Eastern Europe

Eastern Europe

After the implosion of the Soviet Union, fifteen former republics became independent states and began—in one form or another—the transition from the authoritarian economic and political regime. While the three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have completed a successful transition to open societies and market economies, the other states are either stuck on their progress path or headed off in an authoritarian direction.

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issue spotlight

Europe in crisis

War in Ukraine

Experts from across the Atlantic Council are assessing the consequences of Russia’s February 2022 invasion, including what it means for Ukraine’s sovereignty, Europe’s security, and the United States’ leadership.

More on the war
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Before Ukraine Can Be Reformed, It Must Be Defended

Inflection Points
Oct 22, 2026

Trump will define his legacy through Russia—one way or the other

The US president inherited Russia’s war on Ukraine, but he will own the consequences of how it ends.

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Before Ukraine Can Be Reformed, It Must Be Defended

Russia Tomorrow
Oct 7, 2026

The deterrence gap: How can NATO protect its front line from Russia? 

By
Agnia Grigas

The latest report in the Atlantic Council’s Russia Tomorrow series assesses Russia’s threats to NATO’s eastern flank and evaluates the responses of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Romania.

Crisis Management
Cybersecurity

Before Ukraine Can Be Reformed, It Must Be Defended

UkraineAlert
Aug 27, 2026

Ukrainians are not superheroes with endless powers of resilience

By
Lauren Van Metre, Elena Davlikanova

By celebrating Ukrainian resilience as an almost superhuman quality, the international community risks obscuring the much less glamorous reality that Ukrainians are actually ordinary people who have endured extraordinary violence for far too long, write Lauren Van Metre and Elena Davlikanova.

Civil Society
Conflict

Events

Online Event
Tue, January 21, 2025 • 12:00 pm ET

President Salome Zourabichvili on Georgian democracy and Russian influence

AN #ACFRONTPAGE EVENT—President Salome Zourabichvili joins to discuss the political landscape in Georgia and the threat of malign Russian influence.

Civil Society
Democratic Transitions
Elections
Europe & Eurasia


Online Event
Tue, June 25, 2024 • 11:00 am ET

Are Armenia and Azerbaijan on the verge of peace?

Conflict
Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding
Politics & Diplomacy
Russia

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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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Content

UkraineAlert

Nov 21, 2014

Before Ukraine Can Be Reformed, It Must Be Defended

By Paul Goble

When Hitler Invaded Poland, No One Demanded Polish Reforms Before Offering Help. Why Is It the Reverse for Ukraine? “September 3, 1939 – British and French commentators and officials said today that it could no longer be denied that Hitler was invading Poland and that the Nazi forces represented the most serious threat to the […]

Eastern Europe Russia

UkraineAlert

Nov 18, 2014

Russians’ Once-Secretive Commander in Ukraine is On the Air

By Irena Chalupa

Colonel Igor Girkin Presses Kremlin to Expand Its War Through Southern and Eastern Ukraine “The Shooter” is back. Colonel Igor Girkin, the career Russian intelligence officer who disappeared three months ago from his leading role in the Russian-sponsored war against Ukraine, has burst anew into Russia’s news headlines. He has given a spate of interviews […]

Eastern Europe Russia

Congressional Relations

Nov 13, 2014

Bielecki: Russia’s challenge “even graver than it may appear”

By Atlantic Council

The Atlantic Council hosted the 2014 Bronislaw Geremek Lecture on the evening of November 6 at its headquarters in Washington, DC. The lecture series is an initiative launched by the Atlantic Council and the Government of Poland in 2009 to honor one of the great heroes of the Solidarity movement in Poland—and as a reminder […]

Eastern Europe NATO

UkraineAlert

Nov 12, 2014

Putin’s Project Sparta

By Adrian Karatnycky

As the US Congress Reconvenes, It and Europe Must Respond to the Kremlin’s Coming Offensive in Ukraine Russia has moved a massive wave of tanks, armored personnel carriers, and artillery into Ukraine’s Donbas region in recent days, accompanied by new uniformed troops without insignia, to bolster the armed forces of the Russian-sponsored Donetsk and Lugansk […]

Eastern Europe Russia

UkraineAlert

Nov 10, 2014

How Russia Sells Itself to the Long-Demoralized People of Donbas

By Irena Chalupa

In Stakhanov, a Cossack Rebel and Local Radio Mix Nostalgias for Russia’s Greatness and Soviet Goodness While analysts of Russia’s assault on Ukraine debate the veiled question of President Vladimir Putin’s motives, little is hidden about how the Kremlin and its proxy forces are selling themselves to the long-demoralized people of southeastern Ukraine. As Moscow […]

Eastern Europe Russia

UkraineAlert

Nov 7, 2014

For Putin, Ukraine’s Elections Backfired. So the War Is On Again.

By James Rupert

Analysts: Moscow Fights Now with Mercenaries and Local Trainees, But in 20 Weeks May Again Send Its Own Troops The Russian-Ukrainian conflict in southeastern Ukraine is sliding back quickly into all-out war. Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said this morning that its forces have killed 200 separatist fighters and destroyed four tanks, plus artillery in the past […]

Eastern Europe Russia

UkraineAlert

Nov 3, 2014

Russian-Ukraine Gas Deal Gives Moscow the Leverage and Europe the Energy

By John E. Herbst

Ukrainians Will Get Gas, Too, But Their Cost and Risk of Cutoffs Remain High European Union leaders in Brussels may be celebrating the gas deal signed Thursday between Ukraine and Russia as an assurance of Russian gas supplies to Europe this winter, but Ukrainians can at best take cold comfort from the agreement. EU Energy […]

Eastern Europe Energy & Environment

Article

Oct 31, 2014

Albania’s Defense Minister Speaks on the Challenges to Security in the Western Balkans

Mrs. Mimi Kodheli Addresses Strategy Session at the Atlantic Council Albanian Defense Minister Mimi Kodheli spoke to an invited audience on October 28 at a policy strategy session hosted by the Council’s Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security. Here is the text of her address:

Eastern Europe Russia

UkraineAlert

Oct 31, 2014

Ukraine Gas Deal May Show That the West’s Sanctions on Russia Are Working

By James Rupert

The gas supply deal signed in Brussels yesterday among Russia, Ukraine and the European Union “is perhaps the clearest indication yet that sanctions imposed on Russia are working in terms of changing Russia’s behavior,” writes Timothy Ash, an economist who directs emerging markets strategy at Standard Bank in London.

Eastern Europe Energy & Environment
Russian President Vladimir Putin, Oct.17, 2014

NATOSource

Oct 29, 2014

Online Security Experts Link More Cyber Attacks to Russian Government

By New York Times and Guardian

From Nicole Perlroth, New York Times:  For the second time in four months, researchers at a computer security company are connecting the Russian government to electronic espionage efforts around the world.

Cybersecurity Hungary
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Experts

Fellow

Anca Agachi

Nonresident Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Africa Conflict

Staff

Nika Aleksejeva

Resident Fellow, Baltics

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Belarus Disinformation

Fellow

Andrew Bernard

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

NATO Europe & Eurasia

Millennium fellow

Cynthia Bernstein

Program Director, Commercial, Advisory and Knowledge Initiatives, Spencer Stuart International

Global Leadership Center

Eastern Europe Entrepreneurship

Staff

Eto Buziashvili

Research Fellow

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Disinformation Eastern Europe

Expert bio

MaryKay Carlson

Distinguished Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Africa East Asia
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