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 View UkraineAlert
Manning in VOA: U.S. Treasury sanctions confirm Russia’s involvement in North Korean missile development… “We need to focus on shutting down North Korea’s overseas procurement network.” [translated from Korean]

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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Manning in VOA: U.S. Treasury sanctions confirm Russia’s involvement in North Korean missile development… “We need to focus on shutting down North Korea’s overseas procurement network.” [translated from Korean]

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
Manning in VOA: U.S. Treasury sanctions confirm Russia’s involvement in North Korean missile development… “We need to focus on shutting down North Korea’s overseas procurement network.” [translated from Korean]

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 Fri, September 24, 2021 • 7:00 am ET

How can Europe escape Gazprom’s gas grip?
Eastern Europe Geopolitics & Energy Security Oil and Gas Russia
Online Event Tue, July 20, 2021 • 10:15 am ET

A conversation with leader of the democratic opposition in Belarus Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

AN #ACFRONTPAGE EVENT – What can officials in the United States do to support the democratic movement in Belarus in the face of continuing repression and state terror from Lukashenka’s regime? Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, leader of the democratic opposition in Belarus, joined live from the Atlantic Council to discuss.
Belarus Democratic Transitions Elections Political Reform
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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

In the News

Mar 15, 2022

Manning in VOA: U.S. Treasury sanctions confirm Russia’s involvement in North Korean missile development… “We need to focus on shutting down North Korea’s overseas procurement network.” [translated from Korean]

By Atlantic Council

On March 15, Manning was interviewed by VOA about North Korea’s procurement of components for missiles and the need to crack down on their international sourcing of materials. “Manning pointed out that the issue of North Korea’s overseas procurement network is not receiving enough attention. ‘The sanctions on Russians who have been facilitating the North […]

China Defense Technologies

In the News

Mar 15, 2022

Manning in The Hill: Advice for Xi Jinping on Russia’s Ukraine choice

By Atlantic Council

On March 15, Robert Manning published an op-ed in The Hill with Hans Binnendijk that probes the options facing China following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, advising Xi Jinping not tie China to Russia. “China faces a strategic choice. It can gain international goodwill and achieve a degree of reset with the U.S. Or it can […]

China Crisis Management
A satellite image shows ground forces equipment and a convoy, in Khilchikha, Belarus February 28, 2022. Satellite image 2022 Maxar Technologies/Handout via REUTERS

New Atlanticist

Mar 14, 2022

Russian War Report: Russian false-flag operation seeks to drag Belarus into Ukraine war

By Digital Forensic Research Lab

Ukrainian media reported that Russia attacked a Belarusian village from Ukrainian airspace in an attempt to make it appear that Ukraine had attacked Belarus and provoke Belarusian President Lukashenka to move troops into Ukraine. 

Belarus Conflict

New Atlanticist

Mar 11, 2022

Russian War Report: Putin endorses plan to bring 16,000 “volunteers” from the Middle East to fight in Ukraine

By Digital Forensic Research Lab

Russia’s Defense Minister announced that more than 16,000 “volunteers” from the Middle East had expressed interest in joining Russia’s “liberation movement” for the People’s Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk.

Belarus Conflict

In the News

Mar 11, 2022

Ashford on Intelligence Squared: Agree to disagree: Ukraine

By Atlantic Council

On March 11, Emma Ashford featured in a debate organized by IQ2 with former Ambassador Kurt Volker on the conflict in Ukraine, which was distributed to all NPR affiliates. “Ukraine is undoubtedly an important country, a wonderful country full of wonderful people, but it is not strategically important to the United States or to our […]

Conflict Crisis Management

In the News

Mar 10, 2022

Wieslander and Skaluba’s Column mentioned on Fox News

By Anna Wieslander, Christopher Skaluba

President Niinistö was asked on Fox News to respond to a column by Wieslander and Skaluba.

Conflict Eastern Europe

In the News

Mar 10, 2022

Deni in Politico: Yes, Russia Might Invade a NATO Country. Here’s How the Alliance Should Prepare.

By John R. Deni

Deni writes in Politico about the risk of Russia attacking a NATO member, and how the alliance can prepare for this risk.

Conflict Eastern Europe

In the News

Mar 10, 2022

Deni in Foreign Policy: NATO Must Prepare to Defend Its Weakest Point—the Suwalki Corridor

By John R. Deni

Deni writes in Foreign Policy on the need for NATO to prepare to defend the Suwalki Corridor.

Conflict Eastern Europe
PRIPYAT, UKRAINE – FEBRUARY, 2022: Pictured in this video screen grab is the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Russian Airborne troops and the Ukrainian National Guard are providing security at the nuclear power plant. An agreement has been reached with servicemen of a separate battalion of the National Guard of Ukraine to jointly provide security at the units, the confinement and the storage facility for spent nuclear fuel. Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant staff continue to monitor the radiation levels and work at the nuclear power plant as normal. Video grab. Best possible quality. Russian Defence Ministry/TASS

New Atlanticist

Mar 9, 2022

Russian War Report: Russia escalates nuclear and chemical false-flag allegations

By Digital Forensic Research Lab

On March 9, Russia escalated their claims that Ukraine intended to use nuclear or biological weapons against Russia and that capturing nuclear power plants were to "prevent" such attempts.

Belarus Conflict

BelarusAlert

Mar 9, 2022

Belarusian military reluctant to join Vladimir Putin’s Ukraine War

By Brian Whitmore

Belarus was widely expected to join the Russian invasion of Ukraine but indications are growing that the Belarusian military is strongly opposed to any involvement in Vladimir Putin's war of aggression.

Belarus Conflict
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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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