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
Alarm bells in Ukraine as Lukashenka calls on Putin to rescue his crumbling regime

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.

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Alarm bells in Ukraine as Lukashenka calls on Putin to rescue his crumbling regime

Russia Tomorrow Jan 8, 2025

Sanctioned kleptocracy: How Putin’s kremligarchs have survived the war—and even prospered

By Ilya Zaslavskiy

The latest report in the Atlantic Council’s Russia Tomorrow series explores how Russia’s kleptocratic networks infiltrated the West and measures the US and Europe can take to combat the malign influence of Russian kleptocracy around the globe.
Corruption Economic Sanctions
Alarm bells in Ukraine as Lukashenka calls on Putin to rescue his crumbling regime

UkraineAlert Jan 14, 2025

No peace without security: Ukraine needs guarantees against new Russian invasion

By Peter Dickinson

Ukraine is ready to make territorial concessions but insists that any peace deal must include credible long-term security guarantees to prevent a new Russian invasion, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict European Union

Events

Online Event Tue, February 4, 2025 • 3:00 pm ET

A conversation with Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan
Eastern Europe Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy Resilience & Society
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
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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

BelarusAlert

Aug 17, 2020

Alarm bells in Ukraine as Lukashenka calls on Putin to rescue his crumbling regime

By Bohdan Nahaylo

Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka is on the verge of being swept out of office by a wave of pro-democracy protests. He has called on Putin to save his regime, sparking alarm in neighboring Ukraine.

Belarus Conflict

BelarusAlert

Aug 17, 2020

How the West should respond to Belarus

By Daniel Fried, Brian O’Toole

Belarus is experiencing a democratic awakening that could end 26 years of dictatorship and transform the regional geopolitical landscape. With Russia looming large over the crisis, how should the West respond?

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Aug 16, 2020

Why Vladimir Putin is unlikely to invade Belarus

By Anders Åslund

Belarus is experiencing an historic democratic awakening that looks set to oust Kremlin-friendly dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka - but Putin is highly unlikely to repeat his 2014 invasion of Ukraine.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

New Atlanticist

Aug 14, 2020

Beyond 5G, Central Europe will be key to countering Chinese technological influence

By Frances Burwell, Jörn Fleck, and Eileen Kannengeiser

In seeking to further roll back China’s influence, the US has targeted Huawei during its CEE visit as the Shenzhen-based telecoms-equipment manufacturer competes for a prominent role in the region’s cellular network infrastructure and 5G expansion.

Central Europe Eastern Europe

In the News

Aug 14, 2020

Kroenig and Ashford discuss fallout from Beirut explosion, Belarus election and reflect on General Brent Scowcroft’s legacy

By Atlantic Council

On August 14, Foreign Policy published a biweekly column featuring Scowcroft Center Deputy Director Matthew Kroenig and the Cato Institute’s Emma Ashford discussing the latest news in international affairs. In this column, they discuss the fallout from the explosion in Beirut, potential consequences of protests following Belarus’s presidential election, and the legacy of General Brent Scowcroft.

Belarus Corruption

BelarusAlert

Aug 13, 2020

Europe must not abandon the new Belarus to Putin

By Oleksiy Goncharenko

Protests in Belarus over a rigged election have grabbed the world's attention this week. However, this geopolitically important democratic awakening has little chance of success without Western support.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Aug 10, 2020

Lukashenka vs. democracy: Where is Belarus heading?

By Peter Dickinson

Belarusian dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka is facing the biggest crisis of his 26-year reign as protests erupt over attempts to falsify the country's August 9 presidential election. Can he cling on to power?

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Aug 9, 2020

Europe’s last dictator: The rise and (possible) fall of Alyaksandr Lukashenka

By Anders Åslund

Alexander Lukashenko has ruled Belarus for 26 years and earned the dubious title of "Europe's last dictator" but his country has experienced a pro-democracy awakening during this year's presidential election campaign.

Belarus Democratic Transitions

BelarusAlert

Aug 5, 2020

From dictatorship to democracy: Can Belarus make history on Sunday?

By Nicolai Khalezin

Belarusians go to the polls on Sunday in a presidential vote that is being billed as the biggest challenge to President Lukashenko for 26 years. Will the international community back the country's democratic opposition?

Belarus Democratic Transitions

Inflection Points

Aug 2, 2020

China focus might distract the U.S. from the possibility of a Putin surprise in Belarus and beyond

By Frederick Kempe

For all the legitimate focus on rising US-China tensions, this summer’s sleeper surprise for the West is more likely to emerge from Vladimir Putin’s Russia. The question is: will it grow from Russia’s strength, its weakness or some combination of the two?

Belarus Russia
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Experts

Fellow

Andrea Rigoni

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Cybersecurity Digital Policy

Fellow

David H. Young

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Afghanistan Conflict

Staff

Tatevik Khachatryan

Assistant Director, Events

Armenian Digital Policy

Fellow

Jake Sotiriadis

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Stanislava Mladenova

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Afghanistan Conflict

Staff

Torrey Taussig

Director

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Eastern Europe Europe & Eurasia
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