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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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.

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Events

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.

Content

In the News

May 27, 2014

Brzezinski on Ukrainian and EU Elections

Brent Scowcroft Center Senior Fellow Ian Brzezinski joins MSNBC’s Morning Joe to discuss the Ukrainian presidential elections, calling them a “positive development,” and the gains made by the far-right political parties in the European Union Parliamentary elections:

Elections European Union

UkraineAlert

May 26, 2014

President-Elect Poroshenko’s Post-Election Remarks

President-elect Poroshenko makes his first remarks after Ukraine’s landmark elections. English subtitles available via close captioning, and translation available below.

Ukraine

New Atlanticist

May 26, 2014

Ukraine News Roundup | May 26

By Irena Chalupa

The planned May 25th vote proceeded with little incident. Elections for the European Parliament were held across the continent this weekend, too. These reads encompass both.

Ukraine

In the News

May 26, 2014

Herbst on Continued Violence in Ukraine

By John Herbst

CNBC interviews John Herbst, director of the Atlantic Council’s Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center, on Ukrainian election results and the continued violence in the east:

Ukraine
Petro Poroshenko tells reporters he will not negotiate with Russian-backed secessionist militias as a nearly complete vote count showed him winning Ukraine's presidency. REUTERS/David Mdzinarashvili

New Atlanticist

May 26, 2014

Poroshenko’s Task: Halt Rebellion and Bankruptcy, Then Fix the System

By Irena Chalupa

In declaring victory yesterday as Ukraine’s president-elect, Petro Poroshenko is preparing to take the helm of a country whose economy is broken, its political system dysfunctional, three of its provinces either occupied or terrorized by Russian soldiers or proxy forces. The leaders of its huge, aggressive neighbor bluntly say that Ukraine shouldn’t really exist as […]

Elections Politics & Diplomacy
REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili

New Atlanticist

May 26, 2014

Early Challenges for Ukraine’s Next President: Corruption and Russian-led Insurrection

By New Atlanticist

Ukraine’s Poroshenko ‘is His Own Think Tank,’ Confident in Making Decisions As business magnate and former foreign and economy minister Petro Poroshenko claimed victory in Ukraine’s presidential election, Atlantic Council analysts Adrian Karatnycky and Sabine Freizer offered early thoughts on his road ahead. Freizer, a senior fellow at the Council’s Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center, wrote […]

Russia Ukraine
Presidential candidate Petro Poroshenko (left) and Kyiv mayoral candidate Vitali Klitschko celebrate after claiming victory in the May 25 elections. Klitschko withdrew from the presidential race and allied his UDAR party (the Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform) with Poroshenko’s candidacy. Both men are seen as centrists. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

New Atlanticist

May 26, 2014

Ukraine’s Voters Give a Chance to Poroshenko and Klitschko

By Damon Wilson

Businessman and Boxer Now Must Show They Can Fight Corruption and Govern Effectively Despite the Russian-led separatists’ efforts to disrupt Ukraine’s elections, Ukrainians went to the polls in large numbers and decisively elected Petro Poroshenko as president. Residents of Kyiv decisively elected Vitaliy Klitschko as mayor. These victories are significant for Ukraine’s European prospects. Specifically, […]

Russia Ukraine
Former economy and foreign minister Petro Poroshenko speaks to supporters in front of a display of exit poll results for himself and other candidates in Ukraine’s presidential election, May 25. Poroshenko claimed victory after exit polls gave him an absolute majority in the vote. REUTERS/Stringer

New Atlanticist

May 26, 2014

Ukraine’s Election is a Step Toward Normalcy; The Next Move is Russia’s

By John Herbst

If Moscow Keeps Backing Rebels in Southeast Ukraine, Kyiv Must Rely on its Army Ukraine took a major step toward normalcyand political stability with an orderly and largely peaceful vote in the May 25 presidential election.  Turnout was at least adequate, despite the strenuous efforts by Russian-led insurgents in the East to disrupt the vote.   […]

Russia Ukraine

In the News

May 25, 2014

Herbst on What to Look For in Ukrainian Elections

By John Herbst

C-SPAN’s Washington Journal features Director of the Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center John Herbst as election day in Ukraine unfolds: See the interview here.

Ukraine
Ukraine election in 2012

NATOSource

May 23, 2014

UK Minister: We Should Trust Ukrainians to Make the Right Choice

By David Lidington, Guardian

Trust in the ability of people to make decisions about their own future is a fundamental tenet of democracy. On Sunday, the citizens of Ukraine go to the polls to elect a new president in one of the most important elections of their history.

Politics & Diplomacy Russia

Experts

Events