The Greater Eurasia project has emerged as the poster-child of Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy, symbolic of a resurgent and self-confident Russia.

Russia / NIS

Russia—as a great power, an emerging market and an energy heavyweight—is intriguing. Both Russia and the post-Soviet space tend to be somewhat volatile and impenetrable.
The Russia/NIS Center, however, casts light on this region. Created in 2004, it anticipates new developments, enriches public debate and empowers decision-making on issues related to Russia and the New Independent States (NIS).
The Center regularly publishes papers on a wide array of themes, from central issues (such as the interaction between foreign policy and energy policy) to topics that are more innovative in France such as the Russian government’s attitude to internet governance, and the competitiveness of Russian universities.
The Center’s digital collection Russie.Nei.Visions (set up in 2005 and available in Russian, English and French) has become an important resource. Its analyses are widely disseminated via social networks and our researchers have a strong presence in French and international media.
Since the Center’s fouding, Ifri has hosted several top political representatives and key economic players in the Russian/NIS space. Attendees at Ifri’s seminars and conferences, include former Ukrainian presidents V. Yushchenko and V. Yanukovych, former Georgian president M. Saakashvili and Russian Minister for Economic Development A. Ulyukayev.
The Center maintains a strong presence in the field, staying close to public authorities and multinational firms in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) area. It has also developed many partnerships with think tanks and research institutes in Europe, the United States, China, Japan and the post-Soviet space.
Director of Ifri's Russia-NIS Center
...Research Fellow, Russia / NIS Center
...Research Fellow, Russia / NIS Center
...Project Officer, Russia/NIS Center
Associate Research Fellow, Russia/NIS Center
...Associate Research Fellow, Russia/NIS Center
...Associate Research Fellow, Russia/NIS Center
...Associate Fellow, Russia/NIS Center and Geopolitics of Technologies Program
...Associate Fellow, Russia/NIS Center
...Central Asia is conventionally seen as a conflicting space for great powers.
Russia’s comeback to Africa has been widely discussed since 2017.
What makes the militia milieu so unique and important for understanding today’s Russia is that it finds itself at the intersection of state institutions, patronage mechanisms, criminal structures, and grassroots illiberal activism.
Of Russia’s 146 million citizens (if we include those in Crimea), 63 million—or 43 percent—are under 34 years of age. Of these, 30 million belong to Generation Y (millennials in their 20s and early 30s), 15 million belong to Gen Z (teenagers), and a further 18 million are part of the youngest...
Like the proverbial cat, some concepts have several lives. Or, like the mythological phoenix, they can be reborn from the ashes. This is certainly the case of the Intermarium, a geopolitical concept that envisaged an alliance of countries reaching from the Baltic Sea over the Black Sea to the...
In recent years, Russia has focused on developing its relations with Southeast Asia, particularly in the areas of economic ties and arms sales.
The 2019 presidential and parliamentary elections in Ukraine take place against the backdrop of the continuing “hybrid war” with Russia, but are also marked by the visible successes of the Ukrainian leadership in strengthening the country’s defenses, reviving its economic growth and...
Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus have long been a blind-spot for Chinese diplomacy and economic policy. For over a decade, however, China has been laying the foundations of a long-term presence in the area, a process which has accelerated since the end of 2013 with the launch of the Belt...
The return of more conflictual relations between Russia and the West following Russia’s intervention in Eastern Ukraine and its annexation of Crimea has led to a deterioration in the strategic environment for Northern European countries, particularly in the Baltic Sea Region and the Arctic.
Russia’s International Positioning Les Mensuelles Ifri/Entreprises
These luncheon-debates are dedicated to corporate and individual benefactor members. By personal invitation only.
Myths of Russian Energy Policy : Gas Deal with China, South Stream and relations with the EU Closed Seminar
By personal invitation only
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German-Russian economic and political relations after the Ukrainian crisis: What kind of partnership?
The Study Committee for Franco-German Relations (Cerfa) and the Russia/NIS Center at the French Institute of International Relations (Ifri) organize an informal meeting with Stephen Szabo, Executive Director of the Transatlantic Academy - GMF who has...
Russia : towards a new cold war ? The fifth conference Parliament - Ifri at the Assemblée nationale
7 april 2015 from 18:30 at 20:30
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The Table of Ambassadors: lunch-debate with Oleg Shamshur, Ambassador of Ukraine to France
Debate chaired by Thierry de Montbrial, President, Ifri.
Germany, France and the United States: Towards a Renewed Transatlantic Dialog in partnership with Russia Center/NEI, Center for Security Studies, United States Program, Energy Center
Which international positioning for Russia after Crimea? Les Mensuelles Ifri/Entreprises
A luncheon debate with Thomas GOMART, Vice President for Strategic Development, Ifri.
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German, French, Polish and Russian Views on Russia’s Foreign Policy
Seminar organized by the Study Committee for Franco-German Relations (Cerfa) and the Russia/NIS Center
The Consequences of the Crisis in Russia Les Mensuelles Ifri/Entreprises
A luncheon debate with Thomas GOMART, Vice President for Strategic Development, Ifri
...President Vladimir Putin’s extra-heavy emphasis on new strategic missile systems in his March 1 address to parliament was quite unexpected and rather out of character.
The past several weeks revealed new details about the inner workings of the shadowy side of Russian foreign and defense policymaking. The revelations—focusing mainly on the ongoing investigation into Russian interference in the United States’ 2016 presidential election and the exposure of the...
RT, dubbed as an "organ of influence and deceitful propaganda" by President Emmanuel Macron in May during a joint news conference with Vladimir Putin, has now launched RT France. Has France become the latest front in Russia's information war?
PARIS — Minutes after it began broadcasting on Monday night, the new television channel RT France took aim at the country and its president, Emmanuel Macron. “President Assad accuses France of supporting terrorism,” the scroll at the bottom of the screen stated. France and the United States...
China, Russia and the U.S. see potential and risks. And for now, there's still no form of governance to oversee AI development — technology moves faster than diplomacy.
King Salman received at the Kremlin with his 1,000-strong delegation, including 100 businessmen. King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud's official visit to Moscow is the first visit to Russia for a Saudi head of state. Can this visit be seen as the signal of a shift in the region or is it just...
Russia is trying to “sow chaos” in Europe by betting big on Marine Le Pen and France's far right.
With just a few weeks left until French voters head to the polls, far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen made her way to Moscow for a surprise meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
3 questions to Mark GALEOTTI, Senior Researcher at the Institute of International Relations Prague, Director of Mayak Intelligence consultancy.
Russia watchers say Moscow is deploying considerable resources to swing the French election.