Stay Updated

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

Jan 23, 2020

Ukraine’s economic target: From stabilization to growth

By Vladislav Inozemtsev

Ukraine has staged a strong economic recovery over the past few years but the question in 2020 is whether the new Zelenskyy government can lead the country's economy from stabilization to sustainable growth.

Economy & Business Fiscal and Structural Reform

UkraineAlert

Jan 22, 2020

Ukraine can feed Brexit Britain

By Bate C. Toms

The UK is Europe's biggest food importer and Ukraine is one of the continent's top agricultural producers. This makes a post-Brexit free trade deal a potentially big win for both countries.

Trade and tariffs Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Jan 22, 2020

Bipartisan US support for Ukraine at risk as Republicans echo Kremlin

By Steven Pifer

Republicans seeking to defend President Trump have taken to accusing Ukraine of meddling in the 2016 US presidential election. This echoes Kremlin talking points and puts longstanding bipartisan US support for Ukraine at risk, says former US Ambassador to Ukraine Steven Pifer.

Politics & Diplomacy Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Jan 21, 2020

Ukraine’s top five 2020 reform priorities

By Ilona Sologoub

The Zelenskyy government has outlined an ambitious reform agenda for 2020 but will they live up to the expectations of an electorate hungry for change? These five key reform areas will give a good indication of the new government's reformist credentials.

Corruption Democratic Transitions

UkraineAlert

Jan 20, 2020

A frozen conflict may be Ukraine’s best option

By James Brooke

Many hoped President Zelenskyy's April 2019 election could break the deadlock in peace talks with Russia. However, it now looks like the best Ukraine can expect is a transition from hot war to frozen conflict. That may not be such a bad outcome, argues James Brooke.

Conflict Russia

UkraineAlert

Jan 20, 2020

Is Belarus Putin’s next target?

By Diane Francis

Vladimir Putin has been turning up the pressure on Belarus in recent months as Moscow seeks to move forward with plans to merge the country into a so-called Union State with Russia, but Minsk is proving evasive. Will Belarus be the scene of Putin's next big foreign policy adventure?

Belarus Politics & Diplomacy

UkraineAlert

Jan 16, 2020

Startup culture in a frontline city

By Diane Francis

1991 Mariupol is a new startup hub located a stone's throw away from the frontlines of Ukraine's undeclared war with Russia. Can tech innovation create opportunities for young Ukrainians facing an uncertain future due to Kremlin aggression?

Education Technology & Innovation

UkraineAlert

Jan 16, 2020

Think again

By John E. Herbst

In a recent National Interest article, George Beebe dismisses US policy on Ukraine as “steeped in illusions” and argues for a “sensible alternative.” It is a nice try, but what he comes up with does not pass muster.

Conflict NATO

UkraineAlert

Jan 15, 2020

Putin makes changes as Russia stagnates

By Michael Newton

With Putin’s presidential term set to end in 2024 and parliamentary elections to take place in late 2021, Medvedev’s resignation and Putin’s proposed changes come at a time when the Russian president is looking to secure a possibly uncertain political future.

Politics & Diplomacy Russia

UkraineAlert

Jan 15, 2020

Zelenskyy’s vision for Ukrainian national identity

By Bohdan Nahaylo

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s New Year 2020 address to the nation was a bold call for unity at a time of acute sensitivity towards issues of national identity – but is Ukraine ready to embrace diversity with country still facing an existential threat from ongoing Russian aggression?

Politics & Diplomacy Ukraine

spotlight

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.

Follow us on social media
and support our work

Content

UkraineAlert

Apr 10, 2020

Breadbasket Ukraine must not prohibit grain exports

By Anders Åslund

Ukrainian policymakers are reportedly discussing the prohibition of grain exports. This could have a disastrous impact on the economy while also damaging ties with Ukraine's international partners.

International Financial Institutions Trade and tariffs

UkraineAlert

Apr 8, 2020

Beyond east versus west: Ukraine must go global

By Viktor Karvatskyy

The coronavirus crisis is a globally disruptive event that gives Ukraine an opportunity to rethink the country's geopolitical trajectory and move beyond the traditional foreign policy of east versus west.

Politics & Diplomacy Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Apr 8, 2020

Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine is a ticking coronavirus time bomb

By Mark Temnycky

With poor medical facilities, limited quarantine measures, and a large pension-age population, Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine has the potential to become a major coronavirus hotspot.

Coronavirus Russia

UkraineAlert

Apr 8, 2020

Ukraine lacks leadership as coronavirus crisis escalates

By Volodymyr Dubovyk

Ukraine is ill-prepared for a major coronavirus outbreak but the country has wasted precious weeks engaging in political drama as the scale of the pandemic threat become increasingly apparent.

Coronavirus Political Reform

UkraineAlert

Apr 6, 2020

Коронавірусна криза відкриває можливість закінчити війну в Україні

By Уільям Б. Тейлор, Стівен Пайфер & Джон Хербст

Цю статтю було вперше опубліковано на NPR Усі три автори є колишніми послами США в Україні. Уільям Б. Тейлор є віце-президентом з питань стратегічної стабільності та безпеки в Американському інституті миру (United States Institute of Peace). Стівен Пайфер є старшим науковим співробітником програми ім. Уільяма Перрі в Стенфордському університеті. Джон Хербст є директором Євразійського центру […]

Conflict Coronavirus

UkraineAlert

Apr 6, 2020

Коронавирусный кризис открывает возможность закончить войну в Украине

By Уильям Б. Тейлор, Стивен Пайфер & Джон Хербст

Эта статья впервые была опубликована на NPR Все три автора — бывшие послы США в Украине. Уильям Б. Тейлор — вице-президент по вопросам стратегической стабильности и безопасности в Американском институте мира (United States Institute of Peace). Стивен Пайфер — старший научный сотрудник программы им. Уильяма Перри в Стэнфордском университете. Джон Хербст — директор Евразийского центра “Атлантического совета”. На фоне […]

Conflict Coronavirus

UkraineAlert

Apr 4, 2020

Ukraine adds political drama to coronavirus crisis

By Brian Mefford

Ukraine experienced a month of political turbulence in March 2020 as the country grappled with cabinet reshuffles amid an escalating coronavirus crisis. Who emerged as the political winners and losers?

Coronavirus Democratic Transitions

UkraineAlert

Apr 4, 2020

Coronavirus crisis could spark authoritarian revival

By Oleksiy Goncharenko

The Western world has been particularly hard hit by the coronavirus crisis while non-democratic regimes claim to have acted more decisively. Will the pandemic lead to greater support for authoritarian approaches?

Coronavirus Eastern Europe

UkraineAlert

Apr 2, 2020

Ukrainian local authorities move online to beat coronavirus lockdown

By Michael Druckman

With Ukraine under coronavirus lockdown, legislation has been rushed through allowing local authorities to operate online. The move is being greeted as another step in the right direction for Ukraine's fledgling democracy.

Coronavirus Democratic Transitions

UkraineAlert

Apr 2, 2020

Will coronavirus cuts kill off Ukraine’s post-Maidan cultural renaissance?

By Marina Pesenti

Ukraine is preparing major budget cuts to cultural institutions as part of efforts to fund the fight against coronavirus. This threatens to reverse the progress in the cultural sphere achieved since 2014.

Coronavirus Resilience & Society