Russia and Eurasia

Why Russia keeps pumping crude even as oil prices plummet

September 8, 2015

Russia – despite serious economic headwinds, and Western energy sanctions – is scrambling make sure it retains its status as a global leader in oil and gas.The persistent collapse of oil prices has been chalked up to a game of chicken between US shale producers and the Saudi-led Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

The Christian Science Monitor

September 8, 2015

By Cristina Maza, Staff writer

Continued

Russia from Ukraine to Syria: Helping the Cat Down the Tree

September 8, 2015

Russia’s military involvement in Syria and Ukraine obligates the United States and its European allies to bring the Kremlin back to Earth and recognize that such adventures cannot be sustained indefinitely. Russia simply does not have the money and human resources to do so in view of low oil prices and birth rates. It will find itself increasingly isolated if it supports Syria’s Assad regime and separatists in the Donbas.

The Atlantic Council

September 8, 2015

By Ariel Cohen

Continued

Expert tells ‘Post’: Moscow "has definitely raised the quality of equipment it is sending" to Syria

September 7, 2015

Russia’s recent military buildup in Syria has sparked concern in Western capitals as Vladimir Putin again appears to be shrewdly calculating that the West will not significantly counter his moves.The Russian president’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea region last year was not strongly resisted by the Europeans or Americans.

The Jerusalem Post

September 7, 2015

By Ariel Ben Solomon

Continued

No more Montenegrin pork? Russia adds 4 countries to list of import bans

August 13, 2015

The ban includes meat, fish, dairy products, fruit, and vegetables. While some analysts have suggested that the economic consequences could be dire, others have scoffed that it's purely political.Russia has added Albania, Montenegro, Liechtenstein and Iceland to a list of countries from which it has banned most food imports in retaliation for Western sanctions over the Ukraine crisis.

The Christian Science Monitor

August 13, 2015

By Cristina Maza, Staff writer

Continued

Moscow’s Veto of MH17 Tribunal: A Blunder of Potentially Huge Proportions

August 5, 2015

On July 29, Russia vetoed a draft UN resolution seeking to set up a tribunal to prosecute those responsible for shooting down a Malaysia Airlines jumbo jet more than a year ago.By exercising its Security Council veto against the resolution, Moscow has lost control of the process, committing a possible error that may ultimately lead to convictions of rebel leaders and Russian officials.

By Ariel Cohen

Newsweek and the Atlantic Council

August 5, 2015

Continued

How Russia Could Become a Food Superpower

July 15, 2015

ARIEL COHEN: Russia could be a food superpower, given its vast soil and water resources. It still may become one, but the question is whether the food will be Western or Chinese.

The Wall Street Journal - The Experts

Jul 15, 2015

By Dr. Ariel Cohen

Continued

Earth to Russia. Come Back to Reality

July 15, 2015

Vladimir Zhirinovsky, Vice Speaker of the Duma and leader of the ultra-nationalist Liberal Democratic Party, has announced that in 2016, Russian flags will fly over Kyiv, Riga, Tallinn, and Vilnius. Zhirinovsky is known to fly trial balloons on the Kremlin’s behalf. One cannot tell whether this is information warfare, a mere bluff to unsettle NATO, or a real signal. Credit: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

Atlantic Council

July 15, 2015

By Dr. Ariel Cohen

Continued

China's “One Belt – One Road” Mega-project Will Boost Eurasian Natural Gas Opportunities

June 29, 2015

The efforts of China to ensure its economic development and preeminence include the creation of the “New Silk Road” - the enormous system of infrastructure mega-projects to stretch from the Pacific to the Atlantic. If completed, it will be the largest infrastructure undertaking ever built. Natural gas features prominently in the plan.

By Ariel Cohen

Natural Gas Europe

June 29th, 2015

Continued

Hey, Remember Me? It’s Europe: The Transatlantic Alliance is in Trouble

June 25, 2015

Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves cautioned at the Bratislava Global Security Forum on June 20, 2015, that the West should not stress the differences between old and new Europe, but find ways to unite Central and Eastern Europe with Western Europe."We lived next to Russia for 500 years—listen to what we have to say," Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski said at the Bratislava Global Security Forum on June 20. He's right.

By Arial Cohen

The Atlantic Council

June 25, 2015

Continued

Beyond Oil and Gas: Kazakhstan Bets its Future on Reform

June 8, 2015

Recent events in Ukraine and Russia’s anti-Western rhetoric and military posture force European energy consumers to look for alternatives for Russian hydrocarbons. One of the possible suppliers of both oil and gas could be Kazakhstan, which boast the largest hydrocarbon resources in the oil-rich Caspian basin.Kazakhstan is among the top 15 countries in the world when it comes to essential oil reserves...

By Dr. Ariel Cohen

Natural Gas Europe

June 08, 2015

Continued

Father of Recovering Kremlin Critic Vladimir Kara-Murza Says His Son Was Poisoned

June 5, 2015

Vladimir Kara-Murza has regained consciousness in a Moscow hospital after falling gravely ill on May 26, and the Russian opposition leader's father now says his son was poisoned."After the assassination of Boris Nemtsov, the collapse and severe, life-threatening medical condition of Kara-Murza raised suspicions among his friends that he may have been deliberately poisoned,"

By Melinda Haring

The Atlantic Council

June 4, 2015

Continued

Dr. Cohen’s commentary on Presidential elections in Kazakhstan

May 7, 2015

Dr. Cohen commented on the re-election of President Nazarbayev during an interview with 24KZ.

Will Greece-Russia gas deal threated EU energy security?

May 4, 2015

Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin promised Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras that Greece would get “hundreds of millions of Euros every year” for bringing Russian gas into the EU.  Gazprom’s goal is to establish a new entry point to Europe bypassing the traditional route through Ukraine.  

By Dr. Ariel Cohen

Natural Gas Europe

May 4, 2015

Continued

No Easy Outs for Putin: US Presidential Candidates United on Ukraine

April 20, 2015

Ukraine will remain at the heart of the conflict between the US and Russia beyond the 2016 presidential election. In the polls, Americans are united on Ukraine; the majority of respondents support increased sanctions on the Kremlin. All of the major presidential candidates, save Senator Rand Paul, take a tough approach with Moscow and support arming Ukraine.

Atlantic Council

By Ariel Cohen

April 20, 2015

Continued

Ariel Cohen: Putin's chilling message to the West

April 10, 2015

Vladimir Putin's 10-day disappearance shortly after the murder of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov and his triumphal reappearance after the broadcast of a 150-minute documentary on state television, suggest a more erratic - and aggressive - policy course in Russia. Here's why.

By Ariel Cohen

Kyiv Post

April 10, 2015

Continued

Putin’s Chilling Message to the West

April 10, 2015

Vladimir Putin’s 10-day disappearance shortly after the murder of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov and his triumphal reappearance after the broadcast of a 150-minute documentary on state television, suggest a more erratic—and aggressive—policy course in Russia. Here’s why.After Putin’s disappearance on March 5, the Russian media and the blogosphere dealt with little else.

By Ariel Cohen

Atlantic Council

April 7, 2015

Continued

Putin's Chilling Message to the West

April 7, 2015

Vladimir Putin's 10-day disappearance shortly after the murder of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov and his triumphal reappearance after the broadcast of a 150-minute documentary on state television, suggest a more erratic - and aggressive - policy course in Russia. Here's why.

By Ariel Cohen

Kyiv Post

April 10, 2015

Continued

For Better Relations with Russia, Ukraine Needs Independence

March 16, 2015

The future of Ukraine was discussed at the Ukrainian Energy Forum in Kiev.  Despite the fact that  the Ukrainian energy market is seasawed due to civil war in the east of the country, experts still put high hopes on reforming of the sector. Natural Gas Europe had the pleasure to talk about the current situation in the second largest European country with Ariel Cohen.

By Marina Zvonareva

Natural Gas Europe

March 16, 2015

Continued

Ukraine’s tax hike will strangle the domestic oil and gas sector

March 10, 2015

Ukraine is facing existential challenges, and energy security is one of them. The country is dependent on Russia supplying most of its natural gas as well as uranium fuel for its nuclear reactors.  Under these very difficult circumstances, a government with a holistic view of its strategic security and energy goals would logically develop a policy aimed at encouraging increased domestic oil and gas production.  

By Ariel Cohen

Natural Gas Europe

March 10, 2015

Continued

Nemtsov’s murder — the tip of Vladimir Putin’s iceberg

March 4, 2015

The murder of my good friend Boris Nemtsov is a personal tragedy. When we met for lunch in Tel Aviv a few months ago, I warned him not to return to Moscow. Posters and ads denouncing him as a "national traitor" had been plastered all over the city's Novy Arbat Avenue and on the Internet.

By Ariel Cohen

Washington Times

March 4, 2015

Continued

Lecture: “Challenges and Prospects of Oil and Gas Industry in Russia and Worldwide”

February 12, 2015

Moscow on the “Challenges and Prospects of Oil and Gas Industry in Russia and Worldwide.”The global energy landscape is evolving at a rapid pace, reshaping long-held expectations for our energy future. The presentation will offer a global energy outlook with the emphasis on Russian oil and gas production. Dr. Cohen will provide insight into recent events in the oil and gas industries around the world.

Ariel Cohen / Global Oil & Gas

A Glimpse at Energy Politics in ‘The World Is Not Enough’

November 28, 2014

Michael Apted’s 1999 film “The World Is Not Enough” portrays the iconic James Bond and his fight against an international conspiracy involving a Caspian oil pipeline, a mysterious oil heiress, and an anarchic nemesis bent on chaos. Themes that haunt the energy industry appear frequently: oil terrorism, catastrophic damage during energy transport, and environmental protests.

By Ariel Cohen

The Wall Street Journal

November 28, 2014

Continued

Interview “Ариэль Коэн: Кремль, нефть и пропаганда”

November 27, 2014

Есть ли у США ответ на украинскую агрессию Путина? Говорим с профессором Ариэлем Коэном.

lBy Михаил Соколов

November 27, 2014

RFE/RL

Dr. Cohen on Channel One Russia TV show “"Структура момента”

November 26, 2014

В студии программы "Структура момента" обсуждают суть взаимоотношений России и Запада и перспективы развития этих отношений.

November 26, 2014

Channel One Russia

Why ‘Energy Independence’ Sounds Better Than It Is

November 26, 2014

“Energy independence” has become a buzzword too closely associated with U.S. neo-isolationism. It is true that calorie by calorie, the U.S. can become “energy independent,” especially if it fully taps its massive fossil-fuel resources.

By Ariel Cohen

The Wall Street Journal

November 26, 2014

Continued