The hottest Russia Relations Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top U.S. Politics Topics

Interview With America's Exiled Speech Dissident, Dimitri Simes

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 2758 implied HN points • 10 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Russia Relations
  1. A longtime U.S. journalist was criminally charged under a sanctions law for hosting and being paid by a Russian TV program, an unprecedented use of IEEPA that effectively criminalizes certain foreign media employment.
  2. An aggressive FBI raid confiscated many personal belongings and the journalist now lives in Russia under indictment, showing severe personal consequences and that mainstream U.S. outlets largely distanced themselves despite past reliance on his expertise.
  3. The case raises serious First Amendment and press-freedom concerns because the show was in Russian for a Russian audience and there are no public espionage or clear disinformation allegations, creating a chilling precedent for journalists and others paid by foreign outlets.

The New US National Security Strategy

Phillips’s Newsletter • 296 implied HN points • 05 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Russia Relations
  1. The US is openly aiming to influence Europe, supporting populist political movements while diminishing the power of the EU and NATO. They want to break Europe down into individual nations that are easier to manipulate.
  2. The US wants European countries to rely on American weapons and economic decisions, which could give the US a stronger hold over European nations. This could make Europe less united and more dependent.
  3. Under Trump's strategy, Russia is no longer seen as a threat by the US. Instead, there seems to be a push for Europe to re-engage with Russia, indicating a shift in how the US views international relationships.

December 29, 2025

Letters from an American • 25 implied HN points • 30 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Russia Relations
  1. The U.S. has carried out strikes tied to drug trafficking in Venezuela that officials have not fully explained, and reporting indicates the CIA used drones to hit a remote port linked to a gang.
  2. Trump met with Zelensky at Mar-a-Lago after Russia launched heavy strikes on Kyiv; U.S. officials did not greet Zelensky while Trump praised and repeatedly consulted with Putin and pushed a peace approach critics say could cede Ukrainian territory.
  3. Documented past contacts between Trump allies and Russian interests, plus Russia’s economic strain from the war, suggest Putin is pushing for territorial concessions and sanctions relief, and critics worry Trump’s negotiating stance favors those Russian aims.

Baked Alaska

Comment is Freed • 112 implied HN points • 11 Aug 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Russia Relations
  1. Trump is trying to make a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, but many think it won't work. People feel he's being misled by Putin who isn't very serious about a deal.
  2. There are worries that Ukraine might have to give up land it has fought hard to defend just to please Putin. This makes Ukrainians and Europeans very anxious about the peace talks.
  3. Many believe that any agreement reached will not be strong enough for Ukraine to accept. People are watching closely to see what happens before and during the summit.

Talking Great Power Politics in Moscow

John’s Substack • 6 implied HN points • 30 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Russia Relations
  1. A recent Cross Talk podcast episode explored how great power politics is returning after the unipolar era.
  2. The conversation focused especially on the motivations behind President Trump's foreign policy choices.
  3. The episode continued a long-running dialogue about US–Russia relations and realist perspectives, linking current debates to discussions from about a decade ago.
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Biden Blinks

Diane Francis • 359 implied HN points • 08 Jul 21
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Russia Relations
  1. Biden's decision to waive sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline has been criticized as a major mistake, as it benefits Russia and threatens Ukraine's security.
  2. Putin has taken aggressive actions against Ukraine and the U.S. in response to perceived weakness from Biden, which has raised concerns in both countries.
  3. There are discussions about how to prevent Russia from using energy as a tool for coercion, but many believe these measures won't be effective against a determined Putin.

Biden's Blunderland

Diane Francis • 359 implied HN points • 10 Jun 21
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Russia Relations
  1. Biden's approach to dealing with Putin has been weak, showing a lack of power in interactions. Instead of standing strong, he's been hesitant which gives Putin an advantage.
  2. The idea of a summit with a dictator like Putin is questioned because it doesn’t seem to benefit the U.S. It's important to show strength instead of making deals for peace.
  3. Biden needs to take serious action, like stopping an important pipeline and supporting Ukraine and Georgia. Without strong moves, the situation may only get worse for Western democracies.