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Featured Reading

Townsend featured on The Hill discussing Ukraine’s counteroffensive

New Atlanticist May 27, 2025

Do Trump’s criticisms of Putin mark a turning point in his Russia policy?

By John E. Herbst

On Sunday, the US president called his Russian counterpart “crazy” on social media, revealing an increasing impatience with Russia over its unwillingness to engage in US-led cease-fire talks.
Conflict Politics & Diplomacy
Townsend featured on The Hill discussing Ukraine’s counteroffensive

Report May 20, 2025

The European Union Growth Plan for the Western Balkans: A reality test for EU enlargement

By Valbona Zeneli, Richard Grieveson, Isabelle Ioannides, Dimitar Bechev

EU enlargement faces a test case in the Western Balkans. The current plan offers real benefits before accession, creating incentives for reform, but questions of enforceability and the relatively low amount of financial support threaten the success of the EU’s political influence in the region.
Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia
Townsend featured on The Hill discussing Ukraine’s counteroffensive

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

Unpacking Russia’s cyber nesting doll

by Justin Sherman

The latest report in the Atlantic Council’s Russia Tomorrow series explores Russia’s wartime cyber operations and broader cyber web.

In-depth Research & reports

Townsend featured on The Hill discussing Ukraine’s counteroffensive

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
Townsend featured on The Hill discussing Ukraine’s counteroffensive

Russia Tomorrow Dec 17, 2024

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.
Civil Society Europe & Eurasia

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

In the News

Jun 15, 2023

Townsend featured on The Hill discussing Ukraine’s counteroffensive

By James J. Townsend Jr.

On June 15, Transatlantic Security Initiative senior advisor Jim Townsend was quoted in The Hill discussing Ukraine’s counteroffensive.

Europe & Eurasia Security & Defense

In the News

Jun 15, 2023

Deni in Strategi on Ukraine’s potential membership in NATO

By John R. Deni

On June 15, Transatlantic Security Initiative nonresident senior fellow John Deni was quoted in Strategi commenting on Ukraine’s potential NATO membership (text in Indonesian).

NATO Security & Defense
A Ukrainian national flag is seen, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near the front line in the newly liberated village Neskuchne in Donetsk region, Ukraine June 13, 2023. REUTERS/Oleksandr Ratushniak TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

New Atlanticist

Jun 15, 2023

Russian War Report: Anti-Ukrainian counteroffensive narratives fail to go viral

By Digital Forensic Research Lab

As the Ukrainian counteroffensive continues in Ukraine's south and east, false narratives calling it unsuccessful fail to gain traction on Twitter.

Conflict Disinformation
A general view shows the headquarters of the African Union (AU) building in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, January 29, 2017. REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri

AfricaSource

Jun 15, 2023

Give Africa’s peace delegation for Ukraine a chance

By Rama Yade

The African presidents aiming to bring an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine can be a part of the solution to a global problem rather than sit on the sidelines of geopolitics as collateral victims.

Africa Conflict

In the News

Jun 15, 2023

Lipsky quoted by Foreign Policy on EU interest rate hikes

Read the full piece here.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

Report

Jun 15, 2023

Prosperity that lasts: The 2023 Freedom and Prosperity Indexes 

By Dan Negrea, Joseph Lemoine

The 2023 Freedom and Prosperity Indexes measure the distribution of freedom and prosperity in 164 countries. The report explores the relationship between the two and identifies global and regional trends over the last twenty-eight years.

Africa Americas

New Atlanticist

Jun 14, 2023

The hits and misses in Germany’s new national security strategy

By Atlantic Council experts

Chancellor Olaf Scholz has just released Germany's national security strategy. Atlantic Council experts answer the most urgent questions about the document and the path forward for this major European power.

Defense Policy Germany

In the News

Jun 14, 2023

Mezran in Aspenia: A better understanding of the puzzle called Erdogan: Libya and beyond
Turkey

In the News

Jun 14, 2023

Rich Outzen joins TRT Francais to discuss Turkey-Ukraine-Russia 
Politics & Diplomacy Russia

New Atlanticist

Jun 14, 2023

Before embarking on arms control talks, Biden needs a nuclear deal with Congress

By Robert Soofer

The White House and Congress disagree over the type and number of nuclear weapons needed to deter Russia, China, North Korea, and potentially Iran.

Arms Control China
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Experts

Fellow

Paul R.S. Gebhard

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Europe & Eurasia NATO
Sopo Gelava

Staff

Sopo Gelava

Research Associate, Caucasus

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Civil Society Disinformation

Executive Leadership Intensive participant

Irina Ghaplanyan

Senior Advisor on Climate Change, World Bank Group

Millennium Leadership Program

Climate Change & Climate Action Europe & Eurasia
Givi Gigitashvili

Staff

Givi Gigitashvili

Research Associate, Caucasus

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Conflict Disinformation

Fellow

Michelle S. Giuda

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Freedom and Prosperity Politics & Diplomacy

Executive Leadership Intensive participant

Hristijan Gjorgievski

Chief of Party, Malawi, Parliamentary Support Program

Millennium Leadership Program

Central Europe Politics & Diplomacy
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Events

Public Event Wed, June 25, 2025 • 10:00 am ET

New findings: Russian aerial attacks amount to extermination and persecution
Civil Society Conflict Crisis Management Russia
Online Event Fri, June 27, 2025 • 11:30 am ET

What the EU’s Growth Plan for the Western Balkans means for the region
Economy & Business European Union International Markets Political Reform
Online Event Mon, June 30, 2025 • 7:45 am ET

Bolstering the transatlantic partnership at a global inflection point
Europe & Eurasia Southern & Southeastern Europe
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