Geopolitics & Trade · Powers
Russia's geography problem
The world's largest country, flat plains to the west and few warm-water ports.
Step 1 of 4 · Overview15 min read ·
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Area | ~17.1M km², largest country |
| Time zones | 11 |
| Western border | North European Plain: flat, hard to defend |
| Ports | many freeze in winter; Black Sea access is strategic |
With few natural barriers to the west, Russian strategy has long sought buffer zones. Year-round warm-water ports, like Sevastopol in Crimea, carry huge strategic weight.
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