Europe & Eurasia

How to ensure Afghanistan isn’t the graveyard of European defense

By Nic Adams

Stronger cooperation and interoperability can boost Europe's capacity to project hard power.

Experts react: The key takeaways from the Erdoğan-Putin meeting

By Atlantic Council IN TURKEY

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in-person in Sochi, Russia for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Atlantic Council experts give their take on the outcome.

Europe’s new Russia policy must focus on human rights

By Dave Elseroad, Nora Wehofsits

As the European Union looks to review and update its Russia policy, it is vital EU leaders focus on the growing human rights crisis that is threatening to spill over from Russia itself and undo the EU's own post-1991 progress.

Want to assess Ukraine’s progress? Look at Belarus

By Vitaliy Sych

Perhaps the best way to gauge Ukraine's post-Soviet progress is to compare the country's media freedoms and fledgling democracy with the authoritarian environment in neighboring Belarus and Russia.

The inaugural Trade and Technology Council Meeting — groundhog day or great leap forward?

By Barbara C. Matthews

Following the commencement of the Biden presidency, there were high hopes of a resurgence of transatlantic ties. This week's inaugural meeting of the TTC highlights that policymakers on both sides will have difficulty meeting that expectation.

Haddad in the Financial Times: Europe must wean itself off US defence to reset transatlantic relations

"American priorities are shifting under Joe Biden and the quicker the EU boosts its own ‘strategic autonomy’ the better," writes Benjamin Haddad in the Financial Times.

How Ukraine can become a global IT powerhouse

By Yegor Chernev

Ukraine already boasts one of the region's most dynamic IT industries but further work is required to improve the business climate in order to make the most of the country's considerable tech sector potential.

Lukashenka vs. Ukraine

By Brian Whitmore

Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka has accused NATO of establishing military bases in Ukraine and has vowed to respond together with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

American author’s timely love letter to Odesa

By Anthony Bartaway

American author Vladislav Davidzon's new book "From Odessa With Love" takes readers on an entertaining and enlightening tour of Ukraine's famously colorful and cosmopolitan Black Sea port city.