Europe & Eurasia

EU candidate status for Ukraine is the ideal response to Russian aggression

By Diane Francis

European Union leaders must decide this week whether to grant Ukraine official EU candidate nation status. This is a critically important moment for Ukrainians that will also shape the future direction of the entire continent.

AC Selects: Russia-Ukraine war: Perspectives from former NATO secretaries general and leaders

Events from the week of June 17, 2022 Last week, we hosted conversations with four former secretaries general of NATO, Lithuania Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė, and European energy security experts to discuss Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, challenges facing the global community from Russia’s and China’s influence in Europe, and transatlantic cooperation on advancing energy security. […]

Russian War Report: Russian governor accuses Ukraine of launching multiple attacks on Kursk 

By Digital Forensic Research Lab

The governor of Russia's Kursk Oblast accused Ukrainian forces of opening fire on two locations in the region. Meanwhile, pro-Kremlin Telegram channels recycle narratives about Western weapon sales again.

Unholy War: UK sanctions Putin’s Patriarch for backing Ukraine invasion

By Taras Kuzio

This week's UK decision to impose sanctions on the head of the Russian Orthodox Church highlights international alarm over Patriarch Kirill's enthusiastic support for Vladimir Putin's war of imperial aggression in Ukraine.

Where do the “fence-sitters” sit on trade with Russia?

By Josh Lipsky, Sophia Busch

At least in terms of trade, seemingly neutral countries aren’t enabling Russia as much as their public positions might suggest.