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Atlantic Council blogs provide short-form analyses from Council experts and a wider community of global voices on the world’s most important news stories.
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UkraineAlert

Sep 8, 2026

Putin welcomes Trump’s peace envoys but has no intention of ending the war

By Peter Dickinson

Trump’s envoys continue to discuss win-win scenarios, but Putin is playing a zero sum game. His invasion of Ukraine is not a land grab or a geopolitical real estate deal. It is an attempt to reverse the Soviet collapse and revive the Russian Empire, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Disinformation

Econographics

Sep 8, 2026

The IMF’s boost to China’s currency is costing the world, ten years later

By Jeremy Mark

The renminbi was supposed to become a global currency. Instead, China’s tight controls have helped lay the groundwork for a more fragmented monetary system.

China Economy & Business

UkraineAlert

Sep 3, 2026

Putin cannot defeat NATO but he could divide and discredit the alliance

By Peter Dickinson

If Russian President Vladimir Putin decides to attack NATO, his goal will be to divide and discredit the alliance rather than actually defeating it, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Defense Policy

UkraineAlert

Sep 3, 2026

Russia is trying to bully Europe into abandoning Ukraine

By Maksym Beznosiuk, Will Dixon

Russia is escalating its campaign of so-called “grey zone” aggression against Europe as Putin attempts to intimidate EU leaders and deter further support for Ukraine, write Maksym Beznosiuk and Will Dixon.

Conflict Drones

MENASource

Sep 3, 2026

Bahrain’s opportunity for AI leadership lies under water

By Minwa Alkhalifa

Bahrain could test the possibility of placing AI infrastructure, specifically data centers, under water.

Artificial Intelligence The Gulf

EnergySource

Sep 2, 2026

The diesel shock is here. Which US states will be hit the hardest?

By Joseph Webster and Theo Aldrighi

Learn how the Strait of Hormuz closure is affecting states' supply and price of distillate fuel oil.

Energy & Environment Geopolitics & Energy Security

GeoTech Cues

Sep 2, 2026

The D2D boom has a launch problem

By Olivia Torres

Amid the race for more direct-to-device connectivity, a major obstacle has emerged: getting satellites into orbit.

Space Technology & Innovation

UkraineAlert

Sep 1, 2026

For Putin, the ‘root cause’ of the war is the existence of independent Ukraine

By Kateryna Odarchenko

Moscow claims to be ready for peace once the "root causes" of the Russia-Ukraine War are addressed, but Putin's demands confirm that he believes the "root cause" of the war is the existence of an independent Ukraine, writes Kateryna Odarchenko.

Conflict Disinformation

UkraineAlert

Sep 1, 2026

Europe should already start planning for a post-Lukashenka Belarus

By Viktar Baranau

There is nothing about today’s Belarus that suggests a country on the verge of change. Nevertheless, European policymakers would be well-advised to begin preparing for a post-Lukashenka Belarus now, in order to have a plan in place when the moment of transition arrives, writes Viktar Baranau.

Belarus Conflict

EnergySource

Sep 1, 2026

What the US executive order on bulk-power systems gets right—and what’s missing

By Landon Derentz, Frank Willey, Morgan D. Bazilian

The recently announced executive order on the US bulk-power system orders a sweeping review of security vulnerabilities. Experts assess the key opportunities and challenges.

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance