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Articles by Benjamin Schmitt
Ukraine Battles the Russian Satellite Menace
Russia’s war on Ukraine has a repeating feature – when one side marches two steps forward, the enemy is sure to follow. That’s how it was last year with Russian glide bombs and medium-range drones, and so it has been this year with Ukraine’s long-range air strikes and its newfound monopoly on the Starlink satellite system. Russia is now throwing huge resources into catching up.
Spoofing and Spillover: Russia Targets NATO
Russian shadow warfare is a many-headed hydra. Its efforts can rise and fall in intensity, can close airports or menace heads of state, target electricity grids in midwinter and sever undersea cables. The latest threat comes from Russia’s highly developed electronic warfare capabilities, which are being used to misdirect explosive-filled drones into NATO airspace. A May 19 incident over Estonia saw a NATO jet shoot down the device. That, anyway, is the conclusion of the Ukrainian government.
Ukraine’s Adaptation: Stabilised from Outside, Stretched from Within
Ukraine’s internal position is in flux with mounting pressure across governance, energy, and internal security. This stands in contrast to a more favourable trajectory on the battlefield, where the Ukrainian army has stabilised the front line and regained a relative advantage in drone warfare, despite acute manpower constraints. The result is a growing divergence between military performance and internal state capacity.
The Space Domain and the Defence of Europe
Outer space is getting much closer to the defence of Europe than it used to be. In recent years, a number of factors have converged to make space an enabler for military operations on Earth, a war-fighting domain in its own right, and an arena of strategic competition in which the US, Russia, and China play major roles. As a result, NATO, the EU, and the European Space Agency (ESA), as well as their members, are adapting to the new reality, while Europe is investing more in space.
Europe’s Energy Security Playbook
AFP/ScanpixThe Swedish Police National Task Force and the Swedish Coast Guard drive to the boarded tanker Sea Owl I, suspected of violations of the maritime code, off the coast of Trelleborg on 13 March 2026. Nearly all Baltic Sea states have recognised and prepared to weather the Kremlin’s energy security storms over the past two decades—but with a global energy crisis underway, the region will need to continue its steadfast efforts to maintain calm among the maelstroms.
"Jobs" by Benjamin Schmitt
Keywords poetry, capitalism Description Benjamin Schmitt is the Elgin Award-nominated author of four books, most recently The Saints of Capitalism and Soundtrack to a Fleeting Masculinity. His poems have appeared in Sojourners, Antioch Review, The Good Men Project, Hobart, Columbia Review, Spillway, and elsewhere. A co-founder of Pacifica Writers’ Workshop, he has also written articles for The Seattle Times and At The Inkwell. He lives in Seattle with his wife and children.
Alexander Kolyandr
Alexander Kolyandr is a Senior Fellow with the Democratic Resilience Program at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA). Alexander covered and analyzed Russian policy and economy as a strategist at Credit Suisse Bank in London and Moscow. Before that, he was Chief Correspondent for the Wall Street Journal in Moscow, a commodities reporter for the Dow Jones Newswires in London, and a Russian business and economy reporter for BBC World/Russian Service.
Sanctions Crunch Time: Russia’s Wish List vs. Transatlantic Resolve
Russia is seeking sanctions relief in discussions over Ukraine, with a focus on hydrocarbon revenues, financial reconnection, and access to high-tech imports. The Kremlin’s wish list would bring immediate economic benefits for Moscow that could enable sustained military activity and long-term reconstitution of its armed forces. Financial sector measures, including SWIFT access and correspondent banking, are among Russia’s highest priorities.
Sanctions Crunch Time: Russia’s Wish List vs. Transatlantic Resolve
Russia is seeking sanctions relief in discussions over Ukraine, with a focus on hydrocarbon revenues, financial reconnection, and access to high-tech imports. The Kremlin’s wish list would bring immediate economic benefits for Moscow that could enable sustained military activity and long-term reconstitution of its armed forces. Financial sector measures, including SWIFT access and correspondent banking, are among Russia’s highest priorities.
Countering Russia’s Shadow War
Europe is under sustained Russian assault. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, acts of physical aggression against NATO’s European domain have surged beyond even Cold War levels.
Europe Should Brace for a Long Winter
The smooth expiry of Ukraine’s Russian gas transit agreement on January 1 should have been the welcome conclusion to a long chapter in Europe’s turbulent energy partnership with Moscow. Contrary to doom-and-gloom predictions of soaring energy bills, prices have been falling, and Europe’s energy infrastructure is adapting well. Encouraging as it may seem, it may just be the calm before the storm. Winter has barely begun, and the EU is already braced for a sequence of possible crises.
Ukraine Axes Russian Energy: Will the EU Follow?
Ukraine has taken a decisive step by ending the transit of Russian gas. It aims to deprive the Kremlin of around $6.5bn in revenue from energy exports — money that is used for armaments to kill its citizens. What of the European Union (EU)? It has not had the same courage. EU imports of Russian gas increased last year, especially supplies of liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is cheaper than its US equivalent but comes at the cost of arming Russia.
CEPA at 20
For two decades, the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) has been at the forefront of strengthening the transatlantic alliance through cutting-edge research and analysis. Across our headquarters in Washington, DC, and hubs in London and Brussels, CEPA works to provide innovative insights on the most pressing issues concerning defense, democracy, and digital for Europe and North America.
Betraying Ukraine for ‘Blood Gas’
Over the past 50 years, Russia has abused Ukraine and Europe’s dependence on gas supplies and transit revenues to extort political concessions, spread corruption, and exert malign influence. It cut off exports on numerous occasions, triggering disruption across Europe and freezing millions of consumers during exceptionally harsh winters.
Betraying Ukraine for ‘Blood Gas’
Home » Commentary 07.01.2025 Betraying Ukraine for ‘Blood Gas’ On January 1, Ukraine can sever one of its last remaining ties with Russia if it ignores a last-minute campaign by Moscow’s friends in the West. By Sergiy Makogon, Aura Sabadus, and Benjamin Schmitt December 19, 2024. CEPA Over the past 50 years, Russia has abused Ukraine and Europe’s dependence on gas supplies and transit revenues to extort political concessions, spread corruption, and exert malign influence.
Moldova Seeks a Russian Noose for its Energy Supplies
Even as Moldova loudly denounced Kremlin meddling in its October elections, a handful of government officials were quietly working to buy Russian gas, an established tool for political interference. A leaked letter to Moldovan energy minister Victor Parlicov from the head of the Russian-controlled state company Moldovagaz in early October, suggests the Kremlin is keen to strike a deal.
Making Russia Pay for Hybrid Attacks
Russia is stepping up hybrid warfare against the West and now aims to create “sustained mayhem” on European streets, according to one of the continent’s most senior counter-intelligence officers. For too long, the response from democratic governments has been inadequate and sometimes barely amounts to tut-tutting. This must change. The West needs to create an arsenal of hybrid warfare weaponry sufficiently devastating to make Russian eyes water and deter future misbehavior.
Is Russia’s New Felon Fighter a Fraud?
As an example of 21st century aero-design, the Su-57 may have won some hearts during its first public overseas appearance at Airshow 2024 in China. Aviation enthusiasts and military analysts got a rare up-close look at the fighter jet and its sleek lines. But the real audience for new military aircraft are its pilots, and those of the enemies who may confront it in combat, and they may have more mixed feelings.
1,000 Missed Chances to Support Ukraine
On November 20, it will be 1,000 days since Vladimir Putin’s regime unleashed its expanded onslaught in Ukraine. That’s 1,000 times that leaders of global democracies could have taken more decisive steps to ensure Ukrainian victory. It is 1,000 times too that Western leaders could have provisioned Kyiv to combat Moscow’s strikes against Ukrainian energy systems.
Kremlin Need + European Greed = Rising Russian Energy Sales
Ask any European company whether they’d be prepared to buy Russian gas or oil and you’d get a look of horror followed by outright denial. Ask them whether they’d buy gas or oil that may be Russian, but sold under a different label, and you’d learn they’re already in talks to buy it. As with the Emperor’s new clothes, what matters is the fairy story used to disguise the deals now being arranged to sell cheap Russian gas and oil on lucrative European markets.
Don't Let Germany Go Back to Its Old Russia Tricks
Argument An expert's point of view on a current event. Former German Chancellor and Nord Stream 2 board chairman Gerhard Schröder greets Russian President Vladimir Putin before a soccer game at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on June 14, 2018.
Wake Up NATO: It’s Sabotage
European energy security and the continent’s critical infrastructure are the core pillars of Transatlantic security. Safeguarding them is fundamental to ensuring democratic resilience and stability. The growing wave of attacks across the continent by suspected Russian-recruited agents is becoming much more serious, and must soon be confronted by NATO allies with something more convincing than words.
Goodbye Putin: Disarming the Gas Transit Weapon
Russia’s military is doubling down on attacks to degrade Ukraine’s energy system. This campaign has increased in scope from last year, now seeing entire thermal power plants and larger-scale energy installations facing destruction rather than smaller electrical grid substations and transformers – with timescales and costs to rebuild skyrocketing. There is another emerging trend.
Schmitt: Warto badać rosyjski ślad sabotażu Nord Stream 1 i 2
Obiekt znaleziony przy Nord Stream 1 i 2. Źródło: DEA. W ostatnich tygodniach zakończyły się dochodzenia prowadzone zarówno w Szwecji, jak i Danii. Ich celem było znalezienie sprawcy incydentów z września 2022 roku, które doprowadziły do zniszczenia trzech z czterech magistrali Nord Stream 1 i 2.
Schmitt: It is worth to investigate the Russian trail of sabotage on Nord Stream 1 and 2
Energy GAS Infrastructure / Innovations Nord Stream 2 SECURITY 1 March, 2024 7:35 am Satellite image of gas escaping from the destroyed Nord Stream 1 and 2.
Chronic IL-1-induced DNA double-strand break response in hippocampal neurons drives cognitive deficits
Abstract Chronic inflammation characterized by increased cytokine levels, such as interleukin-1 (IL-1), accompanies many neurological diseases but little is known about IL-1 contribution to cognitive impairment and its interplay with epigenetic processes, including the DNA double-strand break (DSB) response. Here, we demonstrate that H2A.X-dependent DSB signaling in hippocampal neurons drives cognitive deficits upon chronically elevated IL-1.
Top European Energy Security Priorities for the Second Half of 2023
Russia’s February 2022 large-scale invasion of Ukraine and the ensuing, Kremlin-engineered energy crisis across the EU posed unprecedented strategic, security, and energy challenges to the Transatlantic community for the past 16 months. As Russia cut 80% of its historic natural gas deliveries to Europe last year, the continent was forced to switch, virtually overnight, from its historic reliance on Russian hydrocarbon imports to a diversification of sources.
Top European Energy Security Priorities for the Second Half of 2023
By Benjamin Schmitt and Aura Sabadus August 10, 2023 The Kremlin-engineered energy crisis posed unprecedented strategic, security, and energy challenges to the Transatlantic community. Russia’s February 2022 large-scale invasion of Ukraine and the ensuing, Kremlin-engineered energy crisis across the EU posed unprecedented strategic, security, and energy challenges to the Transatlantic community for the past 16 months.
Russian gas by any other name
Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year, the EU has finally begun to end its longstanding dependence on natural gas sourced from Kremlin-controlled Gazprom. Although years overdue in many areas of Europe, the shift marks a watershed moment for the EU to truly begin bolstering its geopolitical autonomy with respect to Vladimir Putin’s Russia.
Russian Gas by Any Other Name
By Aura Sabadus and Benjamin Schmitt June 26, 2023 Turkey may be preparing to provide a backdoor route for Russian gas. It should be helped to understand the costs of such a policy. Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year, the European Union (EU) has finally begun to end its longstanding dependence on natural gas sourced from Kremlin-controlled Gazprom.
A Western Sanctions Counteroffensive to Match Ukraine’s Military Counteroffensive
June 23, 2023 The vital need to continue to expand sanctions and tighten export controls against the Russian Federation in response to its ongoing, brutal invasion of Ukraine. Hello et Bonjour. Chair Ehsassi, Vice-Chairs Genuis et Bergeron, Distinguished Members of the Canadian Parliament.
Catching Russia Sanctions Busters - From Orbit
June 6, 2023 There is ever-more technology to pursue trade evasion methods like so-called dark shipping. They must be exploited to aid Ukraine. Space technology has played such a transformational and public role in Russia’s war against Ukraine, that it might be tempting for the international community to think of the conflict as the world’s first space war.
Winning Europe’s Energy War with Russia
Europe and Ukraine have repulsed Russia’s attempts to weaponize energy as part of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine through a set of flexible and ambitious policy responses. While Europe is well positioned to carry the success of this winter into next year, the European Commission and national governments must remain ready to support households and industries if price volatility returns.
Slaying Europe’s Energy Dragons
Europe's Edge Russia Sanctions European leaders are confident they can endure Russia’s energy blackmail and meet their ambitious climate targets. Now it’s time to convince their citizens. Photo: The lignite (brown coal) power plant complex of German energy supplier and utility RWE is reflected in a puddle in Neurath, north-west of Cologne, Germany, February 5, 2020.
The $60 Russian Oil Price Cap Won’t Hurt Putin
When Western leaders announced on Dec. 2 that they had agreed on a $60 price cap on Russian oil exports, they trumpeted it as a bold multinational achievement in energy diplomacy. But anyone who thinks this will be a significant hit to Russian oil revenues—and the Kremlin’s ability to finance its genocidal war to subjugate Ukraine—is likely to be disappointed.
Zombie Ostpolitik
November 17, 2022 Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s controversial visit to China this month generated fears that pledges of watershed changes to Germany’s foreign policy are more limited than hoped. Just 72 hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin unleashed his all-out war of aggression against the Ukrainian people, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz addressed the Bundestag with what was widely billed as a watershed in his country’s foreign and security policy.
Insights & Analysis
The transatlantic alliance depends on innovative ideas and insight to ensure a secure, prosperous, and democratic future. From government and civil society to business and academia, the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) publishes critical commentary and in-depth research from thought leaders across Europe and North America to share timely analysis and champion creative policy solutions. Get the Latest Get regular emails and stay informed about our work Δ
Don’t Stop Now — Tech Sanctions Can Wreck Putin’s War Machine
July 28, 2022 Despite the devastating impact of tech sanctions on Russia, some leaders are too eager to echo the self-fulfilling prophecy of “Ukraine Fatigue.” Ever since the Kremlin unleashed its wanton campaign of chaos in Ukraine, the world’s democracies have worked to increase sanctions pressure on the Putin regime to end its criminal aggression.
Reform the Supreme Court to restore Americans’ faith in it
It seems absurd (and rather creepy) that no matter how many millions of Americans may disagree with a Supreme Court Justice or just not care for them personally, we often have to wait for them to die to see a new face on the bench. In many ways, justices wield more power than presidents. Conceivably, Justice Amy Coney Barrett could still be deciding cases when my 7-year-old daughter is 57 in 2072. And we the people really have no say in this.
The Sky’s Not the Limit: Space Aid to Ukraine
As the Kremlin’s march of misery across Ukraine plods along, advanced technologies have shaped the trajectory of the war, especially those assets operating in low earth orbit.
NATO’s Eastern Flank Repulses Putin’s Energy Weapon Vladimir Putin might have cut off gas to Poland and Bulgaria following his invasion of Ukraine. But his real target is European sanctions unity. Read Full Article »
climate change Archives - Breaking Defense
Future wars may force the services to become more distributed and less reliant on major installations where power sources are available, which in turn “put[s] a premium on capabilities with longer range, time on station, endurance and the ability to adapt to evolving energy needs and technology.” Breaking Defense daily newsletter. Sign up and get the latest news in your inbox. We will never sell or share your information without your consent. See our privacy policy.
مترجم: رحلة قادة غربيين سابقين من أروقة الديمقراطية إلى العمل لدى الاستبداديين
ما السبب الذي يدفع قادة سابقين لدول ديمقراطية للعمل مستشارين لدى دول دكتاتورية، مثل كلٍّ من رئيس الوزراء البريطاني السابق توني بلير، والمستشار الألماني جيرهارد شرودر.
مترجم: رحلة قادة غربيين سابقين من أروقة الديمقراطية إلى العمل لدى الاستبداديين
ما السبب الذي يدفع قادة سابقين لدول ديمقراطية للعمل مستشارين لدى دول دكتاتورية، مثل كلٍّ من رئيس الوزراء البريطاني السابق توني بلير، والمستشار الألماني جيرهارد شرودر.
How to Stop Former Western Leaders From Becoming Paid Shills for Autocrats
Earlier this month, as the Russian military continued to threaten a further invasion of Ukraine and Russian President Vladimir Putin exacerbated the ongoing European Union gas crisis, a bit of news emerged that was emblematic of Moscow’s strategy to undermine a unified trans-Atlantic response: Gazprom, the Kremlin-controlled energy giant, nominated former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder to a new position on the firm’s board of directors.
2022 Is the Year for a Space Summit
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Defense, climate and energy markets are inexorably linked. It's time to acknowledge it. - Breaking Defense
The price of oil impacts both climate change efforts and national security concerns. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images) During the Trump administration, officials often repeated the slogan that “economic security is national security.” While that phrase has disappeared under the Biden administration, it’s a concept few would disagree with — unless one were to argue it must be expanded.
The Crisis in Space
W. Robert Pearson & Benjamin L. Schmitt Foreign Policy May 17, 2021 (Ju Zhenhua/Xinhua via AP) Falling rocket debris, ‘space junk’ crowding the skies, and unregulated resource competition make this the hour of space diplomacy. Read Full Article »
The crisis in space
Last week, the entire globe nervously gazed skyward, awaiting the uncontrolled reentry of the core booster stage of Beijing's Long March 5B rocket, which had been launched from China's Wenchang Space Launch Center on April 29 to deliver a module of its planned Tianhe space station. While the probability that space debris strikes a populated area is always low, the chance is above zero—and it has happened before. This time, we were spared a calamity.
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