Eastern Europe

Eastern Europe

After the implosion of the Soviet Union, fifteen former republics became independent states and began—in one form or another—the transition from the authoritarian economic and political regime. While the three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have completed a successful transition to open societies and market economies, the other states are either stuck on their progress path or headed off in an authoritarian direction.

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issue spotlight

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.

More on the war View UkraineAlert
Where and how Putin could expand his war in Europe beyond Ukraine

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.

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Where and how Putin could expand his war in Europe beyond Ukraine

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
Where and how Putin could expand his war in Europe beyond Ukraine

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

Events

Online Event Thu, June 18, 2026 • 12:00 pm ET

Is Russia losing the war?
Eastern Europe Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy Russia
Online Event Tue, July 22, 2025 • 10:00 am ET

What new geopolitical shifts mean for the South Caucasus
Civil Society Conflict Corruption Democratic Transitions
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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

Dispatches

Sep 1, 2026

Where and how Putin could expand his war in Europe beyond Ukraine

By Atlantic Council experts

The CIA director’s recent unannounced visit to Moscow has raised speculation about Russian plans to escalate attacks.

Conflict Eastern Europe

UkraineAlert

Sep 1, 2026

Europe should already start planning for a post-Lukashenka Belarus

By Viktar Baranau

There is nothing about today’s Belarus that suggests a country on the verge of change. Nevertheless, European policymakers would be well-advised to begin preparing for a post-Lukashenka Belarus now, in order to have a plan in place when the moment of transition arrives, writes Viktar Baranau.

Belarus Conflict

Dispatches

Aug 26, 2026

In an age of great-power competition, democracy is an advantage for the United States

By Markus Jaeger

The spread of democracy could give Washington an edge in great-power competition and make armed conflict less likely.

Americas China

TURKEYSource

Jul 24, 2026

Turning to Azerbaijani gas and US LNG, Turkey seeks to break its reliance on Russian energy

By İlker Sezer

Turkeyʼs multifaceted approach to diversifying its gas supplies away from Russia, including by buying from the US and Azerbaijan, may finally be paying off.

Energy & Environment European Union

Dispatches

Jun 29, 2026

European allies can boost NATO unity at the Ankara summit by accelerating eastern flank deterrence

By Richard D. Hooker, Jr.

The allies should agree to station full-strength combat brigades in each of the Baltic states to deter possible Russian aggression.

Eastern Europe NATO

UkraineAlert

Jun 25, 2026

Belarus is quietly preparing to play a larger role in Russia’s Ukraine war

By Hanna Liubakova

Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka is not enthusiastic about the prospect of joining Russia’s Ukraine invasion, but he appears to be steadily building up his country’s military capacity in case he finds himself pushed more directly into the war, writes Hanna Liubakova.

Belarus Conflict

Dispatches

Jun 9, 2026

Four questions (and expert answers) about Armenia’s elections and what to expect next

By Atlantic Council experts

Atlantic Council experts look at what Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s victory means for the South Caucasus region and for the US and Russia.

Elections Politics & Diplomacy

UkraineAlert

Jun 9, 2026

Countries across Russia’s former empire are reclaiming place names to assert identity

By Joseph Epstein

Ukraine's campaign to strip Soviet and Russian imperial place names from the country’s towns and cities is not a reaction to the current war so much as the leading edge of a region-wide rejection of Moscow's cartography, writes Joseph Epstein.

Central Asia Civil Society

UkraineAlert

May 26, 2026

Kyiv hosts Belarus opposition leader as Moscow drags Minsk closer to war

By Hanna Liubakova

As concern mounts that Moscow is pushing Minsk to join the invasion of Ukraine, Kyiv is strengthening ties with the democratic Belarusian opposition, writes Hanna Liubakova.

Belarus Conflict

Dispatches

May 22, 2026

Washington’s latest force posture moves have Europeans feeling whiplash

By Daniel Fried, Torrey Taussig

The announcement on sending US troops to Poland didn't stop Washington's other force posture decisions from generating concern among NATO allies.

Eastern Europe Europe & Eurasia
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Experts

Fellow

Anca Agachi

Nonresident Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Africa Conflict

Staff

Nika Aleksejeva

Resident Fellow, Baltics

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Belarus Disinformation

Fellow

Lukas Andriukaitis

Nonresident Fellow

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Disinformation Eastern Europe

Fellow

Andrew Bernard

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

NATO Europe & Eurasia

Millennium fellow

Cynthia Bernstein

Program Director, Commercial, Advisory and Knowledge Initiatives, Spencer Stuart International

Millennium Leadership Program

Eastern Europe Entrepreneurship

Staff

Eto Buziashvili

Research Fellow

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Disinformation Eastern Europe
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