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☆ NASA chief and Democratic lawmakers urge investigation into reports of Musk-Putin conversations
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-27 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The Wall Street Journal reported that Elon Musk and Vladimir Putin have shared secret calls since 2022. A former DoD analyst said that a relationship like this could pose national security concerns. Because of his work with the federal government via SpaceX, Musk holds a security clearance that gives him access to some classified information. "The security clearance adjudication process looks at several factors, and undue foreign influence is just one of those factors," Stransky, now a partner at Thompson Hine law firm, said. The existence of an ongoing Musk-Putin relationship would be further complicated by the billionaire tech leader's recent foray into US politics.

Persons: Elon Musk, Vladimir Putin, —, Bill Nelson, Musk, Putin, Nelson, Semafor, Adam Smith, aren't, Sen, Jeanne Shaheen, Smith, Shaheen, Dmitry Peskov, Steven Stransky, Thompson, Stansky, Robert English, Xi, Trump, he's, Tesla Organizations: Street Journal, Washington, Service, Democratic, SpaceX, Business, NASA, Department of Defense, House Armed Services Committee, Politico, Defense Department, New, New Hampshire Democrat, Senate Foreign Relations, Senate Armed Services Committee, DoD, National Reconnaissance Office, astronautics, Pentagon, Department of Homeland Security, National Security Council, Central, University of Southern, Trump Locations: New Hampshire, University of Southern California, Taiwan

☆ Putin is flexing his power with the deaths of his opponents — but he may also be highlighting the weakness of his regime
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

"That's an extraordinary power, and Putin did it effectively, making sure it wound up in the news." AdvertisementThe display of power by the Russian state, while jarring, is not out of the norm for Putin's regime, which has been accused of assassinations abroad for decades. Both Navalny's and the pilot's deaths fit Putin's playbook to a T, exemplifying the lengths to which the Russian regime will go to maintain the illusion of total power, Schmidt said. AdvertisementFor years, Navalny represented the most formidable threat to Putin's regime, criticizing corruption in the Russian state and organizing powerful anti-Kremlin protests. AdvertisementNavalny's death shows Putin is easily threatenedThe two experts said Navalny's death, rather than simply displaying Putin's power, actually highlighted his weakness.

Persons: —, Vladimir Putin, Alexey Navalny, Putin's, Putin, Matthew Schmidt, Schmidt, Navalny, Simon Miles, Miles, Robert English Organizations: Service, Business, The University of New Haven, US Army's School, Advanced Military Studies, Russia's Federal Prison Service, Kremlin, Duke University's Sanford School of Public, Soviet Union, University of Southern Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Spain, Russia, Avdiivka, Russia's, Soviet, Moscow, University of Southern California, Soviet Union, Eastern Europe

☆ Russia historians say the Tucker Carlson interview solidified one thing about Putin — he's off the rails
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewRussian President Vladimir Putin delivered a strange performance fueled by Russian propaganda and imperialist posturing in his interview with right-wing media host Tucker Carlson last week. The two-hour interview revealed little new information about the war in Ukraine — beyond that it is likely to continue — but did manage to highlight Putin's increasing delusion, according to two Russia historians. AdvertisementThe Russian president parroted in great, slogging detail many of the erroneous talking points he's used over the years to bolster his belief that Ukraine ought to be under Russian control. "Instead, he showed that it wasn't Russian insecurity, but Putin's personal imperialism, that motivated the war," English said.

Persons: —, Vladimir Putin, Tucker Carlson, Robert English, Putin, parroted, he's, Rurik, Simon Miles, Carlson, combusted, Putin didn't, Miles, Masha Gessen, Hitler, Gessen, Donald Trump Organizations: Service, Business, University of Southern, Duke University's Sanford School of Public, Soviet Union, GOP, NATO Locations: Ukraine, Russia, University of Southern California, Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, Russian, Polish, Lithuanian Commonwealth, Soviet, West, Kyiv, United States, Israel

☆ Putin has bet Russia's entire economy on war. An expert says it's his best shot at maintaining control of the country.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Vladimir Putin bet his economy on a long war, ramping up military production and raising wages. An expert told Insider keeping Russia's economy stable is critical to prevent regime collapse. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. AdvertisementAdvertisementVladimir Putin has fully transitioned the Russian economy toward wartime production, betting his country's financial and manufacturing systems can outlast the West's until Russia sees a military victory in Ukraine. As long as the country maintains some semblance of the status quo in the economy, English said he doesn't expect to see things changing.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Robert English, —, Putin, Vasily Astrov Organizations: Service, Kremlin, Street Journal, Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, ., Government of, Russian Federation, University of Southern Locations: Russia, USSR, Ukraine, Russian, University of Southern California

☆ Did Putin kill Prigozhin? It's one of 3 possible explanations Russia watchers came up with for the deadly plane crash
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin is presumed dead after his plane crashed on Wednesday. It was not immediately clear if Prigozhin was on the downed plane, though his name was on the flight manifest. Yevgeny Prigozhin and Russian President Vladimir Putin in happier times — a 2010 tour of a school lunch factory outside Saint Petersburg. Following the Wednesday plane crash, US President Joe Biden suggested Putin could be behind the crash in comments to reporters. AdvertisementAdvertisementIn the early hours following the plane crash, some on social media considered the possibility that Prigozhin had somehow faked his death, perhaps sending a double in his place.

Persons: Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Putin, Prigozhin, Dmitry Utkin, Vladimir Putin, Simon Miles, Robert English, Bill Burns, Alexey Druzhinin, Burns, Miles, Alexander Lukashenko, ”, lelXsOcPSV, Julia Ioffe, Joe Biden, —, flaunting, Sergei Surovikin, Matthew Schmidt, Schmidt Organizations: Security, Service, Russian Federal Air Transport Agency, Wagner, Duke University's Sanford School of Public, Soviet Union, University of Southern, CIA, Sputnik, Getty, Reuters, Press, Prigozhin, New York Times, University of New, Pentagon, Kremlin Locations: Russian, Wall, Silicon, Moscow, Russia, Soviet, Ukraine, University of Southern California, Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, Saint Petersburg, Aspen, Belarus, St . Petersburg, Africa, Belarusian, Concord, University of New Haven

☆ Those desperate to break the deadlock in Ukraine are hoping China will turn on Russia. They shouldn't hold their breath.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

One expert said it was "naïve American diplomacy" to think something fundamental between China and Russia had changed. But the idea that China would turn on Russia anytime soon may be little more than wishful thinking. "It is clever Chinese diplomacy to keep meeting and talking, and it is naïve American diplomacy to think that this means something fundamental has changed," English said. He added threats from the West are also unlikely to turn China against Russia, as Xi knows that Europe is more dependent on trade with China than the other way around. "The West needs to stop looking at Chinese behavior through Western eyes, and start understanding it from a Chinese perspective."

Persons: Xi, Putin, Robert English, Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Antony Blinken, Simon Miles, Miles, Wang Wenbin Organizations: Saudi, Service, Privacy, China, NATO, University of Southern, Duke University's Sanford School of Public, Soviet Union, Foreign, Associated Press Locations: China, Russia, Wall, Silicon, Ukraine, University of Southern California, Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, Moscow, West, Saudi Arabia, American, Europe, Soviet, Saudi

☆ The Ukraine war is great for China — it gets 'fire sale prices' on oil and gas and leaves its rivals, the US and Russia, 'tied down and bleeding each other,' experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

China says it's neutral in the Russia-Ukraine war and even tried to broker a peace deal earlier this year. However, experts told Insider that China has good reason to stay friendly with Russia as war wages. China is pocketing discounted oil and gas and enjoying geopolitical perks as a result of the war. But amid the chaos and costs, there's at least one country reaping the benefits of the brutal conflict, two Russia experts told Insider. But two experts who study Russia told Insider that China has good reason to stay friendly with its Eastern neighbor as war wages.

Persons: Robert English, China —, Simon Miles, Miles, Russia's Organizations: Service, —, University of Southern, US, Politico, Duke University's Sanford School of Public, Soviet Union Locations: China, Russia, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, — Russia, University of Southern California, Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, Soviet, Beijing, Moscow, Russian, Africa, Latin America

☆ Putin didn't kill Prigozhin after his revolt, but that doesn't mean he isn't trying to destroy the Wagner boss
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin launched an armed revolt against Russian military leadership and survived. Members of Wagner group looks from a military vehicle in Rostov-on-Don late on June 24, 2023. Head of the Wagner Group Yevgeny Prigozhin left the Southern Military District headquarters on June 24, 2023 in Rostov-on-Don, Russia. And it could make Prigozhin into a martyr," English said, arguing that Putin is likely to seek out other ways to destroy Prigozhin. For individuals higher up in the mercenary organization considered responsible for the rebellion, people like Prigozhin, Russian leadership has hinted at unspecified consequences.

Persons: Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Putin, —, Vladimir Putin's, Alexander Lukashenko, Prigozhin, It's, ROMAN ROMOKHOV, ISW, Wagner Group Yevgeny Prigozhin, Stringer, Robert English, burnish, Prigozhin's Organizations: Russian, Service, Wagner Group, Getty, Institute for, Southern Military, Anadolu Agency, University of Southern, Wagner, Kremlin Locations: Russian, Belarus, Bakhmut, Rostov, AFP, Ukraine, Moscow, Russia, Don, University of Southern California, Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, Prigozhin

☆ Analysis: Vladimir Putin's humiliation will require the West to reexamine its balancing act to save Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —The world just got a hint of a tantalizing but possibly even more dangerous future without Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Western stakes in the Ukraine war rose significantly as a result. There’s now no doubt that the war Putin unleashed to wipe Ukraine off the map poses an existential threat to his political survival. This would be good news for the West, which has bankrolled and armed the country’s fight for its life. After this weekend, this new reality will require the West to once again examine its balancing act to save Ukraine.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin flagrantly, Prigozhin’s Wagner, –, Putin, There’s, Oz, Ukraine John Herbst, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, “ Putin, Prigozhin’s, Moscow’s, Prigozhin –, Africa –, Prigozhin, he’s, CNN’s Kevin Liptak, Biden, ”, David Petraeus, Petraeus, “, Ramzan Kadyrov, Wagner, Robert English, Alexei Navalny, Alexander Lukashenko, “ It’s, Antony Blinken, placated –, Blinken, Will Hurd, ” Hurd, Hurd –, Donald Trump –, Trump Organizations: CNN, White, Kremlin, NATO, Western, Russian Federation, Union, CIA, Internet Research Agency, School of International Relations, University of Southern, Belarusian, ”, Republican, GOP, Moscow Locations: Ukraine, Moscow, Europe, Belarus, Russian, Russia, Syria, Africa, France, Britain, Germany, Washington, “ State, University of Southern California, NATO, Crimea, Texas

☆ A Chinese official said 'Putin is crazy' but Beijing may be trying to have it both ways by distancing itself from the Ukraine war while still supporting Russia financially
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-14 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Several Chinese officials tried to distance themselves from Putin and the Ukraine war, FT reported. China has not officially endorsed the war but continues to buy Russian energy and other exports. As of August, Chinese imports from Russia jumped by nearly 60% from the year prior, while exports to Russia increased by 26%, Reuters reported, citing customs data. And in the FT report published this week, several Chinese officials tried to distance China from the Ukraine invasion, even expressing mistrust in Putin directly. "Putin is crazy," one unnamed Chinese official told FT. "The invasion decision was made by a very small group of people.

Others, like China, have criticized the war without meaningfully reducing ties with Russia. The war prompted condemnation in the United Nations and saw Russia booted from the UN Human Rights Council. Beijing has walked a careful line since the invasion began, at times exhibiting impatience with Russia's war in Ukraine. Putin in September acknowledged that China had "questions and concerns" about the war while meeting with Xi in Uzbekistan. "Putin's allies are not 'turning on him,' only expressing dissatisfaction at the difficulties his war in Ukraine is causing them," he added.

☆ Russia partners like China and India expressing concerns over Ukraine may have forced Putin's hand and driven him to try and end the war quickly, according to Russian politics experts
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Some of Putin's global partners expressed concerns about his war in Ukraine last week. A Russia expert told Insider Putin may have acted out of fear of straining relationships with nations like China and India. Both China and India have been powerful partners of Russia throughout the war, declining to institute sanctions and continuing to purchase the country's energy products. Experts told Insider it would be weeks or months before the mobilized troops are trained, equipped, and deployed. "The evidence of criticism of allies like China or neutral states like India clearly put more pressure on him," English told Insider.

☆ Putin's call-up won't make a dent in Ukraine for months and is already sowing panic at home with protests and people racing to get out of the country
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Putin on Wednesday announced a partial military mobilization order seven months into the Ukraine war. Ukraine, on the other hand, ordered full military mobilization just days after the war began and is just now reaping the benefits. It could take more than a month for reservists to deployOne of the major obstacles to Russia's mobilization aspirations is the country's depleted military infrastructure. Photo by Contributor/Getty ImagesResistance from the Russian public is growingIt's not just military experts who have their doubts about Russia's mobilization. Russians across the country took to the streets following Putin's speech, sparking protests and chants of "no to war."

☆ Putin's nuclear threats indicate the president is increasingly aware of how limited his military options are in Ukraine, Russia expert speculates
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Vladimir Putin on Wednesday escalated his war in Ukraine with a direct threat of nuclear warfare. Putin is increasingly "aware of how limited his actual military options are," one expert said. During his televised speech, the president also baselessly accused the West of threatening to use nuclear weapons and responded with an acknowledgment of Russia's own nuclear arsenal. "It is clear that he is growing more and more aware of how limited his actual military options are in this war." A Russian nuclear missile rolls along Red Square during the military parade marking the 75th anniversary of Nazi defeat, on June 24, 2020 in Moscow, Russia.

☆ Putin has been called a 'master procrastinator' but experts say he wanted to avoid mobilizing troops 'at all costs' due to how unpopular it would be in Russia
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Experts said Putin wanted to avoid the move, but also wanted to bolster his military. The move could weaken support for Putin's regime as Russians are exposed to the reality of the war. The Russian president has found his forces short on manpower while Ukraine, on the other hand, ordered a full military mobilization within days of the invasion in February. "He's a master procrastinator," Michael Kofman, a military analyst of Russia studies at the Center for Naval Analyses told Puck's Julie Ioffe this week. Experts told Insider it could take weeks or months for Russia's partial mobilization to bear fruit, as the reservists need to be trained, equipped, and deployed.

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