The administration of D. Trump, which came to power in 2025, undertook a series of unconventional moves on the international stage. In particular, Trump referred to the events in Ukraine and Europe as «Biden’s war,» which he would not have allowed and which should be brought to an end. The ar­ ticle examines the problem of peacemaking in the context of US foreign pol­ icy, which has long-standing traditions and practices. However, Washington’s attempts to achieve peace in various parts of the world have often resulted in failure, as priority was given to securing primarily American interests.

Based on extensive data and historical analysis, the author demonstrates the continuity of US strategic goals in the Balkans. Since the Wilson doc­ trine, the White House has consistently expanded its zone of presence. Following the creation of NATO, Washington has actively used the insti­ tutions and infrastructure of the alliance for these purposes, which does not negate the existence of its own military facilities, and has also skill­ fully played the nationalist card. The main US allies in implementing anti-Serb and anti-Russian policy in the region are Albania and the par­ tially recognized «Republic of Kosovo».

The article is devoted to the development of the structure and components of pre-migration educational modules aimed at preventing deviant behavior among labor migrants from Central Asian countries. Based on modeling, a comprehensive system is proposed, including mandatory modules on legal norms, cultural values, as well as language and professional training. The implementation of these proposed modules is aimed at strengthening the national security of the Russian Federation.

The study examines the situation of the Russian-speaking diaspora in contemporary German society: its specific characteristics, the challenges it faces, and the trends and prospects for its existence in the context of the Special Military Operation (SMO). This includes the impact of refu­ gees, relocants, the cancellation of Russian culture, and other factors.

The author examines the problems of studying sociopolitical processes, key concepts of the methodological apparatus of research, levels of re­ search, concepts of multidisciplinarity, polydisciplinarity, interdisciplin­ arity and transdisciplinarity. Methodological challenges in the context of the new informational reality, challenges of nonprofessionalism, genera­ tional metaparadigmatic priorities are analyzed, challenges associated with understanding the latest trends are explored.

The article analyzes the process of the incorporation of the territories of Southwestern Rus’ into the Russian state as a logical outcome of the complex relations between the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Russian Orthodox population, and the Cossacks. It highlights the dual role of the Cossacks and concludes that the betrayal of their Cossack allies by the Polish authorities and the intensification of oppressive policies in the Ukrainian lands was one of the most important reasons that determined the inevitability of the reunification of Southwestern Rus’ with Russia, as an act of defending a shared faith and ethnic com­ monality.

The history and culture of Byzantium, continuing the traditions of Rome and Hellenism, created an original system of stratagemic thinking. Military treatises developed methods of deception similar to Chinese stratagems. The article compares key Byzantine events with the 36 stratagems, reveal­ ing parallels in military, political, and diplomatic practice. The analysis covers crises — the Nika revolt, the war with Persia, the intrigues of the Komnenoi, and others — showing common features of strategic culture.

The article examines issues of criminal liability for offenses committed during the Special Military Operation (SMO), incorporating law enforce­ ment practices and a statistical analysis of fascist manifestations.

The world has entered an era of global transformations. The outcome of these transformations largely depends on scientific understanding, which can be seen as a necessary, albeit insufficient, condition for cog­nitive resistance to the plans of Russia’s historical adversaries. E.G. Ponomareva’s new work, «Disparati/Differences: Great Processes and the Mirrors of History», focuses not only on the past but also on the future of the world order.

This material is dedicated to the work of American consultants on USAID grants in Russia in the 1990s – the years of Boris Yeltsin’s presidency – and the results their recommendations brought to the Russia’s economy.