It could truly be the case that Vladimir Putin has miscalculated in the long term with his adventure in Syria.

The most hopeful approach to peace in Ukraine is the Minsk Agreement, which includes Moscow.

Even well-known historians like Edward Gibbon are talking about how the soldiers of the 18th century were not able to do the same type of exercise [like Romans].

Besides problems of traditional societies, the Caucasus has to cope with quite a few unsettled territorial conflicts that also nurture authoritarian governmental structures.

[Vladimir] Putin needs wars to legitimize his position.

The handover of power to [Dmitry] Medvedev was rather painless, everybody thought that the waves would calm automatically. By now, it's quite clear that [Vladimir] Putin doesn't want to relinquish the levers of power.

Of course, if people do not want to do any work then it is better to start the game from a random position.