New Eurasian Strategies Centre (NEST Centre)
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New Eurasian Strategies Centre (NEST Centre)
@nestcentre.bsky.social
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We bring together the best expertise on Russia and the surrounding region. Based in London and Washington, DC.

https://nestcentre.org/
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nestcentre.bsky.social
The recording of this week's briefing is now available 🎥 ➡️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=je7G...

Sergey Radchenko joined Katia Glod to discuss the second round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Abu Dhabi and assess whether diplomacy is producing meaningful progress — or masking continued escalation.
Diplomacy without de-escalation: Russia, Ukraine and the limits of negotiations
YouTube video by NEST Centre
www.youtube.com
February 12, 2026 at 5:33 PM
nestcentre.bsky.social
Russian media hail the China-Russia partnership as a pillar of a new world order. But a new NEST Centre study shows a more fragile reality: this is a relationship is driven by necessity rather than shared strategic vision.

Read the latest from Sergey Mastitsky: nestcentre.org/xi-jinping-i...
Xi Jinping in the Russian media: The indispensable partner Moscow cannot fully trust
How the Russian media portrays China's leader – between strategic necessity and subordinate reality
nestcentre.org
February 11, 2026 at 8:22 PM
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Sergey Radchenko (@radchenko.bsky.social), Distinguished Professor at Johns Hopkins SAIS, joins Katia Glod, NEST Centre’s Deputy Head of Foreign Policy, to assess the trajectory of the talks, Moscow’s calculus, and the prospects for either a negotiated outcome or an extended war.
February 11, 2026 at 6:04 PM
nestcentre.bsky.social
Are Ukraine peace talks going anywhere? Join our 30-minute briefing on Russia, 'Diplomacy without de-escalation: Russia, Ukraine, and the limits of negotiation'

12 February 2026 | 16:00 CEST (10:00 EST) | Online

Register to attend: zoom.us/webinar/regi...
February 11, 2026 at 6:04 PM
nestcentre.bsky.social
With New START expired, Moscow is signalling arms-race readiness-but in reality is seeking to freeze the current nuclear balance and slow US modernisation

Read our latest briefing note, 'Playing the arms race game: Russia’s post-New START calculus,' out now 🔗 nestcentre.org/playing-the-...
Playing the arms race game: Russia’s post–New START calculus
With New START expired, Moscow is signalling arms-race readiness—but in reality is seeking to freeze the current nuclear balance and slow US modernisation
nestcentre.org
February 9, 2026 at 2:38 PM
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In case you missed this week's briefing with John Lough and Pavel Baev, watch the recording now on our YouTube 🎥 ➡️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXv2...

#NewSTART #USRussiaRelations #NuclearPolicy #RussianForeignPolicy
Beyond New START: A new arms race?
YouTube video by NEST Centre
www.youtube.com
February 6, 2026 at 8:57 PM
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For more, read the short analysis on our website.

#RussianMedia #USRussia #RussianForeignPolicy
February 5, 2026 at 5:11 PM
nestcentre.bsky.social
Rather, coverage turned positive when Trump marginalised Europe, undermined Ukraine, or validated Russian narratives. It turned critical when he threatened Russia directly. This oscillation shows us how the Kremlin calibrates messaging to shape perceptions of power, legitimacy, and inevitability.
February 5, 2026 at 5:11 PM
nestcentre.bsky.social
This chart shows Trump’s Media Presence Index in Russian-language media, Jan 2025–Jan 2026. Mastitsky identifies 30 distinct episodes of elevated attention — sharp, event-driven spikes rather than steady coverage. But these shifts weren’t random.
February 5, 2026 at 5:11 PM
nestcentre.bsky.social
What Russian media says about Trump tells us more about Moscow than Washington.

New NEST Centre analysis by Sergey Mastitsky on Kremlin media narratives in Trump’s second term 🗒️ 🔗 nestcentre.org/trump-in-the...
Trump in the Russian mirror: A year of shifting narratives
How Russian media portrays Trump’s second term – from cautious hope to strategic recalibration
nestcentre.org
February 5, 2026 at 5:11 PM
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In this week's 30-minute briefing, Pavel Baev joins John Lough to discuss what the absence of a Russia-US strategic arms treaty could mean for both sides, as well as for Europe’s security.

5 February 2026 | 16:00 CET (10:00 EST) | Online

Register at zoom.us/webinar/regi...
February 4, 2026 at 7:21 PM
nestcentre.bsky.social
Please consider joining us. RSVP at: addevent.com/event/156hwd.... Registration is mandatory.

#MSC #MSC2026 #MunichSecurityConference #RussiaChina #EuropeanSecurity
China and Russia: Indivisible or Not? Implications for Europe
The New Eurasian Strategies Centre and the Centre for Liberal Modernity are hosting a discussion on the nature of the Russia–China relationship and its implications for European security with the part...
addevent.com
February 3, 2026 at 3:34 PM
nestcentre.bsky.social
Date: 14 February 2026
Time: 11:15–12:15 (coffee served from 11:00)
Location: Münchner Künstlerhaus, Lenbachplatz 8 (Seidl Room).
The venue is five minutes walk from the Bayerischer Hof Hotel
February 3, 2026 at 3:34 PM
nestcentre.bsky.social
The event will feature contributions from:

🔷 Sergey Aleksashenko, NEST Centre
🔷Ralf Fücks, Centre for Liberal Modernity
🔷Bobo Lo, Lowy Institute
🔷Janka Oertel, European Council on Foreign Relations

The event will be moderated by the NEST Centre's Katia Glod and John Lough
February 3, 2026 at 3:34 PM
nestcentre.bsky.social
The NEST Centre and the Centre for Liberal Modernity (@libmod.de) are hosting a side event on the margins of the Munich Security Conference 2026. The discussion will focus on the nature of the Russia–China relationship and its implications for European security.
February 3, 2026 at 3:34 PM
nestcentre.bsky.social
What should one expect from Russia's upcoming State Duma elections, scheduled for September 2026? Read our latest briefing note, out now 📄

#RussianDomesticPolitics #RussianElites #RussianPublicOpinion
What to expect from Russia’s 2026 elections
The 2026 elections will not change Russia’s political course, but will complete the current reshaping of the regime and may increase its exposure to latent public dissatisfaction
nestcentre.org
February 2, 2026 at 6:38 PM
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Unable to attend Thursday's mid-week briefing with John Lough and Nikolai Petrov?

Watch the recording now on YouTube 🎥 ➡️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Gtc...
Preparations for the 2026 Duma elections: What do they reveal?
YouTube video by NEST Centre
www.youtube.com
January 30, 2026 at 6:17 PM
nestcentre.bsky.social
NEST Centre's John Lough sat down with FRANCE 24's Gavin Lee to discuss the latest on Ukraine-Russia-US talks in the UAE.

Watch the interview on YouTube 📹⤵️ youtu.be/5KM6znOGisE
Putin's war on Ukraine 'going very badly for Russia, economy starting to hurt' • FRANCE 24 English
YouTube video by FRANCE 24 English
youtu.be
January 29, 2026 at 6:43 PM
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If Russia’s 2026 State Duma elections are tightly managed, why do they still matter?

Tomorrow, Nikolai Petrov and John Lough unpack what early preparations reveal about Kremlin strategy, elite politics, and signals ahead of 2030.

29 Jan | 16:00 CET | Online
Register at zoom.us/webinar/regi...
January 28, 2026 at 5:18 PM
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The latest NEST Centre briefing note examines how the deepening rift between the US and Europe is reshaping NATO, strengthening the Kremlin’s hand — and creating new risks for Russia itself, particularly in the Arctic.

Read it here: nestcentre.org/the-united-s...
January 27, 2026 at 2:53 PM
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"The idea that Ukraine is just going to give this up, and effectively surrender to Russia, is not acceptable.”

NEST Centre's John Lough joined Times Radio to discuss the status of Russia-Ukraine-US Negotiations. Watch the interview now ➡️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=c71A...
Russian-Ukraine-US Negotiations: Security Guarantees The Only Path To A Donbas Deal | John Lough
YouTube video by Times News
www.youtube.com
January 26, 2026 at 4:56 PM
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US-Europe tensions over Greenland are weakening transatlantic unity, expanding Russia’s room for manoeuvre, while simultaneously exposing the strategic and economic limits of the Kremlin’s ambitions, particularly in the Arctic.

Read our latest briefing note ➡️ nestcentre.org/the-united-s...
The United States against Europe: Putin the winner
US–Europe tensions over Greenland are weakening transatlantic unity, expanding Russia’s room for manoeuvre, while simultaneously exposing the strategic and economic limits of the Kremlin’s ambitions, ...
nestcentre.org
January 26, 2026 at 3:37 PM
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"By striking or threatening with impunity those states whom Putin sees as his allies, Trump has exposed Russia’s relative weakness on the global stage."

NEST Centre's Katia Glod writes for The i Paper: inews.co.uk/news/world/p...
Putin is ready to abandon old allies to secure place in Trump’s new world order
The Russian leader is playing by the US President’s rules - and is willing to cast aside old friends in the process
inews.co.uk
January 23, 2026 at 2:55 PM
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Unable to attend this week's briefing with John Lough and Oksana Antonenko?

Watch the full recording now on YouTube 🎥 www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yw0...
Trump’s chaos, Putin’s opportunity
YouTube video by NEST Centre
www.youtube.com
January 23, 2026 at 2:47 PM
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"Looking today at the Russia regime — it's past its peak."

During last week's briefing, Konstantin Eggert spoke with John Lough on Russia's unwillingness and inability to act in support of its Iranian allies.

Watch the full discussion on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kyme...
January 22, 2026 at 4:13 PM