Europe & Eurasia

Europe & Eurasia

Stretching from the shores of the Atlantic to the mountains of Central Asia, the European and Eurasian landmass contains both some of the most stable and wealthy countries in the world, as well as some of the poorest and those led by repressive regimes. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine launched in 2022 has transformed the region’s security and launched economic, political, and defense issues into the global limelight, emphasizing the necessity of increased regional and transatlantic cooperation.

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Featured Reading

Herbst on Russia’s “Invasion” into Ukraine

Dispatches
May 22, 2026

Washington’s latest force posture moves have Europeans feeling whiplash

By
Daniel Fried, Torrey Taussig

The announcement on sending US troops to Poland didn’t stop Washington’s other force posture decisions from generating concern among NATO allies.

Eastern Europe
Europe & Eurasia

Herbst on Russia’s “Invasion” into Ukraine

Atlantic Council Strategy Paper Series
May 13, 2026

A US and allied strategy for Greenland

By
the Atlantic Council Task Force on Greenland

After US rhetoric about taking control of Greenland exacerbated tensions between Washington and European allies in January, the US, Greenland, and Denmark opened discussions about the US presence in the autonomous territory. In parallel, the Atlantic Council’s Task Force on Greenland brought together transatlantic expertise to explore the underlying issues and find a productive path forward.

Greenland
Northern Europe

Herbst on Russia’s “Invasion” into Ukraine

Issue Brief
May 8, 2026

Can Friedrich Merz’s chancellorship survive?

By
Phyllis Berry

One year into his chancellorship, Friedrich Merz heads a government beset by economic stagnation, low public approval, and coalition tensions.

Economy & Business
Elections

featured events

Public Event
Fri, April 17, 2026 • 11:45 am ET

The British ambassador to the US on Euro-Atlantic security and the Middle East

British Ambassador to the United States Sir Christian Turner joins the Atlantic Council to discuss the UK’s ongoing diplomatic efforts in the Middle East and its vision for the future of Euro-Atlantic security cooperation.

Europe & Eurasia
Iran
Middle East
NATO


Public Event
Wed, November 19, 2025 • 9:00 am ET

Intent to destroy: Confronting Russia’s campaign to erase Ukraine and its people

In this conference hosted by the Strategic Litigation Project and the Eurasia Center, experts will identify strategies to halt Russia’s campaign of atrocities against the Ukrainian people.

Civil Society
Conflict
Crisis Management
Security & Defense


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 CRINK: Inside the new bloc supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine

by Angela Stent

The latest report in the Atlantic Council’s Russia Tomorrow series details how Russia’s war against Ukraine has brought together a new set of partners–united not by shared values, but by shared grievances–on the international stage: China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

In-depth Research & reports

Herbst on Russia’s “Invasion” into Ukraine

Russia Tomorrow
Dec 12, 2025

The Russian economy in 2025: Between stagnation and militarization 

By
Elina Ribakova, Lucas Risinger

The latest report in the Atlantic Council’s Russia Tomorrow series examines the Russian wartime economy.

Economy & Business
Europe & Eurasia

Herbst on Russia’s “Invasion” into Ukraine

Report
Jan 14, 2026

Digital sovereignty: Europe’s declaration of independence?

By
Frances Burwell, Kenneth Propp

In Brussels, “digital sovereignty” may be the new “strategic autonomy”: a push for Europe to go its own way and depend less on the United States. As US tech companies and EU regulators clash, catch up on a policy debate with consequences playing out online and in the halls of power.

Digital Policy
Economy & Business

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

Within the Atlantic Council’s longstanding commitment to strengthening the transatlantic relationship, the Atlantic Council Turkey Program conducts research, provides thought leadership, and offers a platform for strategic dialogue between the US, Turkey, and NATO allies to address the region’s toughest challenges and explore opportunities, including in the fields of energy, business & trade, technology, defense, and security.

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

In the News

Nov 20, 2014

Herbst on Russia’s “Invasion” into Ukraine

By John Herbst

The Philadelphia Inquirer quotes Eurasia Center Director John Herbst on whether Russian aggression toward Ukraine can be called an “invasion”:

Russia Ukraine

In the News

Nov 20, 2014

Mardini on the Crisis in Kobani

By Atlantic Council

Bloomberg quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Fellow Ramzy Mardini on how the ongoing crisis in the Turkish city of Kobani has affected Kurdish nationalism:

Turkey
Italian soldier with Afghan National Police, March 15, 2013

NATOSource

Nov 19, 2014

Germany and Italy to keep up to 1,350 soldiers in Afghanistan

By Reuters

Germany and Italy plan to keep a total of up to 1,350 soldiers in Afghanistan in 2015 to help train local armed forces, their defense ministries said on Tuesday, a slightly larger contingent than had been previously expected.

Afghanistan Germany
1986 DIA artwork of Soviet anti-satellite weapon

NATOSource

Nov 19, 2014

Object 2014-28E – Space Junk or Russian Satellite Killer?

By Sam Jones, Financial Times

It is a tale that could have come from the cold war. A mysterious object launched by the Russian military is being tracked by western space agencies, stoking fears over the revival of a defunct Kremlin project to destroy satellites.

China Russia

New Atlanticist

Nov 18, 2014

Ukraine News Roundup | November 18

By Irena Chalupa

Dealing with Putin: How to Keep US-Russian Tensions from Going Critical via National Interest Russian ‘Deniable Intervention’ in Ukraine: Why and How Russia Broke the Rules via Chatham House  Obama Calls Out Russia: ‘You Don’t Invade Other Countries’  via New York Times Poroshenko Says Ukraine Prepared for ‘Total War’ as Casualties Mount via Kyiv Post Eastern Ukraine Braces for ‘Full-Scale War’ via Daily Beast […]

Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Nov 18, 2014

Ukraine’s New Government: The Names Emerge

By New Atlanticist

We can expect Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, to meet this week to vote on the country’s new government. The political parties of President Petro Poroshenko, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and their allies are close to completing negotiations and announcing their choices for the new Cabinet of Ministers. Critically, a delegation is in Kyiv from […]

Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, June 6, 2007

NATOSource

Nov 18, 2014

Merkel Issues Rebuke to Russia, Setting Caution Aside

By New York Times and Deutsche Welle

From Alison Smale, New York Times:  Tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats. Russian naval ships showing up as world leaders meet in Australia. Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany telling Russia sternly to play by 21st-century rules

Australia European Union
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, November 18, 2014

NATOSource

Nov 18, 2014

NATO Secretary General: Multiple Sources Confirm Russia’s Military Build-Up in Ukraine

By Jens Stoltenberg, NATO

It is a military build-up. The picture we have confirms the picture which is also provided by other sources. By open sources, by independent reporters and by the OSCE.

NATO 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

Webcasts

Nov 18, 2014

Twenty-Five Years of Freedom Through the Eyes of Czech and American Envoys

By Atlantic Council

Please join the Atlantic Council and the Embassy of the Czech Republic on November 18, 2014 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for a discussion about the business of transformation in Central Europe and beyond, the current state of Czech-American relations, as well as the principles which transatlantic security and cooperation have been built upon.

Central Europe
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Experts

Esteban Ponce de Leon

Staff

Esteban Ponce de León

Resident Fellow

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Artificial Intelligence Conflict

Fellow

Elizabeth H. Prodromou

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Eurasia Center

Civil Society Human Rights

Expert bio

Loneta Progni

Visiting Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Albanian English

Fellow

Kenneth Propp

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

European Union Digital Policy

Fellow

Geoffrey Pyatt

Distinguished Fellow

Global Energy Center

Energy & Environment Europe & Eurasia

Millennium fellow

Jeanette Quick

Deputy Assistant Secretary, United States Department of Treasury

Millennium Leadership Program

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia
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Events

Flagship Event Fri, December 11, 2026 • 8:30 am ET

2026 Transatlantic Forum on GeoEconomics

The Transatlantic Forum on GeoEconomics is an annual flagship convening focused on issues at the nexus of economics, finance, foreign policy, and national security.
Digital Policy Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia European Union