issue spotlight


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

New Atlanticist

May 15, 2014

Ukraine’s May 25 Vote May Be Its Freest Yet, Despite Crisis, Election Official Says

By Irena Chalupa

Ukraine’s May 25 election, an event critical to strengthening the legitimacy of Ukraine’s government as it confronts attacks by Russia, may in some ways be the freest vote for a Ukrainian president since the country became independent 22 year ago, says Andriy Mahera, the deputy chairman of the country’s election commission. That’s because, for the […]

Russia Ukraine
REUTERS/Alexander Khudotioply

New Atlanticist

May 15, 2014

In Ukraine’s East, the Cautious Middle Path of Oligarch-in-Chief Rinat Akhmetov

By Irena Chalupa and James Rupert

Business Magnate Speaks Out for Ukraine’s Unity, but Does Not Condemn Separatism What is Rinat Akhmetov’s vision for the future of his home region, the Donbas (Donetsk Basin) of southeastern Ukraine? As Ukraine’s wealthiest business magnate (worth $12 billion according to Forbes) and owner of mining, steel, and energy companies that form a pillar of […]

Russia Ukraine

New Atlanticist

May 15, 2014

Ukraine News Roundup | May 15

By Irena Chalupa

Nationalism Is Exactly What Ukraine Needs from The New Republic The Unraveling of Ukraine from Politico Inside East Ukraine’s Make-Believe Republics from The Daily Beast Anti-Semitism Is on the Rise in Russia—and the Kremlin’s TV Network Is in on It from The New Republic No, Putin didn’t plot to invade Ukraine. But now he might have […]

Ukraine

New Atlanticist

May 15, 2014

Bad Timing for Putin: He Would Have Preferred to Wait a Year on Ukraine

By Nikolas K. Gvosdev

Moscow May Have a Plan to Subvert Kyiv, But it Wasn’t for Launch in 2014 Whether the Kremlin is improvising in its confrontation with Ukraine or following a well-established plan, it is clear that the Putin administration had hoped to postpone the showdown for at least several years. The Russian government anticipated that former Ukrainian […]

Russia Ukraine
President Vladimir Putin with Russia's National Amateur Ice Hockey Team, May 10, 2014

NATOSource

May 14, 2014

Why Aren’t Sanctions Stopping Putin?

By Meghan L. O’Sullivan, Daily Beast

The West is threatening another round of sanctions against Russia in an effort to deter meddling in the May 25 presidential elections in Ukraine.

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance
Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey, May 14, 2014

NATOSource

May 14, 2014

US Chief of Defense: NATO Needs to Revisit the Meaning of Deterrence

By Martin Dempsey, Defense One

Dempsey: My personal view is that this is a moment for NATO to decide what it intends to be in the future.

NATO Russia

In the News

May 14, 2014

Ullman: History Should Matter

By Harlan Ullman

Brent Scowcroft Center Senior Adviser Harlan Ullman writes for UPI on the importance of looking at events in Ukraine and other places through a historical lens: 

Ukraine

In the News

May 14, 2014

Herbst: United States Has Strong Cards to Play Against Putin

By John Herbst

Eurasia Center Director John Herbst joins Bloomberg’s Taking Stock to discuss President Putin’s calculations regarding Ukraine and what the United States and its allies can do. Watch the full interview here.

Russia Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin

NATOSource

May 13, 2014

Europeans Dither on Defense While Putin Laughs

By John Vinocur, Wall Street Journal

On one hand, there are European countries reasonably bemoaning years of declining American leadership and resolve.

Europe & Eurasia NATO

New Atlanticist

May 12, 2014

The Other Referendum in Eastern Ukraine

By Irena Chalupa

Amid the big news of the secessionist referendum in Donetsk and Luhansk, a second plebiscite, less noticed, asked voters in 14 districts whether they would prefer not to secede from those provinces, to remain part of Ukraine and under the rule of Kyiv.

Ukraine

Experts