Eurasia Center

The Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center promotes policies that secure vital American interests by strengthening stability, opposing aggression by US adversaries, and supporting democratic values and economic opportunities from Eastern Europe to the South Caucasus to Russia to Central Asia.

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our regions in focus

Ukraine

Ukraine is the Eurasia Center’s main focus because Russia’s war threatens the vital interests of the United States and its allies. The outcome of the war will determine Ukraine’s future and Europe’s as well. Ukraine’s on-and-off efforts to reform are another area of great attention. Since the 2014 Maidan Revolution, Ukraine has made notable, if uneven, progress toward reform that must continue even as it fights off Moscow’s massive invasion.

Russia

Russia under Vladimir Putin violently menaces its neighbors and seeks to tear down the US-led global order. But the Kremlin aggression of today need not preclude a more peaceful and prosperous tomorrow. While Putin’s regime tries to paint US policy—and Eurasia Center activity—as anti-Russian, the Center’s efforts are based on the understanding that defeating Kremlin aggression in Ukraine will be positive not just for Ukraine, Europe, and the United States, but also for Russia itself.

The Caucasus

Named for the mountain range between southern Russia and northern Turkey and Iran, the South Caucasus is home to the nations of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. This geopolitically complex region has the potential to be a crossroads of global commerce. The Eurasia Center supports efforts for a just peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan and works to help prevent further democratic backsliding by Georgia’s increasingly authoritarian leadership.

Central Asia

The Central Asian republics—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan —are located at the nexus of Russia, China, South Asia, and the Middle East. Growing dynamism in the region may provide openings for greater freedom and prosperity. It is in US interests that this region not fall under the outsized influence of either China or Russia. The Eurasia Center regularly hosts leaders from Central Asia for expert discussions and high-level events.

Belarus

When Belarusian dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka attempted to steal the 2020 presidential election, he inadvertently set off a national movement in Belarus toward greater freedom and self-determination that persists today. The Center has reported actively on the efforts of the Belarusian opposition, led by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, and provided a premier platform to keep Belarus on the agenda in Washington.

Moldova

Moldova has moved fitfully toward an open society and market economy while Moscow has supported separatists in the region of Transnistria. But, its European Union candidacy may herald a better integrated future. The Eurasia Center’s Moldova programming actively promotes the country’s democratic and European future.

Commentary & Analysis

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine

Working with a wide community of experts and thought-leaders, the Eurasia Center delivers cutting-edge analysis and policy recommendations.

Eurasia Center

New Atlanticist Dec 4, 2024

A winning strategy to end Russia’s war against Ukraine

More than a dozen experts from the United States and Europe share their recommendations to the incoming Trump administration about how best to end Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Conflict Politics & Diplomacy
Eurasia Center

UkraineAlert Jul 22, 2024

Andriy Yermak: Ukraine and NATO are restoring Europe’s security architecture

By Andriy Yermak

Together with the country’s allies, Ukraine has set out on the path to restore the European security architecture, writes the head of Ukraine’s Office of the President Andriy Yermak.
Conflict Defense Industry

Flagship publications

Blog

UkraineAlert

UkraineAlert is a comprehensive online publication that provides regular news and analysis on developments in Ukraine’s politics, economy, civil society, and culture. UkraineAlert sources analysis and commentary from a wide-array of thought-leaders, politicians, experts, and activists from Ukraine and the global community. UkraineAlert has become a major publication in Ukraine’s news landscape and has established itself not only through its quality of content but also significant partnerships with English, Ukrainian, and Russian-language media through the country.

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Report series

Russia Tomorrow

The Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center’s pathbreaking Russia Tomorrow series aims to reevaluate conceptions of Russia today and better prepare for its future tomorrow. Through a series of succinct, accessible policy papers, Russia Tomorrow’s expert authors address potential scenarios for Russia’s future, Putin’s web of confidants, the “kremligarch'” infiltration of the West, and much more. Led by Eurasia Center Senior Director John Herbst and nonresident senior fellow Brian Whitmore, Russia Tomorrow delivers insights and policy recommendations from leading experts to enhance our understanding of Russia.

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Featured events

Flagship event

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dedicates his Global Citizen Award to the brave people of Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accepted his Atlantic Council 2023 Global Citizen Award for leading the Ukrainian people in the fight to protect his country’s sovereignty. Zelenskyy dedicated the award to the men and women on the frontlines of the war, the teachers and doctors who kept working despite the threat of missiles, and the children who have been killed.
#ACFRONTPAGE

President Salome Zourabichvili on Georgian democracy and Russian influence

President Salome Zourabichvili joined the Atlantic Council to discuss the current political landscape in Georgia and the role Russia plays in undermining democratic processes in Europe and beyond.

The Eurasia Center regularly convenes with regional leaders and key global figures to galvanize support international support a free, prosperous, and peaceful future in Eurasia.

all events

Leadership

Staff

John E. Herbst

Senior Director

Eurasia Center

Ukraine Politics & Diplomacy

Staff

Shelby Magid

Deputy Director

Eurasia Center

Ukraine Human Rights

Staff

Peter Dickinson

Editor, UkraineAlert

Eurasia Center

Ukraine Civil Society

Staff

Andrew D’Anieri

Associate Director

Eurasia Center

Ukraine Political Reform

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Experts

Fellow

Tatiana Gfoeller

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Eurasia Center

Arabic Central Asia

Fellow

Brianne Todd

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Eurasia Center

Central Asia English

Fellow

Oksana Nechyporenko

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Eurasia Center

Civil Society Education

Fellow

Katerina Sedova

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Eurasia Center

Artificial Intelligence Eastern Europe

Fellow

Myroslava Gongadze

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Eurasia Center

Democratic Transitions Eastern Europe

Fellow

Volodymyr Havrylov

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Eurasia Center

Defense Policy English
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Content

UkraineAlert

Jul 17, 2014

New US Sanctions on Russia: A Good Step, Two Weeks Too Late

By John Herbst

Putin Used West’s Hesitation to Escalate Kremlin’s War on Ukraine The news that the United States has sanctioned several major Russian banks and firms, greatly limiting their use of American financial markets, is the first good news in months in terms of Western support for Ukraine. The designation of Vnesheconombank (Bank for Development and Foreign […]

Ukraine

In the News

Jul 17, 2014

Herbst on What Went Wrong on MH17

By John Herbst

Eurasia Center Director John Herbst joins Fox Business to discuss the political implications of the Malaysian plane crash:

Russia Ukraine

In the News

Jul 17, 2014

Herbst on Malaysia Airlines Crash

By John Herbst

Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Director John Herbst joins MSNBC’s The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell to discuss the international consequences of the Malaysia Airlines plane that was shot down near Ukraine’s eastern border with Russia: 

Russia Ukraine

In the News

Jul 17, 2014

Herbst on Increased US Pressure Against Russia

By John Herbst

The New York Times quotes Eurasia Center Director John Herbst on how the downing of a Malaysia Airlines plane may strengthen US sanctions against Russia:

Russia Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Jul 16, 2014

The Kremlin’s Myth About Ukraine Militias Echoes in the Baltics

By James Rupert

A Diaspora Russian Declares That 500 Pro-Kremlin Fighters Could Break Up Latvia Latvia’s government and the world’s mainstream media may have been right to publicly ignore a Latvia-born Russian named Andrey Neronsky this week when he declared that “about 500 [Donbas-style] militiamen would be enough to end the existence of Latvia as a unified state.” […]

Northern Europe Russia

UkraineAlert

Jul 14, 2014

After the West’s Retreat on Sanctions: Putin, Tanks & Missiles Escalate the War on Ukraine

By James Rupert

Kyiv Government and Local Residents Report New Tanks From Russia Entering the Fight A week after the European Union backed away from its vow to impose broad economic sanctions on Russia over the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine, the government of President Vladimir Putin has intensified the assault. Ukraine’s government and independent reports say Russia has […]

Russia Ukraine

Event Recap

Jul 14, 2014

Europe’s New Energy Security Strategy

On July 11th, the Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center held an off-the-record strategy session with H.E. Vaclav Bartuska, Ambassador-at-Large for Energy Security, Czech Republic. Ambassador John Herbst, Director of the Center, introduced the Ambassador and moderated the discussion.

Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Jul 11, 2014

As EU Decides Russia Sanctions July 16, Will the US Have to Lead on Its Own?

By James Rupert

Damon Wilson: White House May Have to Decide to Act Without European Union The United States has only a dwindling few days left to persuade the European Union to join it in imposing broad economic sanctions against Russia for its attacks on Ukraine. After the EU Council meets on Wednesday, July 16, the Obama administration […]

European Union International Organizations

UkraineAlert

Jul 10, 2014

Ukraine’s War Zone: Government Claims New Advances

By James Rupert

Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council has issued a map showing what it says are its troops’ latest advances on the battlefield in the two southeastern provinces of Luhansk and Donetsk as of July 9, 2014 (at noon Ukrainian time).

Ukraine

In the News

Jul 10, 2014

Herbst on US Sanctions Threats Against Russia

By John Herbst

Bloomberg quotes Eurasia Center Director John Herbst on US inaction over Russia’s intervention in Ukraine:

Russia Ukraine
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