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The Diplomatic Envoy

Russia

Eastern Europe2022Conflict and Security
Alejandro Ramirez

In Ukraine, an Invasion and its Consequences

Weeks of escalating tensions in Europe reached their breaking point on February 24, when Russia officially launched its first attacks against Ukraine. As the ominous buildup of over 100,000 Russian troops on Ukraine’s border showed no signs of slowing down in the days leading up to the attack, many nations expressed concern that President Vladimir Putin was formulating plans for military operations against Ukraine, reports The New York Times.

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World2022
Brianna Millican

As the Olympics Wrap Up, Scandals Take Center Stage

As the 2022 Winter Olympics come to a close, scandals continue to dominate many of the stories from Beijing. The games were shrouded in scandal from the start, beginning with the sudden disappearance of the famous Chinese tennis player, Peng Shuai, several months before the games, after she publicly stated she was assaulted by a high-ranking member of the Chinese government, reports The Washington Post. Then, there were the concerns about the Chinese government’s treatment of the Uyghur people, for which the United States, Australia, Britain, Canada, Kosovo, and New Zealand diplomatically boycotted the Olympics.

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February 2022Eastern EuropeOpinion2022
William Kanatzar

Where’s the Working Class in Foreign Policy?

The wealthiest country in human history finds itself helpless in stopping a nation with an economy smaller than that of Texas. There’s no punchline to follow, and if there was, it would certainly fall flat to Ukrainian comedian-turned-President Volodymyr Zelensky. NPR reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin has encircled Ukraine’s border with 100,000 Russian soldiers.

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February 2022Eastern Europe2022International News
Charleigh Stone

Tensions Escalate Between Ukraine and Russia: The Latest Updates

In its most recent move to counter Russian military buildup near the Ukrainian borders, the United States has pledged to end support for Nord Stream 2, a German-controlled gas pipeline project connecting Russia and Germany, stressing U.S.-German unity if Russia invades Ukraine, Reuters reports. The declaration came during a joint U.S.-German press conference on Monday, February 7.  

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2021Eastern EuropeAmericasConflict and Security
Joshua Powanda

Growing Threat of Russian Invasion in Ukraine Raises Grave Concerns in Washington and Europe

This past week, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to Europe to meet with partners and adversaries to discuss the growing threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. According to the Military Times, Russia has built up nearly 120,000 troops as well as conventional military equipment along its border with Ukraine and Belarus, signaling a potential invasion in the coming weeks.

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2021International NewsAsia
Joshua Powanda

Putin’s Visit to India Complicates Geopolitical Relations with the United States and China

On Monday, December 6, Russian President Vladimir Putin traveled to India to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discuss the maintenance and growth of relations between the two states. In just his second international trip since the global emergence of COVID-19, Putin’s arrival comes amid complex geopolitical developments throughout Asia.

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Campus SpotlightInternational NewsSchool of Diplomacy News
Jasmine Deleon

“Here, Right Matters” with Alexander Vindman at the School of Diplomacy 

On October 25, retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman visited the School of Diplomacy and International Relations to promote his new memoir, Here, Right Matters, and share his experience of serving during the Trump administration. The World Council of New Jersey organized the book presentation and discussion.   

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October 2021Frozen ConflictsConflict and Security
bunceeric

FOCUS on Frozen Conflicts: Ukraine-Russia

Seven years ago, Russia annexed Crimea in southern Ukraine, sparking the largest security crisis in Europe since the end of the Cold War. Today, this conflict continues to simmer, with over 10,000 killed and 24,000 injured, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. Eastern Europe is no stranger to uncertainty, but the situation in Ukraine presents a serious obstacle to peace in the region and has left the country in a precarious state of limbo. 

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October 2021Eastern EuropeInternational News
Kathryn Natale

Prison Officials Designate Navalny as a “Terrorist” and an “Extremist”

On October 11, the officials of a Russian prison in Vladimirskaya Oblast, which is located about 60 miles east of Moscow, designated the opposition leader Alexei  Navalny as a “terrorist” and an “extremist” according to Reuters. He was given these designations after the same commission revoked his previous status as an “escape-risk,” a status which necessitated more tedious “accounting.”

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