Ukraine

McCain: US Must Support Ukrainians, Get Tougher With Putin

Senator John McCain (R-AZ) called on the US government to more actively support “the peaceful aspirations of all Ukrainians” for a democratic future linked to Europe and independent of Russian domination. McCain spoke at the Atlantic Council in his first address on the Ukrainian crisis following his visit to the country.

Ukraine’s Russian Deal: Not Really a Big Victory for Putin

By Adrian Karatnycky

Passions are flaring today – in the streets of Kyiv, and in government buildings across the European Union and in Washington – over yesterday’s announcement of Russian financial support for Ukraine. EU officials are issuing warnings that the deal is shortsighted and  will retard Ukraine’s modernization. Ukrainian opposition politicians and leaders of its mass protest […]

Ukraine’s President Yanukovych: He Got Game

By Adrian Karatnycky

It’s been a pretty good two days for Ukraine’s embattled President Viktor Yanukovych, despite three weeks of massive protests against his reversal of plans to tighten cooperation with the European Union. Monday brought news that government-friendly candidates (most running as independents) won four out of five parliamentary by-elections, most of them in areas that should be […]

FROM KYIV: Ukraine’s Massed Protesters Have Pushed Their Country to a Tipping Point

By Adrian Karatnycky

Atlantic Council Senior Fellow Adrian Karatnycky just returned from Ukraine’s turbulent capital, and will be analyzing the political crisis there for the New Atlanticist. His first report . . . KYIV — For twenty-six days Ukrainians have stood in protest demanding that their president, Viktor Yanukovych, reject the blandishments of autocratic Russia. Instead, they insist […]

Turn Ukraine Back Toward the European Union

By Paula J. Dobriansky

While it is very late in the game, it is not too late to return Ukraine to the path of European integration. Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians, enraged by President Viktor Yanu­kovych’s recent rejection of painstakingly negotiated trade agreements with the European Union, continue to protest Yanukovych’s apparent turn toward Moscow and the corruption and cronyism […]

John McCain, Chris Murphy Travel to Kyiv

Senator McCain to Speak at the Council on Thursday Wednesday, U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) released a statement condemning the use of violence by Ukrainian authorities against peaceful demonstrators in Kyiv, Ukraine. His statement ended with: “Those brave men and women should know that they are not alone. Their friends across the world stand in […]

Factsheet: Unrest in Ukraine

By Samantha Lasley

Ukraine, a nation of 46 million people, bordering four European Union countries—Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania—stands at a pivotal moment in history as it chooses between the East and the West.  AT the Vilnius Summit Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych announced that he was not going to sign an Association Agreement for far-reaching political and trade […]

Hagel Warns Ukrainian Defense Minister Not to Use Military Forces Against Civilians

By Department of State

Today US Defense Secretary Hagel spoke by phone with Ukrainian Minister of Defense Pavlo Lebedyev.