:47
📷 Photo
ICYM: A new issue of https://t.me/ru_global is fully available online
🪇 “It Takes Two”
Check it out:
https://eng.globalaffairs.ru/issues/2025/2/
315
4
School of Hard Knocks
25 мар. 2026 г., 17:19
📷 Photo
🇷🇺🇮🇳 On March 20, DCM & Minister Counsellor of the Russian Embassy in India Roman Babushkin addressed the annual seminar “Russia-India: Contours of Cooperation in a Changing World Order” under the auspices of the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) and the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA).
🤝🏻 The diplomat underscored the depth and unique nature of bilateral cooperation based on long-standing friendship, trust and mutual interest. According to him, the shared desire to overcome negative external factors in recent years has made it possible to more fully realize the potential of relations and, in particular, achieve a record volume of mutual trade of almost USD 70 billion by the end of 2024.
☝🏻 He called for continuing multifaceted work amid the ever-increasing competition on the global stage, as well as promoting the formation of a polycentric world order, including in the context of interaction within BRICS.
💬 Among other participants were Dr Ivan Timofeev, Director General, RIAC, Nutan Kapoor Mahawar, Additional Secretary, ICWA, Dr Maxim Suchkov, Director, Institute for International Studies, MGIMO University, Nikhilesh Giri, DCM of the Indian Embassy in Russia (online), Yulia Melnikova, Head Asia and Eurasia Program, RIAC, and other prominent political scientists and experts.
🔸 https://t.me/RusEmbIndia
➡️ https://t.me/russiancouncil
#RussiaIndia
#DruzhbaDosti
