The Caucasus is one of the priority areas in Russian policy, and Russia's impact on developments there is in many cases decisive. Since 1990 Yeltsin's policy has been neither consistent nor really successful-Chechenia represents the most serious failure. The author examines the evolution of the main strands of Russian diplomatic, military and economic policy towards the three Caucasian states as well as towards the North Caucasian republics of the Russian Federation.