Politics & Diplomacy

‘Putin is lying’: Zelenskyy visits front to expose false claims of Russian gains

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

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy paid a personal visit last week to a front line city that Putin has repeatedly bragged of seizing in order to expose the Russian leader's habit of lying about battlefield gains, writes Peter Dickinson.

The only winner from Ukrainian wartime elections would be Putin

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert" >Yuriy Boyechko</span>

Ukrainians are fighting to defend their democracy against Kremlin authoritarianism, but they are also in no rush to hold wartime elections amid relentless Russian bombardment and with millions of Ukrainians displaced, writes Yuriy Boyechko.

What will 2026 bring for the Middle East and North Africa?

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert" >Atlantic Council experts</span>

As 2025 comes to a close, our senior analysts unpack the most prominent trends and topics they are tracking for the new year.

Europe’s battle over Russia’s blocked assets is nearing its endgame

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert" >Charles Lichfield</span>

EU heads of state and government meet this week to discuss and vote on a “reparations loan” plan that would use blocked Russian assets to aid Ukraine.

As the US, Ukraine, and Europe talk of peace, Russia still thinks only of surrender

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert">John E. Herbst</span>

As US and European officials work with Kyiv to sort out security guarantees and other elements of a potential deal, Moscow continues its obstinance.

Beijing pressures Taiwan’s remaining diplomatic partners. Here’s what the US should do in response

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert">Kitsch Liao</span>, <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert">Nik Foster</span>, <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert">Santiago Villa</span>

Taiwan’s shrinking circle of diplomatic partners plays a crucial role in deterring Chinese coercion, and the United States needs a more targeted strategy to help preserve this support and maintain cross-strait stability.

How Europe can strengthen its own defenses and rebalance transatlantic relations

Europe should advance a new security architecture aimed at strengthening its own defense while continuing to cooperate with the United States in areas of mutual interest.

Iran poses challenges to a National Security Strategy ready to move on

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert">Nate Swanson</span>

If, as its new strategy suggests, the White House wants to spend less time on Iran, then it has three options—and one is better than the others.

Inside Trump’s peace plans  

By <span class="gta-embed--tax--expert gta-post-embed--tax--expert" > Atlantic Council experts</span>

From Rwanda to Cambodia, US President Donald Trump’s peace efforts mix economic pressure, trade deals, and high-profile ceremonies. His unorthodox style produces rapid results—but can it achieve lasting peace?