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Featured Reading

Complicated history helps Russian narratives about Ukraine find a foothold in the Middle East

New Atlanticist Apr 21, 2025

Four contests for democracy in Europe challenge the narrative of advancing authoritarianism

By Daniel Fried

In Georgia, Hungary, Serbia, and Turkey, pro-democracy demonstrators are taking to the streets in massive numbers. But how long will the upsurge last?
Democratic Transitions Europe & Eurasia
Complicated history helps Russian narratives about Ukraine find a foothold in the Middle East

New Atlanticist Mar 17, 2025

Enough carrots for Putin. For better negotiations, serve ‘maximum pressure’ instead.

By Benjamin L. Schmitt, Richard L. Morningstar, and Daniel Fried

Since Russia appears content for negotiations to move slowly, the Trump administration should turn up the pressure with new sanctions.
Conflict Economic Sanctions
Complicated history helps Russian narratives about Ukraine find a foothold in the Middle East

Issue Brief Mar 5, 2025

The EU must become a strategic player in defense—alongside NATO

By Justina Budginaite-Froehly

The European Union and NATO need renewed alignment on defense to meet the new geopolitical moment. Refocused cooperation would provide a critically needed burden sharing to eliminate vulnerabilities and prepare Europe to withstand new realities.
Defense Industry Europe & Eurasia

featured events

Online Event Thu, March 20, 2025 • 9:30 am ET

The future of EU defense

Following the release of the European Union’s whitepaper on the future of European defense, an expert panel unpacks what role the EU should play in transatlantic security.
Europe & Eurasia European Union NATO Security & Defense
Online Event Tue, February 18, 2025 • 11:30 am ET

How long can Russia sustain its aggression in Ukraine?

The Eurasia Center discusses how the confluence of Russia’s war of attrition, economic decline, and energy damage impact the Russian Federation and its global standing.
Conflict Economic Sanctions Europe & Eurasia International Markets

The Russia Tomorrow series

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 challenged much of the common Western understanding of Russia. How can the world better understand Russia? What are the steps forward for Western policy? The Eurasia Center’s new “Russia Tomorrow” series seeks to reevaluate conceptions of Russia today and better prepare for its future tomorrow.

Read More

Russia Tomorrow

The reluctant consensus: War and Russia’s public opinion

by Maria Snegovaya

A new Atlantic Council report explores Russian society’s consolidation around the Kremlin and the Russian public’s perception of Putin’s war on Ukraine.

In-depth Research & reports

Complicated history helps Russian narratives about Ukraine find a foothold in the Middle East

Report Mar 3, 2025

The art of the transatlantic deal

By Frances Burwell

The transatlantic relationship is shifting with US president Donald Trump’s return to the White House. Nevertheless, discreet deals across the US-EU trade, energy, and defense sectors are possible.
Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia
Complicated history helps Russian narratives about Ukraine find a foothold in the Middle East

Report Jun 7, 2024

Reconstructing Ukraine at war: The journey to prosperity starts now

By John E. Herbst, Olga Khakova, Charles Lichfield

Rebuilding the Ukrainian economy after Russia’s full-scale invasion will be a monumental task. Reconstruction can’t wait for peace and must be a well-coordinated, inclusive process.
Economy & Business Energy & Environment

programs

The Europe Center promotes the transatlantic leadership and strategies required to ensure a strong Europe.

EXPLORE THE PROGRAM

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.

EXPLORE THE PROGRAM

The Atlantic Council in Turkey aims to promote and strengthen transatlantic engagement with the region by providing a high-level forum and pursuing programming to address the most important issues on energy, economics, security, and defense.

Learn more

Explore the Power Vertical podcast

The Power Vertical

The Power Vertical is a blog and podcast for Russia wonks and Kremlin watchers by Brian Whitmore. It covers emerging and developing trends in Russian politics, shining a spotlight on the high-stakes power struggles, machinations, and clashing interests that shape Kremlin policy today.

Explore the Debrief series

#AtlanticDebrief

#AtlanticDebrief hosts interviews with leading experts, policymakers, and newsmakers from both sides of the Atlantic to unpack the challenges and opportunities of the transatlantic relationship.

Explore the Series

#BalkansDebrief

The Atlantic Council Europe Center’s #BalkansDebrief series features timely conversations on key issues impacting the Western Balkans. Nonresident senior fellow Ilva Tare hosts newsmakers, experts, and officials for discussions on rule of law, energy security, cultural heritage, Russian and Chinese influence in the region, and more.

Explore the Series

Content

Issue Brief

Feb 29, 2024

Complicated history helps Russian narratives about Ukraine find a foothold in the Middle East

By the Digital Forensic Research Lab

Across the Arabic-speaking world, the narratives amplified by Russian state media and local media partners are framed in a way that appeals to audiences in the region and their complicated history with the West.

Democratic Transitions Disinformation

Report

Feb 29, 2024

Undermining Ukraine: How Russia widened its global information war in 2023

By the Digital Forensic Research Lab

On the battlefield, Russia has made strategic gains. In the information sphere, it has the resources and will to outlast the West.

Disinformation Eastern Europe

Issue Brief

Feb 29, 2024

In Latin America, Russia’s ambassadors and state media tailor anti-Ukraine content to the local context

By the Digital Forensic Research Lab

In the second year of Russia's war on Ukraine, Moscow tried to sell a wider global audience on its version of events. In Latin America, Kremlin media outlets RT en Español and Sputnik Mundo were key players in this effort.

Disinformation Internet

Issue Brief

Feb 29, 2024

Two-pronged approach to Africa pays dividends for Russia

By the Digital Forensic Research Lab

In the African countries with which Russia has longstanding ties, diplomats lead the way. Elsewhere on the continent, Wagner Group fighters are Moscow's more active representatives. Both official and covert approaches exploit local grievances to push Russia's narrative.

Africa Disinformation

Issue Brief

Feb 29, 2024

In Europe and the South Caucasus, the Kremlin leans on energy blackmail and scare tactics

By the Digital Forensic Research Lab

Moscow tried to sow fear among Moldovans, Georgians, and Armenians that what happened to Ukrainians could happen to them.

Disinformation Internet

In the News

Feb 28, 2024

Binnendijk and Vershbow in Defense News

By Hans Binnendijk, Alexander Vershbow

On February 28, Transatlantic Security Initiative distinguished fellows Hans Binnendijk and Amb. Alexander Vershbow wrote an article in Defense News on how Europe can secure its defense and maintain US support.

Europe & Eurasia Security & Defense

In the News

Feb 28, 2024

Lichfield cited in Bloomberg on using Russian frozen funds for Ukrainian reconstruction

Read the full article here.

Economic Sanctions Financial Regulation

New Atlanticist

Feb 28, 2024

After 14 years in opposition, what might a Labour foreign policy look like?

By Francis Shin

UK Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy outlined a doctrine of "progressive realism" drawing on the Labour Party's past.

Elections Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Feb 27, 2024

Braw featured in Politico on espionage in Europe

By Elisabeth Braw

On February 27, Transatlantic Security Initiative senior fellow Elisabeth Braw wrote an opinion piece in Politico discussing the changes in espionage tactics by authoritarian regimes.   

Cybersecurity Europe & Eurasia

In the News

Feb 27, 2024

Shaffer quoted in S&P Global on Iranian oil exports
Iran Middle East
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Experts

Staff

Katherine Spencer

Program Assistant

Eurasia Center

Central Asia Conflict

Fellow

Yarely Madrid

Nonresident Journalist Fellow

Global China Hub

China Latin America

Staff

Iryna Adam

Research Associate

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Eastern Europe English

Staff

Melanie Hart

Senior Director, Global China Hub

Global China Hub

China Chinese

Fellow

Danuta Hübner

Distinguished Fellow

Europe Center

Democratic Transitions Economy & Business

Fellow

Dominika Kunertova

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Artificial Intelligence Central Europe
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Events

Public Event Wed, May 14, 2025 • 9:30 am ET

Navigating a new era of NATO
Europe & Eurasia NATO Security & Defense United States and Canada
Online Event Fri, May 16, 2025 • 10:00 am ET

Lucian Kim on “Putin’s Revenge” and Russia’s war on Ukraine
Europe & Eurasia Human Rights Politics & Diplomacy Ukraine
Public Event Mon, May 19, 2025 • 9:00 am ET

US-Latvia Resilience Conference
Europe & Eurasia Resilience & Society Security & Defense
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