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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

Sep 18, 2025

Putin’s Polish probe demands decisive response to restore NATO deterrence

By <span class="gta-embed–tax–expert gta-post-embed–tax–expert">Zahar Hryniv</span>

Putin’s recent drone escalation in the skies over Poland is an unmistakable signal that NATO’s credibility is under threat. Western leaders must now respond decisively to deter further Russian aggression, writes Zahar Hryniv.

Conflict Drones

UkraineAlert

Sep 17, 2025

Europe needs a new approach to Belarus focused on practical outcomes

By <span class="gta-embed–tax–expert gta-post-embed–tax–expert" >Valery Kavaleuski </span>

Belarus is a strategically crucial European nation that no European leader can afford to ignore. Evidently, the policies adopted in 2020 have not prevented the country's slide into deepening dictatorship. It is therefore time to consider new approaches and initiatives, writes Valery Kavaleuski.

Belarus Conflict

UkraineAlert

Sep 16, 2025

Ukraine’s skies are Europe’s first line of defense against Russian drones

By <span class="gta-embed–tax–expert gta-post-embed–tax–expert" >Alina Zubkovych</span>

As NATO leaders respond to Russia's recent drone incursion into Poland, they should recognize that Ukraine's skies are now European first line of defense against Putin's growing drone fleet, writes Alina Zubkovych.

Conflict Defense Technologies

UkraineAlert

Sep 16, 2025

Only Ukraine can teach NATO how to combat Putin’s growing drone fleet

By <span class="gta-embed–tax–expert gta-post-embed–tax–expert" >David Kirichenko</span>

NATO must urgently learn from Ukraine's unique experience of Russian drone warfare as the alliance seeks to address the growing threats posed by Putin's drone swarms, writes David Kirichenko.

Conflict Defense Industry

UkraineAlert

Sep 11, 2025

China, India, and North Korea back Russia as changing global order takes shape

By <span class="gta-embed–tax–expert gta-post-embed–tax–expert">Katherine Spencer</span>

Support from China, India, and North Korea for Russia’s war in Ukraine will allow the killing to continue while undermining Trump’s efforts to pressure the Kremlin into ending the invasion, writes Katherine Spencer.

China Conflict

UkraineAlert

Sep 11, 2025

Fighting corruption strengthens Ukraine in the war against Russia

By <span class="gta-embed–tax–expert gta-post-embed–tax–expert" >Matthew H. Murray</span>

Ukraine's efforts to combat corruption on the domestic front play a vital role in the country's broader fight for national survival against Vladimir Putin's resurgent Russian imperialism, writes Matthew H. Murray.

Civil Society Conflict

UkraineAlert

Sep 11, 2025

Belarus hosts Russian war games as Putin’s drones probe Poland

By <span class="gta-embed–tax–expert gta-post-embed–tax–expert">Hanna Liubakova</span>

On September 12, Belarus and Russia will begin their largest joint military exercises since the start of Putin's Ukraine invasion, just two days after at least nineteen Russian drones penetrated neighboring Polish airspace, writes Hanna Liubakova.

Belarus Conflict

UkraineAlert

Sep 9, 2025

What is the Coalition of the Willing actually willing to do in Ukraine?

By <span class="gta-embed–tax–expert gta-post-embed–tax–expert" >Mykola Bielieskov </span>

European troops in Ukraine could serve as a meaningful element within a broader deterrence package, but Coalition of the Willing leaders should focus on making the Ukrainian military strong enough to deter the Kremlin, writes Mykola Bielieskov.

Conflict European Union

UkraineAlert

Sep 4, 2025

Ukrainian bombing campaign turns Russia’s sheer size into a weakness

By <span class="gta-embed–tax–expert gta-post-embed–tax–expert" >David Kirichenko </span>

For centuries, Russia’s sheer size has been its greatest asset. Ukraine now intends to transform this vastness into a weakness with a long-range bombing campaign targeting Putin's economically vital but vulnerable energy industry, writes David Kirichenko.

Conflict Drones

UkraineAlert

Sep 3, 2025

Europe’s best security guarantee against Russia is the Ukrainian army

By <span class="gta-embed–tax–expert gta-post-embed–tax–expert" >Elena Davlikanova, Yevhen Malik</span>

With Europe militarily unprepared and deeply reluctant to confront the Kremlin, a strong Ukraine currently looks to be by far the most realistic deterrent against further Russian aggression, write Elena Davlikanova and Yevhenii Malik.

Conflict Defense Policy

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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

Mar 23, 2023

Child abductions reveal the genocidal intent behind Putin’s Ukraine invasion

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert">Peter Dickinson</span>

Putin hoped his Ukraine invasion would secure his place among Russia’s greatest rulers. Instead, he looks destined to enter history as a genocidal dictator forever linked with the mass abduction of Ukrainian children, writes Peter Dickinson.

Civil Society Conflict

UkraineAlert

Mar 22, 2023

Russia’s Black Sea blockade is part of Putin’s war on international law

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert" >Oleksiy Goncharenko</span>

By preventing the free passage of merchant shipping in the Black Sea, Russia deprives world markets of vital Ukrainian agricultural produce while also challenging the core principles of international maritime law.

Africa Conflict

UkraineAlert

Mar 19, 2023

Putin the Pariah: War crimes arrest warrant deepens Russia’s isolation

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert" >Anders Åslund</span>

The ICC decision to indict Putin for war crimes is a highly consequential step that will deepen Russia’s international isolation while weakening Putin’s personal position both at home and abroad, writes Anders Åslund.

Conflict Human Rights

UkraineAlert

Mar 19, 2023

ICC arrest warrant for Putin is a step toward ending Russian impunity

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert" >Danielle Johnson</span>

The International Criminal Court decision to issue an arrest warrant for Putin over his alleged role in the deportation of Ukrainian children has sparked a lively debate. Is the move truly historic or merely symbolic?

Conflict Human Rights

UkraineAlert

Mar 16, 2023

Poland defies Putin with landmark decision to give Ukraine fighter jets

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert">Peter Dickinson</span>

Poland is set to become the first Western nation to supply Ukraine with fighter jets, Polish President Andrzej Duda has confirmed. Duda said Ukraine would receive four Polish Soviet-era MiG-29 jets “in the next few days.”

Conflict Missile Defense

UkraineAlert

Mar 15, 2023

Taiwan supports Ukraine and studies country’s response to Russian invasion

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert" >Kira Rudik</span>

Taiwan has emerged over the past year as one of Ukraine's strongest supporters in Asia with many Taiwanese viewing the Ukrainian wartime experience as a model for their own potential confrontation with China.

China Civil Society

UkraineAlert

Mar 14, 2023

Ukraine must do more to counter Russian narratives in the Global South

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert" >Mitchell Polman</span>

While Ukraine enjoys overwhelming support from the West, the Global South remains reluctant to oppose or even criticize Russia's ongoing invasion. Ukraine must do more to influence opinion in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Africa Conflict

UkraineAlert

Mar 14, 2023

Putin failed to freeze Europe but Russia’s energy war will continue

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert" >Aura Sabadus</span>

Vladimir Putin's plan to freeze Europe into submission during the winter season failed but there is no room for complacency as Russia still sees gas and oil exports as key weapons in its campaign to isolate and destroy Ukraine.

China Conflict

UkraineAlert

Mar 9, 2023

Will morale prove the decisive factor in the Russian invasion of Ukraine?

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert">Peter Dickinson</span>

Putin is preparing for a long war in Ukraine and still believes he can outlast the West, but mounting signs of demoralization among mobilized Russian soldiers may pose a serious threat to the success of his invasion, writes Peter Dickinson.

Civil Society Conflict

UkraineAlert

Mar 9, 2023

Calls to appease Putin in Ukraine ignore the lessons of history

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert" >Arman Mahmoudian</span>

While the desire for peace in Ukraine is perfectly understandable, mounting calls to appease Putin by handing him a partial victory ignore the lessons of history and would almost certainly lead to more war.

Belarus Central Asia