Atlantic Council blogs

Analysts: As Crimea Vote Is Declared, Putin Is Reaching for Lands Beyond

By New Atlanticist

Sunday’s referendum in Crimea produced the expected result. That vote – and steps by the Russian parliament, the Duma – lay the groundwork not only for Russia’s annexation by Crimea, but for a more formal takeover of lands beyond, say Atlantic Council Senior Fellow Adrian Karatnycky and other analysts. Like many, Karatnycky  begins by noting […]

Syria: Three Years and Counting

By Frederic C. Hof

When Bashar al-Assad authorized the shooting of peaceful demonstrators in Deraa three years ago, no one foresaw the destruction of Syria, and no one could have imagined the enormity of human suffering and political instability that would flow from such a craven and stupid decision.

The Arab Countries in Transition: Three Years On [Video]

By EgyptSource

Following the release of the report, The State of the Arab Transitions, Mirette F. Mabrouk, Deputy Director with the Rafik Hariri Middle East Center, speaks about the Arab countries in transition, and the overall sense of hope resilient that the demands of the uprisings that swept the region will be met. 

US Issues Targeted Sanctions on Russian Elites

The US and EU rejected Crimea’s referendum Sunday, issuing statements and new sanctions outlining the West’s overwhelming disapproval of Russian activities in Crimea.

White House List of Russian and Ukrainian Individuals Under US Sanctions

By White House

President Obama today issued a new Executive Order (E.O.) under the national emergency with respect to Ukraine that finds that the actions and policies of the Russian government with respect to Ukraine -– including through the deployment of Russian military forces in the Crimea region of Ukraine –- undermine democratic processes and institutions in Ukraine; threaten […]

Prime Minister Katainen: Finland is Not Neutral, NATO is an Option

By Yle

In an interview published on Sunday in the German newspaper Der Tagesspiegel, Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen reiterated the country’s stance that Finland is not a neutral country, even though it is not part of any military alliances.

Lessons From Ukraine’s Crisis

By Rajan Menon

The referendum that occurred on Sunday in Crimea was a flagrant violation of Ukraine’s constitution. And it was held amidst a Russian military occupation supposedly mounted to defend ethnic Russians on the peninsula, even though there was no evidence that they were under attack.

US Army to Proceed with Planned Exercise in Ukraine

By Nancy Montgomer, Stars and Stripes

Atlas Vision is canceled. But Rapid Trident is still a go.