Ukraine

In February 2022, Moscow launched an all-out invasion of Ukraine after a months-long military build-up, threatening the country’s sovereignty and its future. This existential moment for the country follows the 2014 Maidan revolution, a nexus for Ukraine’s Europe-focused foreign policy and reform efforts. The ensuing Russian invasion and occupation of Crimea, aggression in Ukraine’s east, and Kremlin disinformation efforts, cast a shadow over Ukraine’s independence.

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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.

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Airliner Shot Down Over Ukraine: Rapid Reaction by Atlantic Council Expert John Herbst

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.

Read More

Airliner Shot Down Over Ukraine: Rapid Reaction by Atlantic Council Expert John Herbst

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
Economy & Business

Airliner Shot Down Over Ukraine: Rapid Reaction by Atlantic Council Expert John Herbst

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


Ukraine response

Founded sixty years ago at the height of Cold War tensions with Moscow, the Atlantic Council is driven by our mission of “shaping the global future together.” The Council is a nonpartisan organization that galvanizes US leadership and engagement in the world in partnership with allies and partners. Building on that mission, we have responded quickly and comprehensively to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, harnessing our editorial and convening power to help the United States and its allies to act swiftly and effectively—and to unify the disparate voices in favor of democracy, prosperity, and the transatlantic alliance.

read more on UkraineAlert

Regular news and analysis from Ukraine

UkraineAlert sources insight and commentary from a wide-array of thought-leaders, politicians, experts, and activists from Ukraine and the global community.

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Events

Online Event
Thu, March 5, 2026 • 11:00 am ET

How should the United States approach the China-Russia partnership?

China
Europe & Eurasia
Politics & Diplomacy
Russia

Public Event
Fri, February 6, 2026 • 11:00 am ET

How Moscow manufactured the myth of Putin’s inevitable victory

Artificial Intelligence
Disinformation
Europe & Eurasia
Internet

Online Event
Fri, January 30, 2026 • 9:00 am ET

How Russia’s winter warfare strategy targets Ukrainian civilians

Conflict
Europe & Eurasia
Geopolitics & Energy Security
Human Rights

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

UkraineAlert

Jul 17, 2014

Airliner Shot Down Over Ukraine: Rapid Reaction by Atlantic Council Expert John Herbst

By John Herbst

Around the time the plane disappeared, Russian Col. Girkin (Strelkov) on his ‘VKontakte’ page (‘VKontakte’ is the Russian Facebook equivalent) noted that a plane (which he called an Antonov – a Ukrainian transport plane) had been shot down in the region of Torez. The post also mentioned that the local authorities had warned all not […]

Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Jul 17, 2014

In the Ukraine War, Putin’s Veil of Deniability Has Vanished

By James Rupert

The Kremlin’s thin veil concealing its waging of war against Ukraine effectively disappeared weeks ago for anyone carefully watching the evidence. But now it has vanished even for the casual observer. Moscow’s escalation of the war since the start of July has created too much clear evidence to permit President Vladimir Putin any further benefit […]

Russia Ukraine

Article

Jul 17, 2014

Malaysia Airlines passenger jet shot down over Ukraine, 295 dead

A Malaysian Airlines passenger plane with 295 aboard was shot down by a surface-to-air missile in Ukraine near the Russian border a day after a Ukrainian military jet was downed, Fox News has confirmed.

Russia Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Jul 17, 2014

Needing Better Control in Ukraine War, Moscow Sends in an Old KGB Hand

By Irena Chalupa

Vladimir Antyufeyev Fought Dirty Wars in Latvia, Moldova, Georgia; He’s Just the Man the Kremlin Needs  Last week the Russian-backed “Donetsk People’s Republic” became even more Russian-led. The two Muscovites at the top of the separatist leadership introduced the latest Russian citizen to join their team – and the one with the most prominent role so far […]

Ukraine

New Atlanticist

Jul 17, 2014

Ukraine News Roundup | July 17

By Irena Chalupa

The Crash of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 Is a Game Changer via New Republic General Breedlove: The Meaning of Russia’s Military Campaign Against Ukraine via Wall Street Journal As Ukraine Heats Up, Exxon to Airbus Eye Growing Risks via Bloomberg Russia is Firing Missiles at Ukraine via Foreign Policy Is it Time to Bring Containment Back? via National Interest Ukrainian Female Pilot Faces […]

Ukraine

In the News

Jul 17, 2014

Wilson on Effects of Downed Malaysian Plane on Ukraine-Russia Conflict

By Damon Wilson

The Washington Post quotes Atlantic Council Executive Vice President Damon Wilson on the Malaysia Airlines jet that was downed near Ukraine’s eastern border with Russia:

Russia Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Jul 17, 2014

New US Sanctions on Russia: A Good Step, Two Weeks Too Late

By John Herbst

Putin Used West’s Hesitation to Escalate Kremlin’s War on Ukraine The news that the United States has sanctioned several major Russian banks and firms, greatly limiting their use of American financial markets, is the first good news in months in terms of Western support for Ukraine. The designation of Vnesheconombank (Bank for Development and Foreign […]

Ukraine

In the News

Jul 17, 2014

Herbst on What Went Wrong on MH17

By John Herbst

Eurasia Center Director John Herbst joins Fox Business to discuss the political implications of the Malaysian plane crash:

Russia Ukraine

In the News

Jul 17, 2014

Herbst on Malaysia Airlines Crash

By John Herbst

Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Director John Herbst joins MSNBC’s The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell to discuss the international consequences of the Malaysia Airlines plane that was shot down near Ukraine’s eastern border with Russia: 

Russia Ukraine

In the News

Jul 17, 2014

Herbst on Increased US Pressure Against Russia

By John Herbst

The New York Times quotes Eurasia Center Director John Herbst on how the downing of a Malaysia Airlines plane may strengthen US sanctions against Russia:

Russia Ukraine
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Experts

Fellow

Lukas Andriukaitis

Nonresident Fellow

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Disinformation Eastern Europe

Fellow

Tyson Barker

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

Cybersecurity Digital Policy

Fellow

Phyllis Berry

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Europe & Eurasia France

Fellow

Michael Bociurkiw

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Eurasia Center

Ukraine International Organizations

Fellow

Ian Brzezinski

Senior Fellow

Europe Center Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Central Europe Defense Policy

Staff

Eto Buziashvili

Research Fellow

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Disinformation Eastern Europe
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Events

Public Event Fri, March 13, 2026 • 10:30 am ET

Ukraine’s human capital and the foundations of recovery and long-term security
Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia Resilience & Society Russia