issue spotlight

Europe in crisis

War in Ukraine

Experts from across the Atlantic Council are assessing the consequences of Russia’s February 2022 invasion, including what it means for Ukraine’s sovereignty, Europe’s security, and the United States’ leadership.

More on the war View UkraineAlert
Sweden and Finland are on their way to NATO membership. Here’s what needs to happen next.

New Atlanticist Dec 4, 2024

A winning strategy to end Russia’s war against Ukraine

More than a dozen experts from the United States and Europe share their recommendations to the incoming Trump administration about how best to end Russia’s war against Ukraine.

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Sweden and Finland are on their way to NATO membership. Here’s what needs to happen next.

Russia Tomorrow Jan 8, 2025

Sanctioned kleptocracy: How Putin’s kremligarchs have survived the war—and even prospered

By Ilya Zaslavskiy

The latest report in the Atlantic Council’s Russia Tomorrow series explores how Russia’s kleptocratic networks infiltrated the West and measures the US and Europe can take to combat the malign influence of Russian kleptocracy around the globe.
Corruption Economic Sanctions
Sweden and Finland are on their way to NATO membership. Here’s what needs to happen next.

UkraineAlert Jan 14, 2025

No peace without security: Ukraine needs guarantees against new Russian invasion

By Peter Dickinson

Ukraine is ready to make territorial concessions but insists that any peace deal must include credible long-term security guarantees to prevent a new Russian invasion, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict European Union

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COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

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.

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Host and Eurasia Center Senior Fellow Brian Whitmore invites guest experts to deliver their insights and analysis in this weekly podcast. The Atlantic Council and the Charles T. McDowell Center for Global Studies at the University of Texas at Arlington co-sponsor this production.

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.

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Russia Tomorrow

Russia Tomorrow: Five scenarios for Russia’s future

by Casey Michel

A new Atlantic Council report explores five paths that Russia future might take in its future. What forces will shape Russia’s future?

recent events

Online Event Mon, July 14, 2025 • 2:00 pm ET

Report launch: Russia’s future rulers
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New findings: Russian aerial attacks amount to extermination and persecution
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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.

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Content

NATO, Finland and Sweden

Issue Brief

Aug 22, 2022

Sweden and Finland are on their way to NATO membership. Here’s what needs to happen next.

By John R. Deni

In response to Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, Finland and Sweden took the historic step of applying to join NATO. Both nations will bring modern capabilities that will help defend against malign actors. As Finland and Sweden's membership is forthcoming, Alliance leaders, NATO watchers, and transatlantic security experts need to consider how to fully integrate the new allies, include them in operational plans, and best enhance defense of a longer border with Russia.

Europe & Eurasia National Security

In the News

Aug 22, 2022

Svetlova quoted in the Wall Street Journal on current Israel and Russia relations

By Atlantic Council

Israel Politics & Diplomacy

UkraineAlert

Aug 21, 2022

What Ukraine needs to win the war

By Richard D. Hooker, Jr.

Ukraine can win the war against Vladimir Putin's Russia and secure an extended peace in Europe but victory depends on receiving Western support that goes well beyond the current level, writes Richard D. Hooker Jr.

Conflict Drones

UkraineAlert

Aug 21, 2022

Russia’s war in Ukraine: Six surprises six months in

By Melinda Haring

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has shocked the world and transformed the geopolitical climate. Melinda Haring looks back at the first six months of the invasion and reflects on the six most surprising developments.

Conflict Economic Sanctions
A Russian soldier stands guard near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, August 4, 2022. (Source: REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko/File Photo)

New Atlanticist

Aug 19, 2022

Russian War Report: Russia and Ukraine warn Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant facing imminent threat

By Eto Buziashvili, Ruslan Trad, Nika Aleksejeva, Givi Gigitashvili

The Russian occupation of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant continues to provoke fear among the international community in light of renewed shelling around the plant.

Disinformation Internet

New Atlanticist

Aug 18, 2022

How long can Turkey play both sides in the Ukraine war?

By Atlantic Council experts

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Turkey has been caught in a geopolitical jam, carefully balancing ties with both Moscow and Kyiv.

NATO Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding

UkraineAlert

Aug 17, 2022

Russia’s Ukraine War is forcing the Belarus opposition to rethink strategy

By Alesia Rudnik

Representatives of the Belarusian opposition gathered in Vilnius on August 8-9 for a conference that highlighted a mood of growing militancy as they respond to the new realities created by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Belarus Civil Society

UkraineAlert

Aug 16, 2022

Putin’s Ukraine genocide is rooted in Russian impunity for Soviet crimes

By Alexander Khara

Failure to hold anyone accountable for the crimes of the Soviet era has fostered a climate of impunity in modern Russia that has paved the way for the genocidal invasion of Ukraine, writes Alexander Khara.

Conflict Disinformation

UkraineAlert

Aug 15, 2022

Will the United States designate Russia a state sponsor of terrorism?

By Mark Temnycky

As Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine approaches the six-month mark amid growing evidence of war crimes, pressure is mounting on the Biden Administration to designate Russia a state sponsor of terrorism.

Conflict Economic Sanctions

In the News

Aug 15, 2022

Kroenig and Ashford debate developments in Crimea and the war in Ukraine

On August 12, Foreign Policy published its biweekly "It's Debatable" column featuring Scowcroft Center deputy director Matthew Kroenig and Emma Ashford assessing the latest news in international affairs.

Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy
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Experts

Fellow

Shawn Creamer

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Indo-Pacific Security Initiative

Security & Defense East Asia

Fellow

William B. Taylor

Distinguished Fellow

Eurasia Center

English Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Joanna Siekiera

Nonresident Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Rule of Law Polish

Staff

Katherine Spencer

Program Assistant

Eurasia Center

Central Asia Conflict

Fellow

Yarely Madrid

Nonresident Journalist Fellow

Global China Hub

China Latin America

Fellow

Leslie Shedd

Nonresident Fellow

Eurasia Center

Eastern Europe Elections
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Events

Online Event Mon, July 14, 2025 • 2:00 pm ET

Report launch: Russia’s future rulers
Corruption Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy Populism