“I cannot forecast to you the action of Russia. It is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma: but perhaps there is a key. The key is Russian national interests.”

Winston Churchill

Russia remains a riddle, as well as a significant challenge for the United States and the rest of the world. The recent news of the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny was tragic, but hardly surprising in Vladimir Putin’s Russia. Protest of the Kremlin has been met with draconian laws and murderous actions. The value of dissent, not to mention rule of law that is fairly enforced by the courts, and private property rights are crucial to a prosperous nation. International relations seem more perilous now than any time in recent memory.

I have included the Raymond James February 23, 2024, “Weekly Headings: Thoughts of the Week”, by Raymond James’ Larry Adam, Chief Investment Officer, Private Client Group. Please contact me at your convenience if you would like to discuss.

I recently read “Moscow X: A Novel”, written by David McCloskey and published October 3, 2023. McCloskey, who previously published “Damascus Station”, has written another very compelling spy novel. “Moscow X” is an intelligent espionage story of the recruitment of a member of Russia’s SVR, and her husband, a banker for Vladimir Putin. I won’t give away story, but it was a gripping, tension-filled novel that I had a hard time putting down.

Thanks for reading and please contact me with any questions or comments.

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