Russia

Canada is First NATO Member to Publicly Send Soldiers to Help Train Ukraine’s Military

By Steven Chase, Globe and Mail

Canada is operating independently of NATO to provide additional military assistance that will help Ukraine defend itself from Russia.

Is Russia’s Economic Pain Forcing Putin to Step Back on Ukraine?

By Elizabeth Pond

Russian President’s Softened Rhetoric and Talks with Ukraine Suggest a Change Are Western economic sanctions and falling oil prices starting to deter President Vladimir Putin from his larger ambitions in the Ukraine crisis? While Putin has vowed that Russia will overcome its economic isolation, ordinary Russians are feeling increased pain from an economy sliding into […]

After Moldova’s Election: Will Prime Minister Leanca Keep His Job?

Atlantic Council Senior Fellow Brian Mefford on Implications of the November 30 Vote As Moldova’s pro-European parties negotiate on the shape of a new governing coalition, Prime Minister Iurie Leanca could come under pressure to step aside for another leader, says Atlantic Council Senior Fellow Brian Mefford. That’s because Leanca’s Liberal Democrat party saw a […]

NATO Seeks Weapons to Counter Russia’s Information War

By Sam Jones, Financial Times

A casual consumer of Russian media might conclude the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, one of the strongholds of the country’s pro-EU uprising, has been overrun by violent fascists.

The Demise of South Stream

By Richard Morningstar

Russia’s Planned Pipeline to Southeast Europe Was Doomed from the Start While the timing of President Vladimir Putin’s abandonment of the South Stream gas pipeline this week was surprising, its demise was inevitable from the start.

Amid East Europe’s Tussle, Moldova Election Shows Need to Speed Reform

By James Rupert

US, EU Should Re-Focus Now on What May Be a Last, Best Chance for Critical Changes, Analysts Say Moldova’s pro-Europe parties have won a troubled election victory, taking barely enough parliament seats to renew their coalition and pursue the integration of Moldova with the European Union. That may hold open a window of opportunity—for perhaps […]

New NATO Force Not Ready Until 2016, Alliance to Rely on Interim Brigade

By Michael R. Gordon, New York Times

NATO will establish a prototype of a new rapid response force next year as it strives to improve its ability to deter a Russian attack, the alliance said on Tuesday.

NATO Struggles to Muster ‘Spearhead Force’ to Counter Russia

By Stephen Fidler, Wall Street Journal

Promised Rapid-Reaction Force Proves Costly, Logistically Difficult for Europe.