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As the world watches the Russian invasion of Ukraine unfold, UkraineAlert delivers the best Atlantic Council expert insight and analysis on Ukraine twice a week directly to your inbox.

editor’s picks

Latest analysis

UkraineAlert

Aug 5, 2025

Digital democracy is the key to staging wartime elections in Ukraine

By Brian Mefford

With no end in sight to Russia’s invasion, Ukraine cannot afford to postpone all elections indefinitely. With this in mind, it is time to start the process of digitalizing Ukraine’s democracy, writes Brian Mefford.

Civil Society Democratic Transitions

UkraineAlert

Aug 5, 2025

Ukraine’s anti-corruption reforms are more vital than ever during wartime

By Olena Halushka

The recent wave of nationwide protests in defense of the country’s anti-corruption reforms served as a timely reminder that Ukraine’s democratic instincts remain strong, even amid the horrors of Russia’s invasion and the escalating bombardment of Ukrainian cities, writes Olena Halushka.

Civil Society Conflict

UkraineAlert

Jul 30, 2025

A Ukraine without Ukrainians: Putin is erasing Europe’s largest nation

By Peter Dickinson

Russia is systematically erasing all traces of Ukrainian national identity throughout occupied Ukraine as Vladimir Putin pursues an extreme form of eliminationist imperialism in the heart of twenty-first century Europe, writes Peter Dickinson.

Civil Society Conflict

UkraineAlert

Jul 30, 2025

Ukraine’s democracy is the key to the country’s Euro-Atlantic integration

By Alyona Getmanchuk

While Ukraine currently faces a range of unique challenges, this cannot justify neglecting democratic principles. On the contrary, defending the democratic gains of recent decades is vital if further progress toward Euro-Atlantic integration is to be achieved, writes Alyona Getmanchuk.

Civil Society Conflict

UkraineAlert

Jul 29, 2025

Trump offered Putin victory in Ukraine. Why did Putin refuse?

By Peter Dickinson

Trump thought he could get a peace deal in Ukraine by offering Putin generous terms that amounted to a Russian victory. But Putin rejected Trump’s offer because he cannot accept anything less that Ukraine’s complete capitulation, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Disinformation

UkraineAlert

Jul 29, 2025

US ambassador: China believes it is waging a proxy war through Russia

By Mykola Bielieskov

US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker has attacked China for supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and accused Beijing of waging a “proxy war” to distract the West, writes Mykola Bielieskov.

China Conflict

UkraineAlert

Jul 25, 2025

Ukraine’s supporters should prioritize unity and focus on defeating Russia

By Pavlo Grod

Wartime Ukraine needs unity. Even when the country’s supporters bitterly disagree, it is important to remember exactly what is at stake, writes Pavlo Grod.

Civil Society Conflict

UkraineAlert

Jul 24, 2025

Wartime protests prove Ukraine’s democratic instincts are still strong

By Peter Dickinson

This week’s nationwide protests are a reminder that Ukraine’s grassroots democratic instincts remain exceptionally strong despite the current wartime conditions in the country, writes Peter Dickinson.

Civil Society Conflict

UkraineAlert

Jul 24, 2025

Ukraine is now an indispensable security partner for the US and Europe

By Oleksiy Goncharenko

Ukraine’s million-strong army and unique experience of the twenty-first-century battlefield makes it an indispensable security partner for the United States and Europe, writes Oleksiy Goncharenko.

Conflict Defense Industry

UkraineAlert

Jul 22, 2025

Ukraine rocked by first wartime protests amid attacks on anti-corruption agencies

By Andrew D’Anieri

For more than a decade, Ukrainians have been fighting a two-front war: against Russian aggression and against high-level political corruption. So it’s puzzling to see Kyiv move to gut independent anti-corruption agencies, writes Andrew D’Anieri.

Civil Society Corruption

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The views expressed in UkraineAlert are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Atlantic Council, its staff, or its supporters.

The Eurasia Center’s mission is to enhance transatlantic cooperation in promoting stability, democratic values and prosperity in Eurasia, from Eastern Europe and Turkey in the West to the Caucasus, Russia and Central Asia in the East.

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UkraineAlert

Feb 9, 2020

No new Ukraine without justice for Maidan victims

By Yuri Polakiwsky

Ukraine has made considerable reform progress over the past six years, but until Kyiv offers justice for the dozens of Ukrainians killed during the country's 2014 Revolution of Dignity, many will continue to doubt whether fundamental change is possible.

Democratic Transitions Rule of Law

UkraineAlert

Feb 6, 2020

Impeachment drama gives Ukraine a US brand boost

By Ostap Yarysh

The impeachment of President Trump is now over but the drama has had a profound impact on US-Ukrainian relations and on American public awareness of Ukraine.

Politics & Diplomacy Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Feb 6, 2020

Zelenskyy must not miss his chance to change Ukraine

By Anders Åslund

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has a huge electoral mandate for change and a solid macroeconomic base to build on - but will he become bogged down in day-to-day corruption like so many of his predecessors?

Corruption Political Reform

UkraineAlert

Feb 4, 2020

International law may yet contain Putin in Ukraine

By Michel Waelbroeck and Willem Aldershoff

Rival interpretations of the 2015 Minsk Protocols have brought Ukraine and Russia to deadlock in negotiations to end the undeclared six-year war between the two nations - but could international law help Ukraine to win the diplomatic argument?

Conflict Russia

UkraineAlert

Feb 4, 2020

US-Ukraine ties after the impeachment drama

By Volodymyr Dubovyk

The Trump impeachment drama has placed enormous strain on US-Ukraine ties but Kyiv continues to rely on American support in its struggle against Russian aggression. How will the US-Ukraine partnership now evolve?

Conflict Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Jan 30, 2020

Сегодня Крым, Россия завтра?

By Melinda Haring

С аннексии Крыма весной 2014 года, Россия изменяла Украинский полуостров на темную дырку человеческих прав и огромная военную базу. Эта худшая ситуация может быть переменены в других местах в России и дальше, предупреждает Мелинда Харинг.

Conflict Economic Sanctions

UkraineAlert

Jan 30, 2020

Crimea today, Russia tomorrow?

By Melinda Haring

Since seizing Crimea in spring 2014, Russia has transformed the Ukrainian peninsula into a human rights black hole and a giant military base. This deteriorating situation could be replicated elsewhere in Russia and beyond, warns Melinda Haring.

Human Rights Russia

UkraineAlert

Jan 30, 2020

Climate change threatens the Ukrainian breadbasket

By Anna Ackermann

Ukraine is currently experiencing one of the mildest winters on record. This is sparking concern over the pace of climate change in the country and the implications for an economy that relies heavily on its status as an emerging agricultural superpower.

Climate Change & Climate Action Macroeconomics

UkraineAlert

Jan 30, 2020

Pressuring Putin is the only way to end Ukraine’s pain

By Paul Niland

Many observers believe the undeclared war between Russia and Ukraine has already become a de facto frozen conflict - but Paul Niland argues the only way to secure a lasting peace is to focus on increasing the cost of Russian aggression.

Conflict Russia

UkraineAlert

Jan 27, 2020

Ukraine’s fate will shape global security – and Americans should care

By Peter Dickinson

During a January 24 post-interview exchange, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reportedly asked a radio host, "Do you think Americans care about Ukraine?" This has sparked a lively debate about US-Ukrainian ties and the threat posed by Russian aggression.

Conflict National Security