Publication

This commentary examines the rising tensions between Russia and the West. Putin's decision to ban US adoptions of Russian children in response to the US passing the 'Magnitsky Act' marks the lowest point in the US-Russian relationship since the end of the Cold War. Western countries are unlikely to be persuaded to overlook Russian human rights abuses in the future. For their part, Russia’s leaders are making it clear that if Russia’s place in Europe is not vouchsafed uncritically, they are prepared to invent a new, anti-Western identity of their own.